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I have the van to sleep in, i got the bikes, just need the rest. How many days do i need to get there comfortably, perhaps taking in a few freeride parks on route? Just want something to have a play on on route would be good. Where am i best heading for? What's the best time of year?
Well, it depends on where you are going. Calais to Alp - 9 hours in a car at 120 KPH ...
Arrive in Calais early.
Set cruise control at 130kph on the peage.
You will be in the Alps in time for afternoon tea.
No need to stop anywhere really.
1 day to get to Morzine from Glasgow (well 26hrs iirc). No need for any stops unless you feel knackered, it's an easy drive
If you want to stop, Malmedy, Lac Blanc, then some of the german bike parks. But you could spend a few days going down that way. Early start, do it in one day.
The Alps are a bloody big mountain range ending just outside Vienna. Where exactly are you going?
Don't know yet, after ideas of where is best to go. After something which covers all bases for riding, downhill,freeride and trails
It really depends how long you intend to stay.
I'ts probably best to drive down to drive down to Morzine area and have a play around that area for a bit. Then head east into Switzerland but don't stay too long or you will have no cash left.
Onwards towards the bike parks of Tyrol then north into Germany.work your way up and then home.
Three Valleys is a good all round area. Been a few times and love the riding there as it's pretty varied.
Massive area to cover and well connected with lifts. Can do some really good tours of the area with a little planning on the area map.
Also, if driving on your own, get one of the telepeage tags, money well spent.
For the French Alps and depending on where you live I'd either stop between Dartford and the Tunnel then get an early crossing or go late and park up in the van within the first 50km. Get your light convertors done before leaving.
After that take it easy DO NOT GO VIA PARIS and stop frequently, if your on your own I'd suggest stopping again on the way for a good lunch and a kip and then get going again. If you drive all day then the next day can be a bit of a write off anyway.
We left after work, got the evening Eurostar/tunnel, then stopped in an "F1" travel-lodge thingy near St Omer. Quick breakfast the following morning, then arrive in Morzine mid-afternoon ish.
top-tips:
Eurotunnel will sometimes let you get an earlier service if you arrive nice and early, so don't kill time in the service station because you're gonna be early.
As above, Tomtom will by default take you via Paris. This is obviously not a very good idea - make sure you choose the non-paris route!
Remember all the high-viz, breathalyzer paraphernalia that you need to drive in France these days - buy it online in advance to avoid getting fleeced in the eurotunnel terminal.
Remember to stick your light reflector things on - we usually do ours when we are on the train.
Remember all the high-viz, breathalyzer paraphernalia that you need to drive in France these days - buy it online in advance to avoid getting fleeced in the eurotunnel terminal.
The breathalyzer law has been suspended (I still carry them though).
The quickest, most direct route doesn't give you much scope for riding on the way down, so you may as well bash it out as quick as possible.
It's 10-12 hours door to door for us from Hampshire, we're going in a few weeks for the Mega, and will leave after work, and should be there early morning. Few hours cat nap, then out on the bikes 🙂
If you decide to park up and sleep after you land in France. I recommend you drive a little while and get clear of Calais/Dunkirk etc and find a quieter Aire to sleep in as being women up by the Police who are checking on if immigrants and stuff is a PITA
If you drive through France the tolls will cost you about the same as the fuel, so if time is not important go down via Belgium/Germany.
Quickest toll-minimal way is: Calais -> Lille -> Namur -> Luxembourg -> Metz -> Nancy -> Epinal -> Besancon -> Morzine. I think it adds a couple of hours to the trip but you can fill up with cheap fuel in Luxembourg (currently around a quid a litre for diesel)
On the Peage/toll subject be very careful if you leave for food/break etc. as they are normally express routes there can be big gaps between junctions. We missed one turn and ended up doing about 100km on "normal roads" it took nearly 2 hrs compared to under an hour if we had been on the motorway.
There is a massive Hypermarche at Rheims (Carrifore I think) with it's own junction (good for stocking up on essential personal consumption wine/beer on the way home and bakery goodness on the way out. If you don't have Sat Nav with a sanity check for long detours I'd avoid dropping into actual towns by yourself as they can be a nightmare to navigate round.
Get yourself a [url= https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ ]Toll Tag[/url] so you don't have to queue at all the tag stations. Saved us a bunch of time and quite a few cars were miffed after overtaking us more than twice!
I've done the drive many times alone. To answer your question we need to know how long a drive you have to the tunnel. For me it was 2hrs so I drove to the Alps (usually around Geneva somewhere) without an overnight stop. I would stop one once on Peage for 30 mins rest/fuel/lunch. If you have along drive to the tunnel you can stop in a Forumle 1, I did this once at Calais (very close to tunnel exit) - took an 11pm crossing, got a nights sleep then set off at 7 local time.
As far as I know there are no bike parks en-route. You can do XC type riding around Chablis or Beaune through the Burgandy (Bourgogne) vineyard. There are some trails in the Park Morvan also. You can go via the Jura and stop in Metabief where there is uplift but that's only 2 hours from your likely destination.
I would get down there in a day with a few stops and use any time saved for extra riding whilst you are there, I like exploring new places so as you have the van you can drive and ride some other resorts.
You can do XC type riding around Chablis or Beaune through the Burgandy (Bourgogne) vineyard
Where in Burgundy ? I spent 2 weeks there last year with the Spearfish and apart from a few minor trails found nothing of interest. We're back for 2 weeks again in Aug staying just outside Couches, but again, i'll be very interested to hear about any decent riding round there.
As far as I know there are no bike parks en-route.
Slight off route but you could hit Lac Blanc easily enough but I don't know why you'd go there if you're en-route to the alps anyway.
Route Pays de Grand Cru (path GR6 ?) - tons of paths / trails up / farm tracks in the vinyards above Alexe Corton / Volnay / Gervy Chambertain / higher wooded areas. Gorges above some of the villages (like Gervy Chambertain). Generally hilly ! I know you don't do maps but if you look online on geoportal.gouv.fr you can see lots of tracks/paths.
There are trails in Parc Morvan (massive I admit, will find better location for you) and VTT club Saulieu organize an XC race and have a facebook page. [url= http://www.lessapinieres.fr/accueil.html ]race link[/url]. I know this as we saw a poster advertising it when we stopped for lunch.
[url= https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jk99byjq2dg ]Promo video[/url]
@weeksy - see if any of these take your fancy
[url= http://www.utagawavtt.com/randonnee-vtt-gps-search?region=21 ]Utawaga VTT - department 21[/url]
[url= http://www.utagawavtt.com/randonnee-vtt-gps?topo=6927 ]This one is just a bit South of where I mentioned (Gervy Chambertain etc)[/url]
BTW if you care I can mention a few small producer vinyards (Recoltant / Vignoblerons Independent) I particularly like
OP if you want to stop find out the French Region (Department) number and have a look on the utawaga vtt sire
legend - Member
1 day to get to Morzine from Glasgow (well 26hrs iirc). No need for any stops unless you feel knackered, it's an easy drive
26 hours???
I'm doing Glasgow to Morzine by car next month. Route planners seem to suggest 16 hours. We're leaving Friday night so should miss rush hour traffic and was expecting to take 8 hours to Dover then another 8 on the other side.
That would be quite some going.
10hrs to Dover inc a stop or 2. 2-3hrs to check in, cross and get local time. 10hrs to Morzine inc a stop or 2.
Assuming no hold ups etc
@BoardinBob - 8 hrs to Morzine with a very quick stop for fuel only is do-able. You need no hold ups etc
Motor running peeing in the bushes in aire de repos?
8 hrs to Morzine 😉 easy just collect all the tickets. I'm skeptical of 8 hrs Glasgow to Dover too having done Glasgow to Manchester and Lakes to Dover a lots times.