No. of miles for a 2 week holiday in south france?

[si macc]

My girlfriend and I will be going on our first proper campervan holiday in July. We have decided on visiting the Langedoc-Roussillon region of France (it has everything - wine/food/chateauxs/beach/moutains). There's so much to see and do in the region (not to mention on the way down) but want to limit ourselves so we don't spend the whole time driving. Got the 'Aires De Service' book in the post today so just trying to plan a rough route.

Can anyone recommend a good amount of miles to cover in a 2 week holiday and anywhere to visit in the region? Was thinking 2 days there and 2 days back. We were planning to possibly visit the Loire Valley on the way there and Puy De Dome/Reims on the way back.

[Bowton Lad]

Where do live? Which UK ferry port are you sailing from & which French ferry port are you arriving at?

I have only travelled to France by car, not in a camper. For me it is 300 miles to Dover (600 miles return). Calais - Paris iirc is about 150 miles (300 miles return). I have never actually been to Paris, I'm just using that to illustrate the distance. I have frequently done the journey from Millau (Aveyron) - Gien (on the Loire) & allowing for two 15 minute breaks it is a 5.5 hour journey by car, probably 325 miles. France is a large country, about 2.5 times the size of the UK & distances between major towns can be vast. Buy some of the excellent Michelin (yellow) regional maps of France & plan at least some of your trip in advance.

[T'Onion]

Plan your route on google maps or auto-route is you have it , If you have the money then use the pague on the way down and tootle back up , 2 days maybe do-able but knackering , like B-lad says its a big place.

[Ian Hulley]

It's about 650 miles Calais straight to the South coast, 726 from Calais to Port Grimaud where we used to go B.C.

If you want to spend some time touring round you'll be looking at ~2,000 miles in France.

[Ralf85]

It's about 650 miles Calais straight to the South coast, 726 from Calais to Port Grimaud where we used to go B.C.

If you want to spend some time touring round you'll be looking at ~2,000 miles in France.

I agree. 650 miles to where you want to go. In a vdub that is two days of motorway driving from the time you get off the boat at Calais and up to three days by other roads because most other roads now have severe speed restrictions every time you arrive at a small hamlet. Do have fun. Most of the time you will enjoy the road space and freedom to enjoy the open road. I shall be there again this year for three weeks (always three). That way I really switch off from home. Give it a try if you can get the time off. In the meantime just enjoy the experience. Alternativel, get onto the D roads, potter along gently and discover all sorts of exciting moments. Patrick

[kermit dave]

From experince, I'd say 200/250 in a day is enough in a wedgy

So what about?

3 days down wi 3 stops (alternate basic rough camping with posh camping to really appreciate a good shower etc.)

A Whole Week where you wanna be driving as little as possible - find a base in the middle so you only do an hour a day

3 days back wi similar stops

AND if you chose a slightly different route back you should get to see at least 4 new places on the journey!

P.S: petrol/diesel are much cheaper so roll off the ferry with a just a few gallons on board

[si macc]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the replies, can't wait, just hope the van makes it.

"From experince, I'd say 200/250 in a day is enough in a wedgy" - this is very handy info.

"If you want to spend some time touring round you'll be looking at ~2,000 miles in France." - I planned a rough route on googlemaps and it was pretty much 2k miles.

Thankfully we live in South London so one option is to drive down the Friday night after work, get a late ferry and then find an Aire in Calais. Then the first official day of the holiday starts in France. We normally drive down to Chatel (hours drive from Geneva) to go skiing every year and we know L-R region is even further! That's in a volvo estate too.... I've driven down to Woolacombe in North Devon after work for a bank holiday doing all the driving and that was about my limit! (about 230 miles).

We're definitely thinking of the 3 days three and three days back with a week to properly chill out sounds like the way to go, think most of that week will be driving along the med coast Love driving in scenic areas so I'm really excited about this, never done anything like it before!

Great advice as usual

[si macc]

Bugger, just realised we've booked off the first 2 weeks of the french school holidays... oh well at least the UK schools haven't broken up then too.

[Louey]

Hi all,


"From experince, I'd say 200/250 in a day is enough in a wedgy" - this is very handy info.

You could probably do a bit more on the roads in France. I remember we did Calais to just south of Nantes in a day - about 420 miles, yep it was knackering but meant we could chill on the campsite for the next 10 days. This was before Heather could drive so it was all me behind the wheel

[anaconda]

I agree with the above poster, Its possible to do 300 miles or perhaps more in France, even at a steady 55. The roads tend to be better and clearer than in the UK so you may find its comfortable to do the bit extra.I guess its all a question of personal preference. Youve really jumped in at the deep end heading so far south, but i envy what you are doing. We bought our T25 a month ago after we had booked a holiday in Languedoc for the end of May on a Ryanair cheapo. Id much rather be going in the van. I agree with an earlier poster - spend time at your destination and dont do much driving. Ive always loved taking things easy down there or wherever we are in France. I think your two day driving plan is feasible but id suggest you make it a two day plan from the north of France rather than from home. For what its worth I love the drive through champagne with its miles of vines and the completely open vistas around the long roads, unlike our motorways which always have the obligatory grass banks to hem them in. Were planning to head south in the van next year. We'll probably pick camsite stops rather than aires due to the facilities.

Do let us know how you go on. I reckon the long haul holidays would be fantastic in a T25.

[kermit dave]

[quote="anaconda"]I love the drive through champagne [quote]

^ ^

LOL - watch out for bubbles up your nose!!

[Ian Hulley]

I reckon the long haul holidays would be fantastic in a T25.

They are !

[Westy End]

last year we did the trip from calais to bordeaux in the van with two kids and all the kit. we didnt book anywhere and rolled into the two stop offs on the way. my lasting impression is that as you get on the D roads the foot comes off the accelerator and you start to enjoy the trip rather than the getting there. that is why we are going Portsmouth - Le havre this time - misses out the worst of it. it avoids the slog of the autoroute in the north and the hills of the Pas de Calais.

Dont forget that almost anywhere you stop there will be good food, wine and a place to camp.

have fun.

[si macc]

Hi Westy,

Yeah, you're right. We need to make sure we don''t get too caught up in having to be here or there at a certain time. Guess thats the beauty of having a camper!

[Louey]

Dont forget that almost anywhere you stop there will be good food, wine and a place to camp.

have fun.

Not only in France, but anywhere, that is the joy of driving a home away from home.