Non-Toll route to alps ?

[Dizzy]

We're off skiing this winter and now we're retired we thought rather than blasting down the autoroutes through france we would look to something a bit more scenic and stop off for a night before arriving in Bourg-st-Maurice. Last year we did stop in Annecy but that was after doing the motorways, and tbh it was a bit manic finding somewhere at 1700hrs.

Currently thinking of heading to Lille and then into Belguim, Luxembourg and then back into france on the A31 (yes i know its a motorway) down to Metz, Nancy, Epinal, Vesoul, Besancon, stopping somewhere south of there to leave us 4-5 hours to BSM the following day. Depending on the weather we may head over the Jura but i suspect we will skirt a bit west and go through Oyonnax, then onto the A40, A41 into Annecy down to Albertville and finally up into the mountains.

Has anyone done this route? Or got any recommendations.

Would note we wont be in Dizzy but her big sister (MLT-580 CT) so dont need any facilities for a stop over, but we are limited on min height of 3.2m and need roads allowing gt 3.5T.

Plus the bonus of doing Luxembourg is we can top up the tank at hopefully lower prices than France.

cheers
D

 

[Souter]

Cross the channel Dover-Dunkerque and go into Belgium that way to Brugge, then Luxembourg. Head back to Nancy then Besançon. Sites could be difficult to find on the way down but some will be open.

 

[chockswahay]

Just use Aires (non motorway). Plenty of nice ones on that route, check out P4N

 

[Arnoob]

Otherwise, have a look at the Camping Car Park website, mostly basic camperparks , providing water, electricity and grey water dump. We are using them a lot, especially in these times of the year as they are open all year.

 

[sidepod]

As much as I love Belgium (beer), their roads are almost as bad as ours and they do love a speeding fine!
At least France has lovely smooth empty motorways.

 

[Black Forest]

Not wrong, sidepod. E42 Luxembourg - Dunkirk is riddled with potholes though it has got a bit better.

 

[stoobthealien]

As much as I love Belgium (beer), their roads are almost as bad as ours and they do love a speeding fine!
At least France has lovely smooth empty motorways.

This - we normally get the overnight ferry from the North to Netherlands and invariably get stuck on Dutch and Belgian roads

 

[Dizzy]

We'd already booked the ferry dover / calais so it is what it is (although not booked the return yet as we dont know when we will come back).

Ive found a number of aires / parkups south of besancon so we're all set with some options. only issue i now have is snow chains... my cali ones dont fit "the big girl" so i need to get two more sets... not sure if i can get away with 16mm chain or whether i need the 12mm, i suspect i will be ok with 16, going to put the 12mm over the tyres and see what the clearance is.

D.

 

[Adeline]

To my cali club friends who are planning to visit Belgium, be aware that as from 2027 you will need to get a road tax pass. It will be for all roads in Belgium, not just motorways. It will be applicable from April or May 2027.

 

[Topsy]

We'd already booked the ferry dover / calais so it is what it is (although not booked the return yet as we dont know when we will come back).

Ive found a number of aires / parkups south of besancon so we're all set with some options. only issue i now have is snow chains... my cali ones dont fit "the big girl" so i need to get two more sets... not sure if i can get away with 16mm chain or whether i need the 12mm, i suspect i will be ok with 16, going to put the 12mm over the tyres and see what the clearance is.

D.

Hi Dizzy, I have some snow chains for sale if you are interested.
They are Green Valley Heavy Duty TXR 16mm chains. Brand New never used (I bought the wrong size!!). They are on eBay. I'll take £50.

 

[acer]

To my cali club friends who are planning to visit Belgium, be aware that as from 2027 you will need to get a road tax pass. It will be for all roads in Belgium, not just motorways. It will be applicable from April or May 2027.

I’m sure that they will be using the extra money to repair the aforementioned potholes

 

[chockswahay]

I’m sure that they will be using the extra money to repair the aforementioned potholes

Of course!

 

[The Fockers]

Check out the "Route de Cretes" for a scenic drive. There are several that come up on Google maps but the one I've ridden several times runs through St Die des Vosges and down towards Mulhouse through the Vosges mountains.

 

[briwy]

We're off skiing this winter and now we're retired we thought rather than blasting down the autoroutes through france we would look to something a bit more scenic and stop off for a night before arriving in Bourg-st-Maurice. Last year we did stop in Annecy but that was after doing the motorways, and tbh it was a bit manic finding somewhere at 1700hrs.

Currently thinking of heading to Lille and then into Belguim, Luxembourg and then back into france on the A31 (yes i know its a motorway) down to Metz, Nancy, Epinal, Vesoul, Besancon, stopping somewhere south of there to leave us 4-5 hours to BSM the following day. Depending on the weather we may head over the Jura but i suspect we will skirt a bit west and go through Oyonnax, then onto the A40, A41 into Annecy down to Albertville and finally up into the mountains.

Has anyone done this route? Or got any recommendations.

Would note we wont be in Dizzy but her big sister (MLT-580 CT) so dont need any facilities for a stop over, but we are limited on min height of 3.2m and need roads allowing gt 3.5T.

Plus the bonus of doing Luxembourg is we can top up the tank at hopefully lower prices than France.

cheers
D

We were in Luxembourg a few weeks ago and sad to say unlike last time we were there fuel is no cheaper than anywhere else at the moment.

 

[Dizzy]

Hi Dizzy, I have some snow chains for sale if you are interested.
They are Green Valley Heavy Duty TXR 16mm chains. Brand New never used (I bought the wrong size!!). They are on eBay. I'll take £50.

thanks for the offer, i am not sure if 16mm will fit our clearances behind the wheel.

wheel / tyres are 265 60 R18 (not on the cali!) they need to support GVW of up to 5 tonnes. i will look em up.

let me know on PM.

KR
D

 

[Dizzy]

We were in Luxembourg a few weeks ago and sad to say unlike last time we were there fuel is no cheaper than anywhere else at the moment.

really, i was looking on a pricing web site for europe and it was showing 2.05 euros ish, compared to france which was 2.45 when we were there in late september.

 

[Dizzy]

To my cali club friends who are planning to visit Belgium, be aware that as from 2027 you will need to get a road tax pass. It will be for all roads in Belgium, not just motorways. It will be applicable from April or May 2027.

ooh thanks for letting me know, we will investigate, but we should be back by mid feb (we're going to run out of schengen days!)

Looks like up to april you are ok and dont need anything even for our 4.7T hymer as long as its a motorhome and not a goods vehicle.

phew.