Stelvio Or Trollstigen

[Snapper]

On route down to Switzerland I could recoment a good hotel in Joinville, The next day you could swing past the village of Domremy-la-pucelle, which is the village where Joan of Arc was born in 1412. Plus the The Basilica of Saint Joan of Arc. Worth a look and a five min stop.

 

Then head down through the Grand Ballons region of France to Mulhouse. I would recommend visiting the Bugatti Museum at Mulhouse. Called; COLLECTION SCHLUMPF Musée National de l'Automobile .

 

Then head into Swizerland. A word of warning you need a motorway pass stiicker in your window, called "vignette" for 40 Swiss frances.

[Stevie]

I have seen that road in Bolivia before and read about it many times, although I have not had the pleasure as yet to travel on it.

Might give it a miss

 

If you're meaning the famous La Paz to Coroico road (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yungas_Road) you wouldn't want to go anywhere near it in the Lotus - it's not tarmaced! It's unpleasent enough on a full suspension mountain bike!

 

Looking over some of the edges gives you horrific "if I slipped now..." thoughts.

[Greg.g]

On Jamie's advice, i did quite a few passes in Switzerland last year. I also covered the Austrian, Italian and French alps

It was a hilly drive

 

I did put up a thread earlier this year regarding an mloc touring holiday next year.

 

Details if interested....here

 

 

 

It is something that is so worthwhile and rewarding to do.

 

 

And the pictures do not do these roads justice.

[sootysteve]

Which pass is this Jamie?

 

 

I believe it is the St Gotthard Pass

 

(From Google images search. I have not driven it, but some of the people in the group I was with had done a longer route.)

 

 

what a great looking bit of rd!!!!!

[Snapper]

To be honest track-days are fine, but I tend to get bored by mid afternoon.

 

But on roads like this you often find that they are very clear and you can travel at a brisk, but still safe speed, on a very challenging stretch of with such fantastic views.

 

This is what owning a sports car is all about, touring great places away from home, with unbelievable views, demanding roads, taking in historic places & while enjoying good food and wine (Not while driving).

 

If you have just been using your sports car to and from work or Sunday drives, you have missed the hole point of owning one IMHO.

 

If you have not been on a touring holiday in your car yet, you really should think about doing it next year. With the right planning it should not break the bank.

[Ladders]

This ones a bit random, but when I was on my way to the Gorge du Verdon in France, my friend suggested this route to get there:

 

'Try the route to the Canyon from Draguinan but don't take the D995, take the Bargemon Road (much easier) up to Comps-sur-Artuby'

 

It was a bit hard to find, I actually went past it by mistake the first time and had to turn back. Glad I did, about 5 miles of freshly laid, twisty, deserted tarmac! It then wound through some really lovely little villages that I really wish I'd stopped in for a drink. Perfect way to reach the canyon.

 

 

If anyone fancies doing this sort of thing then I'd absolutley recommend you go for it!

 

 

I went last year with a bit of a "The plan is, there is no Plan" and just had a few places I knew I wanted to visit and then joined the dots up in between. My only know destinations were Monaco, a drive through the Alps and a few places that Jamie (Snapper) had suggested.

The Alps and Monaco were as great as I'd expected! And everywhere that Jamie had recomended were superb. If your thinking of doing this sort of thing then I recomend you give him a shout, he knows his stuff! I'd also try asking people who have done this sort of thing before as they always have suggestions of places you'd never find if you just randomly drove through France. Just imagine if you'd come from Europe to see Britain and you just drove the M1! - you get the idea!

 

I'd suggest you have an idea of where you want to go, ask where good places are to see around the locations or along the way, and book accomadation to suit. Also think how long you want to travel, and break the journey up into drivable distances each day.

 

I'd also recommend not to delay driving back to England from Spain until the Sat after having a night out on the Fiday. When you have to be at work on the Monday, and so having to drive over 1000 miles home and sleeping overnight in a French service station in your car.

 

I also didnt book any accomadation except for the first night, and took a tent just incase I was really stuck. I wouldnt recomend this approach though as when it gets to 7pm and you havent found anywhere to stay it starts to get a bit worrying.

 

I also wouldnt recomend camping unless you know really nice places to stop. I just turned up at a campsite and found it a thoroughly misrable experience. I was also treated with suspision by the french families who were there!

 

HTH!

 

Dave