September in Alps = a lot of closed trails and possibly dodgy weather?
I would have thought south to Northern Spain or Italy would get better weather…

We go away in September in the van every year for 2-3weeks. Usually Austria (Tirol, Osttirol, Karnten), Germany  (Bavarian Alps, Black Forest), sometimes France, Slovenia, Dolomites or Croatia. Most years we have great weather.

Europe is pretty big, maybe limit yourself to a large area, e.g. you wouldn’t drive from Portugal to Salzburg. Don’t try to do too much. We had a 6week trip 10 years ago and regretted moving every other day.

Slovenia and Croatia

I’d use lachainemeteo weather forecast and adapt my plans to that. It gives you 14 days of reasonably accurate forecast. You don’t want be in the south of France for a late Summer storm or the Alps with the cloud base at 800m.

Ideas.

camping le Cadoret at Fouras les Bains and paddle around the sites of naval battles.

Florac and paddle down the Tarn.

Gourette, walk up the Sanctus and ride the Aubisque, via ferrata.

St Jean de Luz. Paddle and swim.

Ainsa and rent a bike for day then paddle on the lake.

Saint Tropez. Just because. Paddle plage de la Pampelone famous for Bardot and a WW2 landing.

I worked on a campsite on plage de la Pampelone through a September and Octobre fixing mobile homes. Loved it. The walk around the coast from Pampelone to St Tropez if you’re a Bardot fan – spot the famous villa. Watch le Viager before you go and walk around there too.

Another one:

Hull-Rotterdam ferry – Allgauer Alps based in Oberstfdorf + Kleinwalsertal – Biberweir to give access to mountains in Tyrol Zugspitze area– Lienz Osttirol for Lienz Dolomites – Mittenwald – Gerardmer to chill for a few days before heading home via the Tunnel

Trying to convince my wife that we can’t fit in France Italy Slovenia Austria and Germany in this one trip ?

It’s quite simple – you can do all that but I think you’ll be driving every day for multiple hours and not actually doing much of the walking/riding/VF which is the reason you’re visiting there !!

Others may have different views but spending say 3 or 4 days in each place allows you to explore a little, have a rest day eating ice-cream if you really want to, or need it, it’s more relaxing and prevents you having to move on every day (which quickly becomes a chore not a pleasure).

I was going to suggest Zell area too.

The Seecamp is a great location right on the lake. Short bike ride around into the town.

Nice gorge walks up in Lofer (also a really good campsite there on the river). They do some climbing type stuff in Lofer too.

You’re right by Saalbach if you want to do MTB, or there’s a good trail on the Kitzsteinhorn.

If the dog is good for a 10 mile hill walk the Pinzgauer Spaziergang is stunning.

Lift from Zell up to the start, walk 10mile along the ridge, lift down to Saalbach, then bus back to start

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