Trailering to Begur II

[Ballistix]

Hi all, didn't get to Begur, day before going, ended up in hospital for 3 days, couldn't do the reccy. So I wanted any views.

I'm thinking of just going for it. My route will take me from Portsmouth to Santander and then I intend to drive to Begure over two days never doing more than 50MPH and taking it really slowly.

- What are Spanish roads like?
- Does anyone know the route? I don't want too many hills up and down!!
- Are there any other gotchas I should consider before booking anything?
- Paperwork, insurance, what do I need (I will of course research this, but why learn from my one mistakes when I can learn from others )
- Finally, anyone based at that marina (Estartit, Spain) and going to be there from the 1st-15th July?

Cheers,
Regards,
Tony

 

[Nautorius]

Hello Tony,

I did UK to Costa del Sol the other week and UK to Altea about 8 weeks ago.

I chose the Portsmouth-Bilbao Ferry and it gets you in nice and refreshed. I got off the Boat at 8am and was in La Duquesa CDS at 11pm. It was about 678 miles and I drove alone.

The roads are fine now. You will basically get on one road and stay on it to Tarragona and then head North. Do not try and cut accross as the roads are rubbish and not many places to stop. Your Route is Santander to Zaragozza, Zarragoza to Tarragona, then up the Coast Motorway past Barcelona to Begur.

At 50mph you will do it easily in two days. Stick to the Spanish motorways as very few are Pay (although denoted AP) and if you do pay they are cheap. Lots of good service stations as well and the big ones have motels.

Stick to the Motorways and absolutely no problem.

I also drove Calais to Barcelona towing a boat and that is easy in two days as well. The French motorways are expensive and I was paying €1.28 a litre as well so cheaper and more fun to go boat and quick drive accros the top.

I was towing a 6m Dayboat (1600kg) with a 1996 LR Defender. Both fully loaded with possesions.

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Ballistix]

Hi Paul, thanks for this.

Now looks I can't get the Pompy to Santander trip on the dates...so it's Portsmouth to St Malo I think...what do you think of that? Out of interest could you pm me, or here if you are OK with it, what it cost you fuel and tolls to go through France?

Much appreciate the reply! Many thanks.

Regards,
T

 

[DavidJ]

Apart from being an expensive crossing does St Malo really help on a trip down to eastern Spain? I think a cheapo Dover Calais will save you money and get you pointing in the right direction.
I reckon two driving days to Begur stopping off at somewhere like Orleans, unfortunatly you will have to drive around the periferique of Paris which is as bad as it sounds so choose your time achordingly. Fuel costs the same as UK, and a guess at French and Spanish tolls would be £30 one way.
Roads excellent until you get close to Begur but loads of caravans do that trip so nothing that hasn't been done before.

 

[Ballistix]

Cheers David, I just wanted to minimise the miles in the car tbh....I'll look and see how far Calais to Begur is, plus I've also got to drive to Dover from Southampton of course /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Thanks for the Begur side advice too, sounds like it might be doable.

T

 

[MrCramp]

Wouldn't Portsmouth to Caen be better? That is what I did when I went to South-west France many years ago. Doesn't St Malo take you too far West for connections to decent roads going south?

 

[Nautorius]

Hi Tony,

Do the Portsmouth Bilbao route or Dover Calais. Not worth going to St malo or Caen as the roads are rubbish until you hit the Motorways. I have done it with the boat and do not recomend it.

The Tolls I paid were about €70Euro 8 weeks ago and I made sure that I hit the peripherique at lunchtime.

I drove Calais to Paris, then down the centre on the New motorway. Except for Paris it is a relaxing trip.

Will PM you my details

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif