Advice on route (1 Viewer)

Dotplus6

Free Member
Oct 4, 2013
214
119
N. Ireland
Funster No
56,522
MH
Swift Royale 540 (1995)
Exp
4 yrs in total but not consecutively. Just bought the 3rd.
We're planning, all being well, to leave on 18th September & travel to Zeebrugge via Hull then after a few days in Holland we want to travel down through Belgium & the east coast of France, hugging the coast along the South of France, down east coast of Spain, South of Spain & planning to arrive in Vilamoura, Portugal around the 20th October to meet with friends who've booked a hotel. From Holland I've worked out on the AA Autoroute that it's about 50 odd hours driving from Holland, avoiding motorways.

1) Has anyone else done this?
2) Does anyone know if the roads are ok to do this as we prefer to stick to roads with scenery rather than getting there quicker.
3) Are there any mountainous roads involved with cliffs as I'm terrified of driving along with steep drops beside me.
4) Does anyone know of a good campsite in or near Vilamoura - my friend stayed last year & said there were lots of motorhomes right beside the beach beside her hotel (Crowne Plaza) but I'm wondering if it's still ok to do that. The only campsite she saw was in Quartiera and she wasn't impressed with it & googling hasn't shown up anything much either.
5) The route home will be up the west coast of Portugal & the west coast of France so any good recommendations for sites or aires appreciated.
6) Any other tips gladly accepted.

Dot
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,181
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
Hello, looks like quite an adventure, can't add much, but do you realise you are landing in Belgium not Holland?
 

DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,969
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
IMG_0414  Looking down into the Gorge du Verdon-reduced.jpg
I would surprised if you didn't drive along any cliffs in the south of France. There are some blinders down there such as the gorges of the Tarn and Verdon (see above). I can only suggest checking your route with Google Street view.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
D

Dotplus6

Free Member
Oct 4, 2013
214
119
N. Ireland
Funster No
56,522
MH
Swift Royale 540 (1995)
Exp
4 yrs in total but not consecutively. Just bought the 3rd.
David - Thanks :oops: - No - I thought Zeebrugge was Holland but it's the easiest way for us to get there - I think. I did it years ago & it must be pretty close to the Dutch border.

Devon Beekeeper - Thanks for the picture. I'm going to have to map out a route over the next few weeks & see exactly what we're letting ourselves in for. I don't want to be in a position where we're along a narrow road with not much between us & a huge drop at the side & being in a position where we have to reverse - maybe I've been seeing too much of that program my husband watches - trucks that go up mountains & there's only room for one with no-where to pass. I don't remember feeling this cautious last time we had a MH - I definitely felt more carefree back then. I still don't have the confidence driving this new vehicle that I had before (it's longer & wider) - or maybe it's just because I'm getting older.

The lower road doesn't scare me so much as the place where you're taking the picture from - and what do they hope to achieve from that blow up tube near the top or is that just my eyesight?

Dot
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,181
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
Got me intrigued about where the border was, you do have an option to change the ferry crossing to Rotterdam from Hull still

However, I am amazed how close Holland is to Zeebrugge and Bruges

DBK mentions Gorge du Verdon, amazing place well recommended but you should not get anywhere near there unless very lost this time at least

No knowledge of serious mountains in Spain / Portugal, we went to Spain via Biarritz so avoided all issues with the Pyrennes

So to end again, have fun
David
 
Sep 26, 2013
4,157
5,099
Market Rasen
Funster No
28,295
MH
Self Build
Exp
Since 2003
I've always fancied visiting the east coast of France but never managed to find it.:)
I don't know how many miles you are doing but by not using toll roads you will average no more than 35 mph.

Mike

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Sep 10, 2013
1,186
18,688
Chelmsford Essex
Funster No
28,027
MH
C Class
Exp
Getting better
Do the French now appreciate their new East Coast?

Will le Tour be taking in this new geographic feature? Is it flat or hilly?
 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
48,814
Dark side of the moon
Funster No
172
Exp
Since 2005
[QUOTE="dotplus6, post: 1051930, member: 28420"

The lower road doesn't scare me so much as the place where you're taking the picture from - and what do they hope to achieve from that blow up tube near the top or is that just my eyesight?

Dot[/QUOTE]

Sorry to tell you this,but the 'lower road' is actually the Tarn river in the valley bottom. :laughing:
My estimate is 500ft below.
And that blow-up tube is a steel barrier on top of a 3ft thick cemented stone wall....a bus wouldnt get through that.

