Combe Laval Balcony road

Brakers

Brakers

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Hi Everyone
Someone “NOT ME” is considering doing the Combe Laval Balcony road in a Coach built MH 3mtrs ht / 6.7 length; I’ve looked at the road and done a google run on it and in my opinion I would not want to risk it looking at the outcrops and tunnels.
Has anyone on here actually done this road and if so what would you recommend to this guy?
Best Wishes Tony
 
I haven't done it but studied it and a number of other dangerous roads.

Without reviewing the video I think that height is ok apart from the tunnel at the end which looks spectacular (for a motorbike)

You tube search for France balcony roads and look for 16 minutes 47 seconds worthy time spent. Can't link as away.

My last 2 trips to it have been covid effected and seriously can't wait to do the vercors and there are a few more round there as well
 
It done it by car. Length of vehicle isn't a problem. Its the height that will be a problem if another vehicle is passing. If you are on the uphill side of the road you could lose the top corner or a wing mirror. It could be ok only if you can command the centre of the road to maximise height. To get the best you need to stop and get out. Not easy with a MH. Cycle it if you can.
The Vercors is the part o France that the French want to forget. Steeped in WW2 tragedy and poignant memorials to the resistance as well as the local victims. This area deserves at least 10 days if not more. Add Grenoble too.
The route is stunning, one of the best and one of our favourite areas.
 
Well someone did it,sooner them than me 😳

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3.5t weight limit B136C90C-D3C5-4BEA-8535-82CA1B672517.jpeg
 
We did it in 2013 by car. Hire an open top for the day, you'll miss so much from in the cab of a moho..
Yes, that's SWMBO. We stopped and pulled in after one of the tunnel sections and walked up.
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You can defo do it on a tandem! Stunning area for cycling. I just love the names such as "col de la machine".

Stayed in a lovely campsite on St Jean en Royan
 
Stunning, and probably easy in a motorhome - if it were one way traffic :oops:
I think a hire car is the best solution
 
Arnside037 said:
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And don't forget the Gorges du Nan, or the Choranche and the Monument to the Resistance. ..... do your research first.
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The postman who built a palace as well. Can't remember off top of my head. I can't wait to go

Edit the postman cheval. Well worthy of a google

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Two on Tour said:
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I m sure if you keep following the road up that way it comes to what you think is a dead end but there's a tunnel to the left about 400 metres long and dripping wet and you can probably get a car through there. Have seen the videos of motorbikes going through it.

La Combe Laval is the reason I bought a drone !
 
There was just so much in this area we spent the best part of a month there ( including Grenoble and Visille and the ... )
 
Arnside037 said:
The Vercors is the part o France that the French want to forget. Steeped in WW2 tragedy and poignant memorials to the resistance as well as the local victims
Click to expand...
One of the safest places to be in France.
The Germans couldn't find la resistance for 5 years what chance has covid got of finding you !
 
I think the phrase is “sod that for a game of soldiers “ in a moho but in the wife’s spider 124 - bloody superb
 
We've done it a few times traveling in either direction in a 2.75m high LWB (5.1m) VW T6 and it's no problem. Well truly the only problem is that there aren't enough places to stop and let the driver enjoy the spectacular views.
There is a useful municipal campsite at the northern end at Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans ( Longitude: 5.25406 Latitude: 45.05922 ) and an Aire with water and waste disposal at Vassieux-en-Vercors ( Longitude: 5.36997 Latitude: 44.89803 ) high up before the decent towards Die.
It's just a case of driving cautiously and being prepared to give way to larger vehicles, you might even have the chance of seeing a classic car rally on the route, we have.

As a comment to the OP, I have a LWB (6.8m) high roof MAN TGE on order and won't hesitate to doing the route in it when we have it converted.

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A little further north east the sections of the D520B from Saint Laurent du Pont to Saint Pierre de Chartreuse - the route du desert, are similar with 3.5m height warnings and it is a service bus route!!
Almost all the tunnels are 'one at a time' and have pull-ins prior and will often find viewing galleries giving spectacular access to the gorges. If no more than a 3m MH there won't be many places you cannot get around with the necessary care.
 
To make a circular route, return via the Col de l'Escharasson. It was used by the Tour de France years ago and yes it is a narrow road, but would probably be ok for your MH. The D2 from St Laurent to the Col de la Machine is a much better and wider road, but it is steep in the bottom section. Near the end of the D2 there is a fantastic view across to the road cut into the cliff of Combe Laval. It is worth a visit to the museum and memorial to the French Resistance movement at the col above Vassieux-en-Vercors. Plenty of room for parking above at the Col de la Chau, and walk down to the museum, hidden in the cliffside.
 
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