Goin a...wandering and looking for advice.

[runnach]

I’m interested in what you are saying. I did the toll thing returning home during COVID. All Airs were shut, as were the service areas. Getting fuel was, er interesting . I did find places to stop, obviously. I made sure that I arrived late and left before the dog walkers came. Two and a half days, Pomareo -Northampton. Including stops.
Would I do it again? Probably not, I’m seldom in that kind of hurry. But never say never.
I find rural France interesting. Especially in a rural French way. Spain? Not so much.

Yes, a frantic time with the CV19 lock down looming Mr T. What we like about the M/Way Aires, more so the non fuel dispensing aires, one can stop the night there if they wish, there are toilets and potable water at hand, and many of them are really, really nice for a chill night, although we did have a moment at a large fuel stop aire near Nice this year it was a learning curve, for sure.

Rural France, for me, while the BVF's are always stunning stopovers, I find they are all much the same, but do differ when moving from one region to another. It is the near constant roundabout maneuvering that does my head in, slow down, stop..........etc. Once on any motorway, hit cruise control, then sit back and you really can enjoy the views during the trip. The only slow down and top is at the peage, with the TAG, those days are over.

At the end of the day, it is all about choice, some prefer non peage routes, where me, as I am the driver, prefer peage motorway. That said though, Bea, my navigator, she scans the maps, and if a decent non peage route is sourced, we will use the route.

 

[Trotter]

Each to their own I suppose. Yes the roundabouts can be annoying, but I do find that they break up the monotony of tarmac mile crunching. Don’t get me wrong, I will use the autoroute, but tbh, I’m seldom in much of a hurry.
Once that ferry reaches the French coast, I’m on ‘Oliday, init.

 

[TJBi]

Each to their own I suppose. Yes the roundabouts can be annoying, but I do find that they break up the monotony of tarmac mile crunching. Don’t get me wrong, I will use the autoroute, but tbh, I’m seldom in much of a hurry.
Once that ferry reaches the French coast, I’m on ‘Oliday, init.

If the ferry voyage isn't part of the holiday, you need to change ferry operator.

 

[Trotter]

If the ferry voyage isn't part of the holiday, you need to change ferry operator.

You try sitting opposite Hayhiker for 4 hours.
Having said that. He could possibly say the same.

 

[gabby82]

Remember the French do not grit or salt their roads in the south. It can catch one out very easily. Many folk fit winter or studded tyres on hilly or long trips.

 

[CampervanDora]

If you do speed south, the Gorges du Tarn, just north of Montpelia is an amazing route that will take you within reach of the south coast. You can also head over the Milau Viaduct through the clouds from here which is amazing. Be careful if have a decent van and you do venture into northern Spain..... we have travelled through 23 countries in our '73 VW T2, including countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco etc with no problems whatsoever. But we got to northern Spain, keeping off the tourist trail and experienced a real anti British vibe, culminating in my van getting keyed all the way round on two separate occasions. We won't be going to Spain again.

 

[TJBi]

If you do speed south, the Gorges du Tarn, just north of Montpelia is an amazing route that will take you within reach of the south coast. You can also head over the Millau Viaduct through the clouds from here which is amazing. Be careful if have a decent van and you do venture into northern Spain..... we have travelled through 23 countries in our '73 VW T2, including countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco etc with no problems whatsoever. But we got to northern Spain, keeping off the tourist trail and experienced a real anti British vibe, culminating in my van getting keyed all the way round on two separate occasions. We won't be going to Spain again.

But be aware that French law requires you to be equipped with snow chains/snow tyres/3PMSF tyres during the winter period in a number of the communes that take in the A75.

 

[marchie]

If you do speed south, the Gorges du Tarn, just north of Montpelia is an amazing route that will take you within reach of the south coast. You can also head over the Milau Viaduct through the clouds from here which is amazing. Be careful if have a decent van and you do venture into northern Spain..... we have travelled through 23 countries in our '73 VW T2, including countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco etc with no problems whatsoever. But we got to northern Spain, keeping off the tourist trail and experienced a real anti British vibe, culminating in my van getting keyed all the way round on two separate occasions. We won't be going to Spain again.

We try to visit Spain each Winter, using Aires. Never had any problems, including in Northern Spain. We do try to speak a few words to our neighbours, and we do have an Ecosse sticker on the back, which is well received in Catalunya

Steve

Steve

 

[jacquigem]

If you do speed south, the Gorges du Tarn, just north of Montpelia is an amazing route that will take you within reach of the south coast. You can also head over the Milau Viaduct through the clouds from here which is amazing. Be careful if have a decent van and you do venture into northern Spain..... we have travelled through 23 countries in our '73 VW T2, including countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco etc with no problems whatsoever. But we got to northern Spain, keeping off the tourist trail and experienced a real anti British vibe, culminating in my van getting keyed all the way round on two separate occasions. We won't be going to Spain again.

I agree that it does seem like there is a growing anti immigrant feeling in Spain but we spend 6 months up North for the last 5 or so years without any problems so I would not rule it out.
I get more problems from Brits on our urb.

 

[Eriba]

One negative vibe I have observed from over hearing conversations in both France and Spain. Don't put a large UK sticker on your van. It gets mistaken !

 

[barryd]

One negative vibe I have observed from over hearing conversations in both France and Spain. Don't put a large UK sticker on your van. It gets mistaken !

I heard some were mistaking the UK sticker for Ukraine and rather than being hostile it was provoking the exact opposite reaction. I think that might have been posted on here a year or two back.

 

[marchie]

The aire at Moncofa has twin grey water dump drains (but there is only 1 freshwater tap), to enable 2 vehicles at a time to dump the grey stuff, get the fresh water refilled and the cassette emptied in the separate drain to one side. This helps to limit the queue for the services in busy times.

Peak time this morning, a Brit with personalised number plates, who wasn't even stopping on the aire in his Pilote leviathan decides to take 2 swings to get across the 2 service bays, stopping anybody else from accessing the point. Total tosser - never, in some 15+ visits across 40+ nights, have I seen anybody performing such a manoeuvre, to inconvenience himself and others, because he had to have 2 more swings to get the Van pointing down the concrete ramp! Meanwhile the queue grew to 5 vehicles, with more arriving, blocking the circulation island, so nobody could get in or out of the aire ... Wouldn't it have been fun if there had been an emergency during TwatHat's visit that required a site evacuation ... He ought to be sponsored by Durex ...

Steve

 

[runnach]

We had a hell of a time getting our dog his French passport due to confusion over dogs place of birth. UK was confused with UA, this was despite all veterinary docs stamped by Edinburgh University Dick Veterinary official stamps.

We eventually got it sorted while in France, but none of this would have been necessary if the numpty French civil servant knew the difference with country abbreviations.

 

[Mothership]

So a curve ball has been flung our way and disrupted the winter calm...we both have February off. Musing to taking a slow amble through France and south from there. Not been for 20 odd years and apart from the obvious considerations and wishing to avoid any form of 'negative vibes' of any description I am asking the learned forum here if there be a particular route anyone would take ?. We have no agenda..like the absolute peace and quiet, maybe some culture, standing stones etc are a great interest. Taking a small camper and awning and other necessary cargoes...possibly do some Air BNB's as we are just free really and it's the first for a long time and have 4-6 weeks. Any suggestions as to tried and tested routes appreciated. Thank you.

Just head south and keep going until the temperature change around Orange,

 

[trevskoda]

Just head south and keep going until the temperature change around Orange,

Like this maybe.