Spain / France trip advice please

[Emf#53]

This years annual weekend trip to the Moto GP at Le Mans has turned into a week long trip starting in Spain.

Leaving on Sunday 14th May we're taking the ferry to Bilbao and from there heading south west to Ainsa via Pamplona (Tuesday) - from there north on the A138 through Tunnel Routier d'Aragnouet-Bielsa then onto Toulouse (Wednesday) from Toulouse heading for the Millau Bridge, then turning northwest to Brive-La-Gaillarde (Thursday). This leaves Friday and Saturday to get to Le Mans for the racing on Sunday.

Is anyone familiar ish with the route we're planning to take, particularly on the Tuesday/Wednesday? If so what, if any, advice can you offer - is the route ok that time of year - is there a better/more scenic route to take?

So far the planning has been done off of maps - we're trying to keep the mileage under 200 miles a day - especially the first couple of days - we want to take our time and enjoy the scenery - its all about the journey

Any advice from more seasoned travellers would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance (thumbs)

[moto al]

Are you camping or hoteling it.? Al

[Emf#53]

Hotels - not sure Mrs EMF is ready for camping just yet :pinch:

[moto al]

Hotels - not sure Mrs EMF is ready for camping just yet :pinch:

ok, a great hotel I used in Ainsa ,last September

image_2017-03-23-2.png (735.71 KiB) Viewed 3082 times

10 out of 10

[Spike941]

Are you planning on going over or under the Millau bridge. You could stay in Millau itself and do both. Plenty of good cheap hotels in Millau, and somewhere I have stayed a few times. May in the Massif Central can be a mixed bag, expect anything between warm sunshine and snow. Snow's unlikely though, but it can happen. Most of the routes over the western side of the Pyrenees should be clear by mid May

[Emf#53]

Are you planning on going over or under the Millau bridge. You could stay in Millau itself and do both. Plenty of good cheap hotels in Millau, and somewhere I have stayed a few times. May in the Massif Central can be a mixed bag, expect anything between warm sunshine and snow. Snow's unlikely though, but it can happen. Most of the routes over the western side of the Pyrenees should be clear by mid May

At the moment it looks like Millau will be midday ish on the Thursday and then spend another 2 or 3 hours riding northwest in the afternoon so as not to leave too many miles on Friday/Saturday to get to Mayenne where we're staying Saturday night.

When we get to Millau it's worth a trip over and under the bridge? and if so how much time should we factor in - roughly - to do that?

[Spike941]

Are you planning on going over or under the Millau bridge. You could stay in Millau itself and do both. Plenty of good cheap hotels in Millau, and somewhere I have stayed a few times. May in the Massif Central can be a mixed bag, expect anything between warm sunshine and snow. Snow's unlikely though, but it can happen. Most of the routes over the western side of the Pyrenees should be clear by mid May

At the moment it looks like Millau will be midday ish on the Thursday and then spend another 2 or 3 hours riding northwest in the afternoon so as not to leave too many miles on Friday/Saturday to get to Mayenne where we're staying Saturday night.

When we get to Millau it's worth a trip over and under the bridge? and if so how much time should we factor in - roughly - to do that?

I assume you've not been over the bridge before, so over it from the south and stop at the visitor centre on the northern side. It's on the A75 Autoroute, and if you're following the Tarn from Toulouse towards Albi, then you'll need to head towards Saint Affrique and join the A75 at the La Cavalerie junction, which is the last one south before the bridge. The Autoroute at this point is free, you just need to pay the bridge toll which is situated on the north side, after the visitor centre. Just remember to get onto the A75 in the Clermont Ferrand & Paris direction. Make sure the misses has her camera ready for when you cross the bridge. After you've crossed it, the visitor centre is well signed. Pull in and park up, and walk up the path to the view point. Not to be missed if the weather's good. The A75 to Clermont Ferrend is also free and well worth the ride. Got to be one of the best Autoroutes in France. Millau bridge to Clermont is about 3 hours and you'll want about 20 minutes at the visitors centre. Hope this helps.

[Kipper]

Have a look at this thread I started
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php ... -May/page4

From Pamploma, go Anso. It explains why on the thread. Lots of other info on there that hopefully helps

[Emf#53]

Are you planning on going over or under the Millau bridge. You could stay in Millau itself and do both. Plenty of good cheap hotels in Millau, and somewhere I have stayed a few times. May in the Massif Central can be a mixed bag, expect anything between warm sunshine and snow. Snow's unlikely though, but it can happen. Most of the routes over the western side of the Pyrenees should be clear by mid May

At the moment it looks like Millau will be midday ish on the Thursday and then spend another 2 or 3 hours riding northwest in the afternoon so as not to leave too many miles on Friday/Saturday to get to Mayenne where we're staying Saturday night.

When we get to Millau it's worth a trip over and under the bridge? and if so how much time should we factor in - roughly - to do that?

I assume you've not been over the bridge before, so over it from the south and stop at the visitor centre on the northern side. It's on the A75 Autoroute, and if you're following the Tarn from Toulouse towards Albi, then you'll need to head towards Saint Affrique and join the A75 at the La Cavalerie junction, which is the last one south before the bridge. The Autoroute at this point is free, you just need to pay the bridge toll which is situated on the north side, after the visitor centre. Just remember to get onto the A75 in the Clermont Ferrand & Paris direction. Make sure the misses has her camera ready for when you cross the bridge. After you've crossed it, the visitor centre is well signed. Pull in and park up, and walk up the path to the view point. Not to be missed if the weather's good. The A75 to Clermont Ferrend is also free and well worth the ride. Got to be one of the best Autoroutes in France. Millau bridge to Clermont is about 3 hours and you'll want about 20 minutes at the visitors centre. Hope this helps.

Excellent information - that'll certainly help in our planning. Thank you (thumbs)

[Emf#53]

Have a look at this thread I started
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php ... -May/page4

From Pamploma, go Anso. It explains why on the thread. Lots of other info on there that hopefully helps

Thank you - I'll take a look (thumbs)