We have two touring by car (well - austerity van ;-) trips this spring to still sort out. The previously mentioned run down past Azincourt - route Napoleon and into the top of Italy. Plus possibly a trip into the north west highlands of Scotland in a rented cottage north of Applecross.
Unsure of the latter - but need to start planning the March trip shortly
Any advice on missing school holidays in March and May in France and on the best chance of finding hotel vacancies (on the day) abroad?
Previously we have only headed south from Calais in late May or September.
It`s around 500 miles to get up to north of Applecross from here - only a little less than Reims.. another day from there would be passing through the Alps..
Which would you prefer and why? ;)
I`m having trouble deciding - or to put it another way - I have to present viable plans to the boss shortly ;-)
Cheers
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From my experience, the best time of the year to visit Scotland (weather-wise) is the month of May. France has several pleasant months to choose from in contrast.
Northern France in March can still be damp and chilly, and any routes over/near the Alps could still be unpleasant.
Look out for extra Easter traffic and price hikes for hotels/ferries if you set out anywhere at the end of March!
Difficult to recommend an overseas trip at the moment with the poor pound/euro exchange rate anyway. A proper tour of Scotland would get my vote! A propos, it's Burns Night today! 250th anniversary of his birth too!
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Previous experience of touring the Alps tells me that not only will Alpine routes be unpleasant in March but some of them will be blocked by snow until mid-May! Not major routes obviously but something scenic that you might want to use would be worth researching first!
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French school holidays vary depending on where you are (there are three areas), but Zone A Easter school holidays are March 6 - 25 and Zone B March 20 - April 2. Zone C doesn't count (Paris!)
I've never had problems finding accomodation "on the day" in France except in July/August - as long as you don't start looking too late. Many of the Ibis / F1-type places fill up quickly with business travellers by early evening, esp near the main motorways.
Alps / Jura/ Massif Central all likely to see plenty of snow in March.
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Scotland......speak the same lingo (well ish), buying British so doing your bit to help the economy, not suffering from the Euro exchange rate for purchases (which could make a noticeable difference with fuel).
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Steady on Jethro.... :-)
that is more accurate than i'd like to concede...:-)
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I'm posting from Portpatrick, just outside Stranraer.
Smashing little fishing village, mild as as you like, spacious room and free broadband - all for seventy quid a night - happy as a pig in muck, me.
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"I'm posting from Portpatrick, just outside Stranraer.
Smashing little fishing village, mild as as you like, spacious room and free broadband - all for seventy quid a night"
We could have had a pint together! - I arrived in Stranraer at about 8.30pm. Stayed in a little B&B near ferry overlooking sea (fairly small room but very nice, clean, en-suite wifi etc). Cost £35. Unfortunately had to leave at 5.30 am and missed what sounded like a fantastic breakfast!
Mind you, still a heck of a way from Applecross.
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"To get to Applecross, you need to cross the Bealach nam Bo, the highest mountain pass in Britain - rising over 2000 feet in six miles - to be rewarded on a clear day by spectacular views of Raasay and Skye, Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms."
My advice is not to try it when the clouds are low and it is raining. This road is lethal!
The above is a quote from the Applecross website which says it all. My wife and I visited Applecross on a number of occasions but only to have a lunchtime meal. It is indeed very remote on the edge of a sea loch and not somewhere, I feel, to stay more than a day or two.
We used to visit the North West Highlands twice a year in May and September over quite a long period and used the Dundonnel Hotel (at Dundonnel) as a central location from which to roam At that time, an excellent place to stay, giving a wide range of locations to visit on a daily basis.
Weatherwise, the Scots always recommended May and September. What ever you do, don't go in March, unless you enjoy gales and torrential rain!
We also travelled extensively in France, usually in June/July before it got too hot! To my mind France has it all, excellent roads, cuisine and fantastic scenery and a lot of practically traffic free roads. On balance, I think I would choose France - guaranteed to bring romance into the longest of marriages !!!!
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Thanks guys ;)
I never had trouble making decisions at work - but when it comes to holidays.....
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Alps in March will still have snow, a couple of years ago we were turned around by a guy clearing two feet of snow off a D road behind Morzine - he was in a big four wheel excavator with chains.
This was second week in MAY.
May is very quiet in the Alps, the month when they go on holiday between the winter skiing and the summer season. We had two stays in Les Gets and the baker had a sign in the window saying he was on holiday and back in June!
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I have been over the Bealach Na Ba in low cloud. Not much fun but amazing even if it is overcast.
The Applecross Inn has excellent seafood and beer.
Day trips out from Applecross might be a bit of a pain. Which ever way you leave you have narrow winding roads for 45-60 mins.
We normally rent a cottage. 1000 mile round trip from Manchester and around the same on 3 or 4 long day trips.
Lochcarron has been a good base with reasonable access.
The North Western corner above Ullapool and around to Tongue through the Geo Park is spectacular.
It is single track with passing places but there is little traffic and good visibility of the road.
With the Highlands, the gales mean the rain doesn't last too long. In my experience.
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