19 Nov 2011 10:20 PM:
I live outside Stockport and do the journey to Murcia twice a year departing end of April returning early July and again departing end of August returning end of October,we have been doing this for a period of 7 years
We have driven from Calais via A28 Rouen,N154 Louveires,Evreuex, Dreux,Chatres to join the N10/A71 at Orleans.
This route avoids the Paris ring roads, which are normally very congested 7days a week unless you are passing by between circa 1.00am and 4am when it is relatively quiet. ( I worked in France for three years and know it well)
From Orleans you can either head for Tolouse via A71,A20 A62, A61 then cross the end of the Pyranees via A66, Pamiers, Foix,Tunnel de Puymerens, Bourg Madam,Tunnel de Cadi then down into Barcelona, this route is not recommended in winter due to the high ground beteween Tolouse and Barcelona.
Alternatively you can drive straight down the A71/A75 over the Milau Viaduct to meet the A9 at Beziers and follow the coast to the Spanish frontier , then take the A7 to Murcia via Barcelona and Valencia.this route is circa 1210miles from Calais to Murcia and takes circa 18hrs of actual driving.
Leaving Stockport at 6.30am arriving at Dover allowing plenty of time for hold ups( M25 nightmare) makes a 1.00pm sailing to Calais possible, arriving in Calais at 3.30 local time, we always stopped somewhere near Chartres by circa 6.30/7.00pm and stayed in a small hotel ( Logis de France, Kyraid, Ibis etc) costing about 50euros a night for a double room plus meals. The following morning we could reach Perpignan comfortably by 5.00pm, then the following day the final slog to Murcia arriving about 5.00pm allowing for pit stops. It is a very tiring drive, however some brave and in my opinion reckless souls drive it none stop with a change of drivers.
A typical distance for the route via the Milau viaduct is 1210 miles with the tolls costing 125 euros each way.
( if you look this route up using an online routing website this will be confirmed, it costs this route at 385 euros each way including. for petrol and tolls) plus say about £130 for a day crossing ferry Dover - Calais return.
We gave up driving through France and we now take the Brittany Ferries crossing from Plymouth to Santander, you can also go from Portsmouth but it is a 5 hour longer crossing and the journey to Portsmouth involves the delights of the M3 to negotiate, it also takes about 5hrs to drive to from Stockport.
It takes us 5hrs to Plymouth( allowing for hold ups), the ferry sails at 4.00pm and arrives in Santander at 12.00am mid-day, the drive from Santander toMurcia takes circa 8hrs with no tolls if you take the toll free motorway around Madrid.The distance is 550miles and there are plenty of filling stations with cheap tapas en-route.
In the summer the ferry sails at 900pm from Santander to Plymouth leaving plenty of time to drive there from Murcia departing at 7.0am. The Portsmouth sailing is at 17.30pm which makes it very tight to drive there in a day however an overnight stay just the other side of the bay is only 45euros for a double room in three star rated hotel.
The ferry costs about £518 return for two persons in a car and using a two berth inside cabin, there is a self service resturante on board, plus a silver service one and a cafeteria.
We prefer to pay the extra for the comfort of an outside four berth cabin for two, two berth top bunks are very easy to fall out of.
If you add up the true cost of the routes through France including hotels, meals, tolls etc and those via Santander you will find that you are saving very little or even paying out more, plus you would be adding circa 1400 extra miles on your car.
Bobg
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manchester to la manga ?
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