avoiding tunnels?

[dryad]

not the little ones where you can still see daylight at the end, but the longer ones..

is it possible to drive from calais down to the south of portugal and avoid the longer ones..
i only ask because these petrify me being a total claustrophobe..
am missing out on so much and places that i would like to visit before i pop my clogs..

 

[Al-Di]

yes by using the old roads,still some tunnels but not to long,we came back this way as Diane is put of by them and high bridges, and the scenery is better,

 

[dryad]

really appreciate the reply, thank you..

when you say not too long, how long might they be? something that you could drive through in a minute or so, or less?

 

[tonka]

From Memory.....
Going mostly non toll roads through France to The Spanish border at Irun, I can only think of the one just before Rouen. That should be easy enough to go around.
You have probably read stories of the somport tunnel but there is no need to use that route into Spain, especially when going to Portugal..

 

[dryad]

thank you tonka..
and no i haven't read the stories on the somport tunnel, sounds from the way you've written it that i really need to avoid that one..
have never wanted a satnav, but think maybe i should now think about getting one..
have always got by with maps and planning a simple route that way..
can they be set to avoid things like tunnels?

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[Puddleduck]

You aren't the only one who doesn't like enclosed spaces @dryad I don't like the Tyne Tunnel even though we use it regularly.

 

[tonka]

thank you tonka..
and no i haven't read the stories on the somport tunnel, sounds from the way you've written it that i really need to avoid that one..
have never wanted a satnav, but think maybe i should now think about getting one..
have always got by with maps and planning a simple route that way..
can they be set to avoid things like tunnels?

Not sure... But dont think I have ever seen that option...
Correct you would not like Someport, think its something like 12km or more in length..

 

[dryad]

it's a bit more than not liking puddleduck, it's a total panic making phobia, but hopefully, this thread will be useful to others too with the same problem..
i will and do, drive the whole of the m25 to avoid the dartford tunnel to get into essex from kent, yes, maybe stupid, but that's how it is..thankfully bridges aren't a problem..
have tried various solutions to get over this, nothing to date has worked..

 

[Bertie Bassett]

it's a bit more than not liking puddleduck, it's a total panic making phobia, but hopefully, this thread will be useful to others too with the same problem..
i will and do, drive the whole of the m25 to avoid the dartford tunnel to get into essex from kent, yes, maybe stupid, but that's how it is..thankfully bridges aren't a problem..
have tried various solutions to get over this, nothing to date has worked..

Nowt stupid about that D, me it's heights despite former life dropping out of perfectly serviceable aircraft. Can't abide heights of any sort so we plan, as you are planning, to avoid them!

 

[Steve101uk]

have a search on this site, it may help

http://www.anxietyguru.net/

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[hilldweller]

a total claustrophobe....

You definitely need to avoid one of the Dan Brown books where a stone coffin falls on our hero and it describes him in there unable to lift it and in a bit stressed out.

Made me feel uneasy.

 

[hilldweller]

me it's heights despite former life dropping out of perfectly serviceable aircraft. Can't abide heights

Similar here, aerobatics I used to love, not at all bothered about spinning around with the ground rushing up, but on ladder, I really have to force myself. Painted the gable end this year, must have lost pounds doing it.

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Similar here, aerobatics I used to love, not at all bothered about spinning around with the ground rushing up, but on ladder, I really have to force myself. Painted the gable end this year, must have lost pounds doing it.

We've got a bungalow and even I can manage to re-felt the garage flat roof........just!

 

[DBK]

If going to Portugal you should be OK if you head directly for the South but at all costs avoid the main road going along the north coast of Spain. It is a most impressive bit of engineering, tunnel to viaduct to tunnel to another viaduct and so on in some places. They are very proud of the road and tell you in advance exactly how long each tunnel or span is going to be to the nearest metre!

 

[Al-Di]

if you come into Portugal Rio Formoso on the A22(tollroad) there are 2 1st is 534mtr 2nd 138mtrs but you can get round both on the old road, there is an aire at Rio Formoso just inside border, 5e or 6,50e with electric,

A,

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[dryad]

thank you everyone for the helpful comments and advice, believe me, it is really appreciated..

don't know if this was daft, but had a lazy day yesterday so spent an hour or so looking at youtubes of driving through tunnels to try and get used to the feeling of being in them, but at a distance if you see what i mean, while doing the 'tapping' technique thing that i was shown by a therapist..
don't think it helped at all, had horrible nightmares last night..
but it would make travelling so much easier to get over this phobia..

 

[callumwa]

If going to Portugal you should be OK if you head directly for the South but at all costs avoid the main road going along the north coast of Spain. It is a most impressive bit of engineering, tunnel to viaduct to tunnel to another viaduct and so on in some places. They are very proud of the road and tell you in advance exactly how long each tunnel or span is going to be to the nearest metre!

I love driving along that road , it always brings a smile to my face, fantastic scenery, fantastic engineering.

 

[callumwa]

My boys love the tunnels.

They always play a game holding their breath to see who can last the whole length of the tunnel, or for the longest time, (they cheat as well).

Anyhow they came unstuck though when we did the Mt Blanc tunnel the other year....

 

[DBK]

...have never wanted a satnav...can they be set to avoid things like tunnels?

To the best of my knowledge you can't get a satnav which will avoid tunnels but happy to be proved wrong if anyone knows of one. You can set them to avoid tolls and this would take you away from any tunnels with a toll but for normal tunnels which you may come across almost anywhere they don't have this oiption. I have read that someone did it using Nokia maps and a smart phone but I don't know the detail - but it wasn't as straightforward as using a satnav.

I can only suggest getting maps of around 1:200K or better and check your proposed route for the day carefully. There are for example one or two longish tunnels on the motorway above Malaga I seem to remember, but they were shown on the map so avoidable.

You wouldn't go sailing off into the ocean in a yacht or flying an aircraft without working out a detailed course first so you just need to do the same in your MH. Could be fun as it will take you to less visited places I think.