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Subject Topic: Cherbourg - Dordoyne, towing & overnight Post Reply Post New Topic
28/7/2017 at 1:35pm
 Location: Ireland
 Outfit: Pathfinder FC &Gelert beyond corvus6+2
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Hi all. We're arriving in Cherbourg at 16.00 Friday. Heading for Vitrac.

Firstly, what would be the recommended route? Looking at google maps I was thinking Le Mans, tours, Limoges. Any reason to veer off that route?

Secondly, we will be towing and as we arrive in Cherbourg at 16.00 I guess it could be half past or five O'clock by the time we get on the road. Would it be practical to aim to get to Tours to shorten the second leg and have a more even split? Or would Le Mans be a safer bet? Would it be realistic to aim to be in Tours by between 9 & 10 pm?

Thirdly, we would probably like to stretch the legs after about 2hours. We usually have the Golden Arches app to find one en route for handiness but does anyone recommend a place to stop and eat maybe near Sees, something handy?

Fourthly, we can be setup for an overnight in the fc in about 20 min so we could camp overnight. However I'm thinking we might stay overnight in a budget hotel near Tours if practical to get that far that evening. Also if we were a bit later getting there it might be less of an issue with a hotel. Plus a bit quicker getting away in the morning although I think we're fast enough now packing away the camper.
If anyone has experience or advice to share on the overnight we'd be grateful. And if you can recommend a hotel near Tours or somewhere en route that you know would be secure to park up with the fc overnight we would greatly appreciate a recommendation. Ideally not far off the route. I'm assuming I should be booking the overnight asap to be on the safe side even though I do like the idea of seeing how far you get and then finding somewhere. I think we'll play it safe and book.

Fifthly and finally, Tours to Limoges, it seems there's 3 route options with not much in it time wise.

1. A85 towards Vierzon, onto A20
292km 2hr 28min

2. Take the D31 cross country onto A20
212km 2hr 21min
looks scenic on the map but maybe harder driving?
this is the route chosen by google of the 3 options.
I would go for this option to see a bit of the countryside unless it would be too taxing. But 4 hours overall that day and no major rush doesn't sound too bad even allowing a bit extra for towing.

3.
A10 towards Poitiers onto N147
213km 2hr 38 minutes


I think I'd go for option 1 or 2 TBH. Would appreciate a recommendation, as I'm a bit torn

Also, is there anywhere good to stop for lunch near Limoges? Was in 5 golden arches one day we travelled on a holy day last year lol. We were glad of them tbh!


Many thanks in advance.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


28/7/2017 at 3:00pm
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My memory says the fast craft from Portsmouth arrives in Cherbourg at 1300 and the normal ferry from Poole arrives at 1345, so I am puzzled by your 1600 arrival time.   Have the timings changed? Which way are you crossing?

But if it really a 1600 arrival I would go an hour down the road to a campsite at 1700 and then allow a day and a half from there.

Of your proposed routes I would do the Tours to Limoges section via Loches and Chateauroux.

Take care.



28/7/2017 at 3:50pm
 Location: Ireland
 Outfit: Pathfinder FC &Gelert beyond corvus6+2
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Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 28/7/2017
My memory says the fast craft from Portsmouth arrives in Cherbourg at 1300 and the normal ferry from Poole arrives at 1345, so I am puzzled by your 1600 arrival time.   Have the timings changed? Which way are you crossing?

But if it really a 1600 arrival I would go an hour down the road to a campsite at 1700 and then allow a day and a half from there.

Of your proposed routes I would do the Tours to Limoges section via Loches and Chateauroux.

Take care.





Hi Berriow, thanks for your thoughts.
Ferry is from Rosslare lol, hence 1600.

So I'm thinking we will be well rested getting in at 16.00 and ready for 3.5-4hr drive no prob even if it means staying in the Hotel. Got in earlier in the day last year but did 4.5hr drive and pitched a large tent. That worked out fine so that's what I'm going by. Arrive later, slightly shorter drive but no tent to pitch.

Unless its a bad idea for some other reason we'd prefer to do a nice bit Friday pm and have a leisurely drive Saturday, arrive mid to late afternoon to set up at our ease.

Unless the ferry is rough I should be fresh enough Friday evening to do 3-4 hrs and I thought 4-5 on Saturday over 6-7hrs with stops and no rush shouldn't be an issue.

Maybe I'm underestimating it though.



28/7/2017 at 4:25pm
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Aha, didn't spot the start from Ireland , sorry.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


28/7/2017 at 4:39pm
 Location: Ireland
 Outfit: Pathfinder FC &Gelert beyond corvus6+2
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Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 28/7/2017
Aha, didn't spot the start from Ireland , sorry.



No Problem, appreciate you taking the time.


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28/7/2017 at 9:23pm
 Location: Birmingham
 Outfit: Pennine Pullman
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We did a stop over here with a big trailer 6 yrs ago.


Secure car park with a gate that closes at night so as secure as you can be. We actually ended up spending two nights there as the car broke down and we were towed there to dump the trailer which was left unhitched while the car was fixed (we had planned to stop here anyway, but only overnight)
There is another north one about 2 mins away, or there are 2 south of the river. All have secure car parks.

The one we stopped at had a shopping centre over the road with a supermarket attached and lots of restaurants/ cheap food places nearby (which was handy due to our extended stay)

I'd plan for at least 5 hour drive if you want to stop off

le mans would be about half way so I'd plan a stop off near there


28/7/2017 at 11:18pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
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Quote: Originally posted by thegcuan on 28/7/2017
Hi all. We're arriving in Cherbourg at 16.00 Friday. Heading for Vitrac.

Firstly, what would be the recommended route? Looking at google maps I was thinking Le Mans, tours, Limoges. Any reason to veer off that route?

