Cantal Mountains
Sat 31st May - Sun 8th June 2008
| Duration |
8 Nights / 9 Days |
| Tour Area |
Auvergne Region, South of France |
| Status |
Escorted Tour (E) |
| Accommodation |
2 & 3 Star Hotels, one with swimming pool |
| Mileage |
200 - 250 miles per day |
| Approx Tour mileage |
1500 miles |
| Roads |
Combination of Motorway, A, B and Unfenced Roads |
| Skills |
Suitable for intermediate rider - first time abroad |
Scenic mountain passes, medieval villages and smooth, traffic-free roads
Once again, we visit the Auvergne region in the South of France. This
was our very first European tour many years ago, and remains a firm favourite
with customers and ourselves alike. We use the overnight Portsmouth
to Le Havre ferry which, although more expensive than Dover-Calais, greatly
reduces the daily mileages, making this an ideal tour for riders wanting
to try their first European tour.
Today, the Cantal Mountains are all that remains of what was once Europe’s
largest volcano. We ride the narrow mountain road of the Pas de Peyrol
- highest road pass in the Massif Central. A regular route for the “Tour
De France” it provides not only some exciting riding, but fantastic
views of this unique landscape.
If heights are not for you, to the south of the region is the Haute Auvergne
- a land of rocky plateaux and green mountain pastures. This area has some
beautiful medieval villages and scenic river gorges. However, more
importantly for us, there are some great biking roads with smooth tarmac
surfaces and long sweeping bends, which will make you want to turn around
and just do them all over again.
Within easy riding distance, are some great days out. To the west,
lies the Dordogne Valley, and the chance to visit the medieval cliff-face
village of Rocamadour. The region also boasts two of the most dramatic
bridges, namely the Viaduct de Garabit, built by Gustav Eiffel (of Eiffel
Tower fame) and the recently-completed ‘Viaduct de Milleu’. Designed
by the British architect Lord Norman Foster, this new bridge is the final
link in the A75 motorway spanning the Tarn Gorge, and is a masterpiece of
engineering - it is so high; it supposedly has its own microclimate.
Following a further overnight stop in the Loire Valley, we return to Le
Havre to board a late afternoon ferry back to Portsmouth. As the ferry
does not dock until late evening, we have arranged an overnight stay at a
3 star hotel in Portsmouth, leaving us refreshed and ready to continue our
journey home on the Sunday.
Tour Format
Day 1: Saturday 31st May Today, you
need to make your own way to Portsmouth, in time to catch the 2300hrs overnight
ferry to Le Havre.
Day 2: Sunday 1st June (220 miles) Being a Sunday, the roads
will be even quieter than normal - and we have an easy ride to our first
night’s stop in the Loire Valley. Arriving early afternoon means
we can relax and enjoy a swim in the hotel’s pool, or maybe take a
walk around this lovely historic town. Just time then to enjoy a drink
on the hotel terrace before having our evening meal, which is included in
the package.
Day 3: Monday 2nd June (220 miles) Continuing our journey southwards,
we have the opportunity to visit the village of Oradour-sur-Glane. This village
was the site of one of the greatest atrocities of the Second World War, when
occupying SS troops massacred the entire population in reprisal for French
resistance. The village has since been preserved exactly as it was then,
and is well worth a visit. Our day finishes at a 3 star hotel in a
small rural town under the shadow of the Cantal Mountains, which will be
our base for the next 3 days. An evening meal is included on the first night.
Days 4, 5 and 6 Tuesday 3rd - Thursday 5th June Your time here is
your own. The area offers many great places to visit, from mountain roads
to river gorges. You can join one of the organised rides-out, or explore
on your own. Your guide will be able to advise you on routes and places to
go.
Day 7: Friday 6th June (250-300 miles) Today, we leave for our return to
the Loire Valley. There are a number of routes on offer, one of the more
scenic ones being a ride through the dramatic lakes and volcanoes of the
Puy-de-Dome region.
Day 8: Saturday 7th June (220 miles) Our return ferry from Le
Havre is not until 1700 hrs, so we can have a leisurely day - a chance perhaps
to visit the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau? Alternatively, just
enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by in the beautiful harbour town of
Honfleur. The ferry doesn't arrive in Portsmouth until late evening,
so - for those that wish - we have arranged overnight accommodation in Portsmouth.
Day 9: Sunday 8th June Suitably refreshed, after breakfast, we bid
our farewells and make our way home.
Accommodation
A cabin is included for your cross-channel ferry crossing. However,
meals on this crossing are for your own account. The ferry has several
restaurants and bars, but, as you will not board until late evening, you
may prefer to eat prior to boarding. Your accommodation for both outward
and inward legs of the tour, will be in the lovely Loire Valley. Both
hotels have swimming pools and offer panoramic views of the beautiful countryside. A
fixed menu evening meal is included.
Your hotel in the Cantal region is a 3 star hotel situated in the main square
of this typical market town. The hotel does not have a restaurant,
so evening meals are not available. However, we will eat at a nearby
restaurant the first evening at our account (fixed menu). For the other two
evenings, you will need to eat out, but there are several cafés and
restaurants close by, serving everything from a sophisticated French meal,
to more simple cuisine (and pizza). Full buffet breakfasts and secure
under-cover parking are also included in the costs.
Due to the lateness of arrival in Portsmouth, we have made arrangements
to spend our last night at a 3 star hotel a short distance from the ferry
port in Portsmouth. The tour will finish after breakfast. If you live
locally, or do not wish to stay overnight, deduct £35 from the tour
cost.
The number of single rooms on this tour is limited. However, if you are willing to share, there is a good chance we can get you on the tour, and save you money.
| Tour prices are inclusive of the following |
| * Outward overnight ferry Portsmouth to Le Havre
with en-suite cabin (2300 hrs) |
| * Return afternoon ferry Le Havre to Portsmouth
(1700hrs) |
| * 7 nights' en-suite accommodation at 2 - 3 star
hotels |
| * 7 buffet breakfasts |
| * 3 evening meals (fixed
menu - but vegetarian option available) |
| * Full use of hotels' leisure facilities |
| * Undercover parking where available |
| * Maps and route notes as appropiate - Garmin routes
available |
| * services of experienced Tour Guides |
| Tour Cost |
|
| Two persons, one bike, shared room |
£575 each |
| One person, one bike, shared room |
£635 each |
| One person, one bike, single room |
£695 (price based on single hotel room and
cabin share on ferry) |
| Deposit £95 |
deduct £35 each if last nights
B&B in Portsmouth not required. |
Insurance
On all European tours (including Southern Ireland) we require clients to take
out some form of Personal Travel and Accident/Breakdown cover. This is
essential for repatriation of yourself and your motorcycle in the event of
an accident or medical emergency. We can offer cover through Gold Cover Insurance
Services Ltd, a company that have specialised in travel insurance for many
years and are used by many Motorcycle Tour Operators.
It is not a condition of your tour that you use our insurance; we only
offer this as a service to our clients.
GOLD COVER INSURANCE
Top | Back to Tours | Previous
Tour | Next Tour