Travelling the med coast you will find some cliff side roads but they are relatively wide and safe with concrete and stone barriers.
Also remember you will be on the right hand side of the road so wont see the drop.

If you travel through the masif central in the lower half of France you will cross the millau viaduct standing at 890ft above the valley floor but you have more chance of falling off a curb than falling off that.....the safety barriers are so secure they block the view of the valley below.
Or you could always go the old route through Millau and into the valley and up the other side.

Its easy to say but there really is no concern regarding safety on the high cliff roads.
 

makems

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 23, 2011
3,435
27,584
Ingleby Barwick,,Teesside
Funster No
18,264
MH
Sadly had to give up
Exp
2010-2017
Re parking by the Crowne Plaza, I think all the vans got cleared off that patch a couple of years ago. In fact the day after we left after staying for a couple of weeks.
Its a shame as it's a great spot near the fish market in Quarteira with a nice walk along the Quarteira promenade, easy walk to the shops, plenty of inexpensive restaurants around.
Kiwi Coss tried going back last winter and was told to keep moving.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
48,814
Dark side of the moon
Funster No
172
Exp
Since 2005
Got me intrigued about where the border was, you do have an option to change the ferry crossing to Rotterdam from Hull still

However, I am amazed how close Holland is to Zeebrugge and Bruges

DBK mentions Gorge du Verdon, amazing place well recommended but you should not get anywhere near there unless very lost this time at least

No knowledge of serious mountains in Spain / Portugal, we went to Spain via Biarritz so avoided all issues with the Pyrennes

So to end again, have fun
David
A75 (Toll free except the bridge), and the millau bridge, is the easiest way to the south of France, which is where the op is heading, and the coast road into Spain.

The op is confusing east with south.
 
OP
OP
D

Dotplus6

Free Member
Oct 4, 2013
214
119
N. Ireland
Funster No
56,522
MH
Swift Royale 540 (1995)
Exp
4 yrs in total but not consecutively. Just bought the 3rd.
Got me intrigued about where the border was, you do have an option to change the ferry crossing to Rotterdam from Hull still

However, I am amazed how close Holland is to Zeebrugge and Bruges

DBK mentions Gorge du Verdon, amazing place well recommended but you should not get anywhere near there unless very lost this time at least

No knowledge of serious mountains in Spain / Portugal, we went to Spain via Biarritz so avoided all issues with the Pyrennes

So to end again, have fun
David

Thanks David - I will have a look at it as we haven't booked yet and after speaking with a friend last night she has advised us to wait until May to visit Holland to see the tulips so maybe we will just go Calais & go straight to France instead. Hopefully my nervousness will disappear nearer the time.

Dot
 
OP
OP
D

Dotplus6

Free Member
Oct 4, 2013
214
119
N. Ireland
Funster No
56,522
MH
Swift Royale 540 (1995)
Exp
4 yrs in total but not consecutively. Just bought the 3rd.
Pappa John - Thank you :) It was like an illusion & now that you have pointed it out I can see it clearly now - except the river - it still looks like a road to me but I'm glad it's a river as it wasn't doing anything for my confidence!! I have a fear of heights but so long as there are barriers I'll be fine - I've been watching those trucker programmes too much! Plus the point that we'll be on the right side of the road is very reassuring. I might try to do a motorhome manoeuvre course before I go as hubby doesn't like driving on the continent - I love driving but for some reason I'm just nervous this time with the bigger van - by the time I get to France I'll no doubt have my confidence back.

Mike / Zains - don't report me to the education board ( I home educate).

Thanks for all replies - has 'thanks' button been removed from the features?

Dot

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Dec 12, 2010
5,368
21,198
Cumbria
Funster No
14,651
MH
C Class
Exp
since 2011
Re parking by the Crowne Plaza, I think all the vans got cleared off that patch a couple of years ago. In fact the day after we left after staying for a couple of weeks.
Its a shame as it's a great spot near the fish market in Quarteira with a nice walk along the Quarteira promenade, easy walk to the shops, plenty of inexpensive restaurants around.
Kiwi Coss tried going back last winter and was told to keep moving.
We were there in March but not in the van, we did see 4 or 5 vans parked up there for a couple of days at a time, never saw anyone moved on although there were a lot of police around as there was a local carnival on and they had closed the beach front road off.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top