France and Spain best routes

MHJ
MHJ Forum Participant Posts: 1 Participant
in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hello,

We want to spend 3 months of the winter around the Almeria region of southern Spain. Probably crossing the channel at Portsmouth or Plymouth to France. What the best route through France then Spain. Open roads would be preferable, not worried about toll charges

Thanks, Marty (MHJ).

Answers

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,264
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    #2

    Plymouth ferryport is closed for most of the winter so it’s going to be departure Portsmouth or Poole. I myself would go overnight from
    Portsmouth to StMalo, although ferries to Cherbourg and Caen are also possible. . The best route in winter from those ports is straight down the French motorways via Bordeaux to the Spanish border near Bayonne . From there the Spanish motorways are mostly toll free these days . Take care.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 10,073
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    #3

    I agree with @eurortraveller. One other thing to be aware of is the most routes across the Pyrenees now require you to carry snow chains or have winter tyres fitted until April 1st. You can read more about this requirement >here< At the western and eastern ends of the Pyrenees you can avoid this requirement.

    peedee

  • RedKite
    RedKite Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 1,910
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    #4

    Agree with the above also you can get snow socks for the tyres easier to fit than chains.

    All our cars have snow tyres on even my little Citroen as we go to Villefranche for our shopping and the Aveyron is a department where it needed, our local authority have even suggested that the higher part of the LOT also should have them as it is near the Cantal department.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 11,623
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    #5

    We spent most of a February at a campsite in Cabo de Gata many years ago and it was very popular with various nationalities from Northern European countries. You'll enjoy the warmth around Almeria.

    We drove there from various sites on the eastern side of Spain but as others have said you can use the motorways in both France and Spain to get there quicker. Try not to go through central France unless the weather is known to be favourable as the mountains that surround the Autoroute can often attract snow.

    You'll have to stop several times so make sure the campsite is open, if using campsites. I'm not sure whether you have a caravan or motorhome.

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