Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Sep 15th 2019, 6:47 am
#1
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Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi all. I'm driving from the Algarve to the UK and I'd like to drive the majority of the journey, through Spain and France (and catch the Calais > Dover ferry).
Rather than doing it as quickly as possible, I'd like to do the journey over 5 or 6 days and so am looking for an itinerary that passes through the 2 countries and takes in some beautiful scenery, stop off in some nice cities/towns/villages along the way and enjoy some nice food and drink - perhaps doing about 4 or 5 hours of driving per day.
On our drive down we drove from Santander to the Algarve, via Salamanca and Seville, so would ideally like to do something new. Had toyed with the idea of going across to Granadaand up the west coast to Barcelona, Monpellier and Lyon, but that said, maybe Madrid, San Sebastian and Bordeaux would be nice too?
If anyone has any suitable itineraries or just general suggestions, then that'd be really useful - it's all a bit overwhelming!
Rather than doing it as quickly as possible, I'd like to do the journey over 5 or 6 days and so am looking for an itinerary that passes through the 2 countries and takes in some beautiful scenery, stop off in some nice cities/towns/villages along the way and enjoy some nice food and drink - perhaps doing about 4 or 5 hours of driving per day.
On our drive down we drove from Santander to the Algarve, via Salamanca and Seville, so would ideally like to do something new. Had toyed with the idea of going across to Granadaand up the west coast to Barcelona, Monpellier and Lyon, but that said, maybe Madrid, San Sebastian and Bordeaux would be nice too?
If anyone has any suitable itineraries or just general suggestions, then that'd be really useful - it's all a bit overwhelming!
Last edited by christmasoompa; Sep 15th 2019 at 10:34 am. Reason: Edited to remove paragraph about your services
Sep 15th 2019, 7:52 am
#2
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi all. I'm driving from the Algarve to the UK and I'd like to drive the majority of the journey, through Spain and France (and catch the Calais > Dover ferry).
Rather than doing it as quickly as possible, I'd like to do the journey over 5 or 6 days and so am looking for an itinerary that passes through the 2 countries and takes in some beautiful scenery, stop off in some nice cities/towns/villages along the way and enjoy some nice food and drink - perhaps doing about 4 or 5 hours of driving per day.
On our drive down we drove from Santander to the Algarve, via Salamanca and Seville, so would ideally like to do something new. Had toyed with the idea of going across to Granadaand up the west coast to Barcelona, Monpellier and Lyon, but that said, maybe Madrid, San Sebastian and Bordeaux would be nice too?
If anyone has any suitable itineraries or just general suggestions, then that'd be really useful - it's all a bit overwhelming!
Rather than doing it as quickly as possible, I'd like to do the journey over 5 or 6 days and so am looking for an itinerary that passes through the 2 countries and takes in some beautiful scenery, stop off in some nice cities/towns/villages along the way and enjoy some nice food and drink - perhaps doing about 4 or 5 hours of driving per day.
On our drive down we drove from Santander to the Algarve, via Salamanca and Seville, so would ideally like to do something new. Had toyed with the idea of going across to Granadaand up the west coast to Barcelona, Monpellier and Lyon, but that said, maybe Madrid, San Sebastian and Bordeaux would be nice too?
If anyone has any suitable itineraries or just general suggestions, then that'd be really useful - it's all a bit overwhelming!
Last edited by christmasoompa; Sep 15th 2019 at 10:34 am. Reason: Edited quoted post as above
Sep 15th 2019, 9:01 am
#3
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi, if you go via Barcelona, take the A75 north from Béziers, up through the Massif Central. Not only it's free up to about Clermont-Ferrand, I believe, but you pass through the most beautiful scenery (up to C-F at least). Post again on the France forum for other ideas and recommendations for hotels!
Sep 15th 2019, 4:32 pm
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi Oyster, don't know how far east you want to go in France but if you have time on your hands a trip over the Millau Viaduct is well worth it.
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
Sep 15th 2019, 5:49 pm
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi Oyster, don't know how far east you want to go in France but if you have time on your hands a trip over the Millau Viaduct is well worth it.
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
An experience crossing, and a perfect view from down below - up to you to choose if you go that way!
Last edited by dmu; Sep 15th 2019 at 5:51 pm.
Sep 15th 2019, 6:18 pm
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi Oyster, don't know how far east you want to go in France but if you have time on your hands a trip over the Millau Viaduct is well worth it.
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
Yes it is a toll road but well worth the "entrance money"
We have just come down to the Algarve and deliberately avoided all toll roads, took our time and saw some "real country" not just motorway service stations!
Not averse to going that far east, in fact some routes suggest even further east than Millau. Also doesn’t have to be the most direct route; happy to go along a coastline and then right angle across or similar but obviously don’t want to zig zag around too much.
Sep 15th 2019, 11:00 pm
#7
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Had a nice trip back from Tavira a few weeks ago. Went through Seville, on to Valencia, Barcelona, then Lyon from where we took a quick trip to Geneva. Then up through Luxemburg. Could have gone to Calais from there, but took the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle overnight. Normally we just do the quickest route but decided to take our time and see some more places.
Sep 21st 2019, 10:46 am
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Re: Algarve > UK driving route itinerary
Hi all. I'm driving from the Algarve to the UK and I'd like to drive the majority of the journey, through Spain and France (and catch the Calais > Dover ferry)......... If anyone has any suitable itineraries or just general suggestions, then that'd be really useful - it's all a bit overwhelming!
Granada - Jaen - Valdepenas - Madrid - Aranda de Duero - Lerma - Burgos - Briviesca - Miranda de Ebro - Vittoria - Beasain - San Sebastian (skirt round but you could visit) - Irun - Biarritz - Messanges - Parentis en Born - Saugnacq et Muret - Bordeaux (skirt round) - Saint-Gervais - Pons - Saintes - Loulay - Niort - Parthenay - Saumur - La Fleche - Le Mans - Alencon - Bernay - Rouen (skirt round) - Abbeville - Nouvion - Montreuil - Boulogne - Calais
A few places are mentioned to illustrate the route but all/any/others along the way could be used as stopping points. If you would like further detail about route, road numbers, distances, towns etc. by all means send a pm.
