Manchester to the Dolomites

[lankyrider]

Hi all,
Google can only help me so far. I'm trying to get a reasonable estimate for time taken to get to the Dolomites (probably Cortina area) from Manchester. I'll not be looking to do any sightseeing on the way out. I ask you guys because, with work constraints, a relatively accurate estimate would be helpful. Any top tips once out there also welcome.
Thanks in advance!

[sprintster]

I'll be following this thread.My girlfriend has never been to Italy before but wants to do it for her 50th birthday next year.How can I refuse? :whistle: (thumbs)

[Mike54]

Kind of depends on how comfortable you are riding long days, how fast, with or without mways etc, its not easy to answer. Also there is so much to see on the way over there and so many amazing routes that if you just fire straight there you'll miss a lot. Also depends on if you go hull zeebrugge etc or calais/ferry/tunnel.

[Spike941]

Riding there from the Cotswolds in 12 days time enroute to the Balkans. Allowing 3 days to the Dolomites. Day one, Cotswolds to Bar Le Duc via the Tunnel. Day two, to Zurich (meeting up with two other guys) via the B500 Black Forest route. Day three, to the Dolomites via the Umbrial Pass (the highest paved road in Switzerland) wihich comes out at the top of the Stelvio Pass. Descend the Stelvio into Italy, then onto the Dolomites.

[Curzon]

Timely thread! I've been thinking of this trip myself. I've done most of the French and Swiss alps, but always fancied the Dolomites, but its ust that bit further. I'm thinking of heading over the August Bank holiday week. I would be travelling from Chester, so similar route. I was thinking of thinking of ferry from Hull or Harwich to Zebrugge or Hook of Holland, than Mway down through Germany and Austria. I also have fairly limited time re work contraints so was thing there and back in around 9 days.2 longish days each way, allowing for around 4-5 days in the Dolomite region itself. I've not really thought this through properly yet.

[RandG]

You can be in the Dolomites within two days if you want to just batter the miles in. First day around 350-400 miles to the bottom of the Black Forest, second day through base of Germany, down in to Austria and drop down in to from there, probably taking the Grosslockner pass.
I highly recommend Corvara, lovely place and will likely be cheaper than Cortina, but it's all good, going again in a few weeks again. (thumbs)

[lmac]

We're just over the border in Slovenia at the moment, heading into the Dolomites today, as people say, so much to see around these parts. Have found Croatia and Slovenia to bee easier on the wallet .

[DaveCon]

I'm heading to Interlaken from Manchester at the weekend. Planning riding around 6 hours a day to get there, so a day to Northern France, a day to the French/Swiss border and another half day into Switzerland. I guess the Dolomites would be another half day further. It's around 50:50 motorways and A roads (thumbs)

[Oop North John]

If money is no object and time is limited, I'd take the ferry from Hull to Ijmuiden / Rotterdam. Google maps then reckons about 10 hours if you go via Wurzburg to the Timmelsjoch which along with the Jaufen pass gives an interesting start to the Alps proper. Another easy days ride to Cortina.
Grossglockner is a fairly easy days ride out from Cortina. In 2009 I stayed in a chalet near to here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rel ... 12.1258767
and it had superb views out to the hills, plus just about every exotic car / bike etc went up or down that road.

[Oop North John]

A favourite webcam here:
https://cortina.panomax.com/hotel-menardi