Will be moving house with a 7.5 ton box/curtain (havent purchased it yet) and a convoy of 2 or 3 other vehicles.
North west UK (Actually from Isle of Man) to south coast, so port is not an issue…
Thinking of Norfolk line (as its cheap) Dov to Dunk… but as were heading for Limoge, Paris is in the way, all the route maps seem to want to put us through the centre. Is there a better way?
Or should we use a different port and offset the fuel/toll costs against it?
What are the toll charges? as I cant seem to find anything on a web site…
Suppose I have to ask the question… we would be interested in some space in a truck or 2 if available that go to the Limoge area?? or possibly a return load??
Si
si, going through/round paris is easy, take the A1 to just past charles de gaulle airport, then pick up the A86 and follow signs for bordeaux.
once clear of paris take the A10 to orleans then the A71 to vierzon, there you join the A20 to limoges.
there are 2 tolls from calais to paris and paris to vierzon, and for a 7.5t it will cost you 70 euro’s
Cheers
Are their any time to really avoid Paris? apart from the normal style “rush hours”…Ie 0700-0900 and 1600-1800… or is it as bad/worse as/than the M25?
Si
Si,
Traffic can be very heavy in and around suburbs but you are going round it to a certain degree so you should be ok, Of course it is busiest at rush hour periods and a lot of traffic on the last bit before CDG
A different matter if you use the peripherique. That is scary on your first trip, it makes London look like the isle of skye.
As biggusdickus wrote, follow his info.A1 then A68, keep yer eyes peeled though for signs
In your other post about tacho. It is safest to drive 3 hours and take 1 hr breaks, Its not the law but the french police like to see it done that way
You can get up to date route planning in France, with tolls etc from www.autoroute.fr.
An alternative route would be:- from Calais, take A16 south to Abbeville, A28 south to Rouen. Cross country to Orleans. Then carry on as BD’s route. About 36€ in a 40 tonner toll to Rouen.
Simon:
An alternative route would be:- from Calais, take A16 south to Abbeville, A28 south to Rouen. Cross country to Orleans. Then carry on as BD’s route. About 36€ in a 40 tonner toll to Rouen.
Si,
This is definitely the best route. Only slightly more mileage than Paris and about the same time, but easier.
I live south of Limoges and have used this route for the past 4 years with a 44 tonner. Now retired I am leaving Thursday for a lightning 6 days trip to Nottingham and back with the car and will definitely go this way.
If tolls are a problem, they are for me, you can do the whole trip without any although I always take the A71 from Artenay to Vierzon (or if it’s mealtime come off at Salbris and down the N20 to allow a stop at La Loge Routier Restaurant). Can’t cost much for that stretch but can’t remember.
When you take the A16 from Calais come off at Boulogne and take the N1 to Abbeville, the autoroutes are then free to Rouen. Added advantage is Hautvillers Routiers just before Abbeville. Great food. I’ll be there Thursday (2nd) evening for the night if anyone wants to dine. Look for the white Citroen Saxo with the tiny, tiny caravan.
From Rouen you follow the signs via Evreux, Dreux, and Chartres towards Orleans but jump on the autoroute as stated at Artenay to avoid Orleans. After leaving the A71 at Vierzon it is good (free) road all the way via Chateuroux to Limoges.
Have a good trip and don’t forget those truckstops, most Brits miss them because they are all off the autoroutes. But you count the trucks at mealtimes if you don’t believe how good they are.
I agree about the truckstops, routiers, that is the best way to get to know france & french. Some of the best ones are in the most out of the way places but the parking is normally full, Its a good test, If you cant get parked in one then it is worth remembering. The french drivers vote with their feet, you can enjoy the home cooked food, low prices and a chance to sit and talk with french drivers.
Cheers for that…
sounds like a plan… Just need to sort out purchasing a truck or someone that has space to get our gear there…
Hope to be moving to just north of Gueret early/mid July…