Secondly, we will be towing and as we arrive in Cherbourg at 16.00 I guess it could be half past or five O'clock by the time we get on the road. Would it be practical to aim to get to Tours to shorten the second leg and have a more even split? Or would Le Mans be a safer bet? Would it be realistic to aim to be in Tours by between 9 & 10 pm?

Thirdly, we would probably like to stretch the legs after about 2hours. We usually have the Golden Arches app to find one en route for handiness but does anyone recommend a place to stop and eat maybe near Sees, something handy?

Fourthly, we can be setup for an overnight in the fc in about 20 min so we could camp overnight. However I'm thinking we might stay overnight in a budget hotel near Tours if practical to get that far that evening. Also if we were a bit later getting there it might be less of an issue with a hotel. Plus a bit quicker getting away in the morning although I think we're fast enough now packing away the camper.
If anyone has experience or advice to share on the overnight we'd be grateful. And if you can recommend a hotel near Tours or somewhere en route that you know would be secure to park up with the fc overnight we would greatly appreciate a recommendation. Ideally not far off the route. I'm assuming I should be booking the overnight asap to be on the safe side even though I do like the idea of seeing how far you get and then finding somewhere. I think we'll play it safe and book.

Fifthly and finally, Tours to Limoges, it seems there's 3 route options with not much in it time wise.

1. A85 towards Vierzon, onto A20
292km 2hr 28min

2. Take the D31 cross country onto A20
212km 2hr 21min
looks scenic on the map but maybe harder driving?
this is the route chosen by google of the 3 options.
I would go for this option to see a bit of the countryside unless it would be too taxing. But 4 hours overall that day and no major rush doesn't sound too bad even allowing a bit extra for towing.

3.
A10 towards Poitiers onto N147
213km 2hr 38 minutes


I think I'd go for option 1 or 2 TBH. Would appreciate a recommendation, as I'm a bit torn

Also, is there anywhere good to stop for lunch near Limoges? Was in 5 golden arches one day we travelled on a holy day last year lol. We were glad of them tbh!


Many thanks in advance.



Can't help you with your questions as we drove from Calais but we are sitting here in Vitrac as we speak. It's lovely and weather really good.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


29/7/2017 at 12:12am
 Location: Ireland
 Outfit: Pathfinder FC &Gelert beyond corvus6+2
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Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 28/7/2017


Can't help you with your questions as we drove from Calais but we are sitting here in Vitrac as we speak. It's lovely and weather really good.



Awh that's great news. Was looking at the forecast tonight and the weather seems to be keeping to the north. Dordoyne and vendee (we'll be a week in both) looked clear.
We're headed for La Bouysse. Hope to spend a lot of time on the river, Wednesday at the market in Sarlat and a day at the caves.
Anything else happening, or things you'd recommend? 6 of us, 13-8 yo kids. Will be looking for a nice French restaurant off the beaten track for an authentic French meal one of the days if you know of such a place.
Thanks.


01/8/2017 at 2:28pm
 Location: N. Ireland
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We took the same ferry last month, the good news is it seems to be quite punctual. However the bad news is that the journey down the Cherbourg peninsula takes longer than you think.
There are 2 options, either keep to the N13 / A84 via Saint-Lo, which is all motorway or dual and although longer is slightly quicker.
Or take the shorter, slightly slower but more interesting D road route via La Hay-Du-Puits and Coutances. It's more or less a 2 hour journey either way, so by 6pm you will be around Avranches and Pontorson, where there is a very nice little site called Haliotis good for a stopover if you wanted to. It's also only 9 km from Mt St Michel if you wanted to visit there too.
The other possible stopover we spotted was a municipal at Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (not in UKCS) which looked nice, and is only 30 mins from Cherbourg.


01/8/2017 at 2:48pm
 Location: High Wycombe
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Hope the weather holds, we're near Castlenaux on Saturday for a fortnight.

-------------
---------------------
May 18, Delftse Hout, Delft
Aug 18, Le Logis du Breuil, Royan


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01/8/2017 at 2:57pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
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Quote: Originally posted by thegcuan on 29/7/2017
Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 28/7/2017


Can't help you with your questions as we drove from Calais but we are sitting here in Vitrac as we speak. It's lovely and weather really good.



Awh that's great news. Was looking at the forecast tonight and the weather seems to be keeping to the north. Dordoyne and vendee (we'll be a week in both) looked clear.
We're headed for La Bouysse. Hope to spend a lot of time on the river, Wednesday at the market in Sarlat and a day at the caves.
Anything else happening, or things you'd recommend? 6 of us, 13-8 yo kids. Will be looking for a nice French restaurant off the beaten track for an authentic French meal one of the days if you know of such a place.
Thanks.



Hi

Domme is well worth a visit for a few hours. We like Sarlat and would say go twice once on market day and again when the market isn't on. You'll see a much nicer town and make sure you suit the old part of town off the main high street. All walking distance.

River wise we don't think you can get much better than the area by Domaine Le Soleil Plage where we are staying. We have our kayak with us and the river is lovely. You can access even if you are not staying here.

Good restaurant - we tend to BBQ but there is a real hidden gem we went to when we were here 2 years ago and we've booked again for Thursday night. It's part of a local hotel but don't let that put you off.

http://pech-de-malet.pagesperso-orange.fr/hotel.html

You must book a few days ahead or you won't get seated.

Hope you enjoy.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


01/8/2017 at 5:21pm
 Location: Berkshire
 Outfit: Outwell Yosemite Falls +Vango
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Great restaurant Checkley - do you take the shortcut from SP, up the path by the maize?


01/8/2017 at 7:07pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
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Yes we really like it although I will admit we drive up as we have 2 little ones.



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