Calais to Denia in January

[2025 Denia]

Hi, we are two ladies travelling from Scotland to Denia Spain. We are driving down with our wee dog in January. This will be our first adventure driving abroad. We are looking for the straightest, safest route. Worried about snow and ice. We do want to avoid Paris or any other busy city. Any help in planning would be much appreciated.

 

[EuroTrotters]

And a public weighbridge in Millau

 

[JockandRita]

The Dieppe ferry is her limit.
For us, we enjoy the travel down in the vehicle.

The Dieppe Ferry is our limit too.
I'm the only driver, and as an experienced long distance HGV/PSV driver, neither the drive nor the length of journey are a problem to me, but boredom is a problem for Rita (understandable) so we tend to do Calais or Dieppe to Benidorm in 5 x days, giving us a decent break each day.
On days when it's raining, we just keep going until I've had enough.

For me Newhaven dieppe then right down the middle on the free a75 motorway past millau. Lots of free aires on that route for stopovers .

That's the route we normally come back on during late March/early April, but last January we took that route going down, rather than the Bordeaux route, and found it quite pleasant weatherwise. I was expecting snow, but other than that seen on the odd peak, we hardly saw any.
If not heading for Portugal first, we'll go the A75 route again this coming January.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Northernraider]

The Dieppe Ferry is our limit too.
I'm the only driver, and as an experienced long distance HGV/PSV driver, neither the drive nor the length of journey are a problem to me, but boredom is a problem for Rita (understandable) so we tend to do Calais or Dieppe to Benidorm in 5 x days, giving us a decent break each day.
On days when it's raining, we just keep going until I've had enough.


That's the route we normally come back on during late March/early April, but last January we took that route going down, rather than the Bordeaux route, and found it quite pleasant weatherwise. I was expecting snow, but other than that seen on the odd peak, we hardly saw any.
If not heading for Portugal first, we'll go the A75 route again this coming January.

Cheers,

Jock.

It's the easiest route I find and toll free .

 

[stevenansuzanne]

Hi, we are two ladies travelling from Scotland to Denia Spain. We are driving down with our wee dog in January. This will be our first adventure driving abroad. We are looking for the straightest, safest route. Worried about snow and ice. We do want to avoid Paris or any other busy city. Any help in planning would be much appreciated.

I agree with other member brains we go from stirling scotland drive down to a site near Bristol leave following day drive down to Portsmouth to Brittany ferries .over to santander .we got the ferry this year for 2 people +mo ho return booking for £893.00.weighed up the cost of fuel tolls miles to drive plus the time driving .I found that to be the best way to go tour Spain for 2 months .miss France altogether ooo la lah .problem with France is the French .

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[buzz1]

Hi
We have done the last couple years of driving through France down to Spain during January/feb (we are newbys to motorhoming) always via channel tunnel as we have a dog too, wouldn’t want to leave her on ferry below .
As for snow Never really encountered any real snow to be honest, we even drove over the Pyrenees mountains . No snow on main route
we have all season 3peak tyres and carry snow chains but never used . ( but good to have incase of bad weather )
Main routes seem to be cleared pretty good.
Not like England where gritting lorry sat in heavy traffic unable grit . Yes I talk from experience.
If weather turns nasty just find some where to stop for the night plenty places about.
There no real rush just take your time and enjoy.
Plenty of help on here from members if and when you need it .
Honestly it a lot easier than you think.
My only recommendation would be once you get off train or ferry find somewhere local to park up for rest of day /night and start fresh next day,
Enjoy .

 

[steve69]

Hi, we are two ladies travelling from Scotland to Denia Spain. We are driving down with our wee dog in January. This will be our first adventure driving abroad. We are looking for the straightest, safest route. Worried about snow and ice. We do want to avoid Paris or any other busy city. Any help in planning would be much appreciated.

Please be aware that fresh water for your tank can be hard to come by in France during the winter. The Aires turn the water supplies off to prevent freezing.

 

[JockandRita]

It's the easiest route I find and toll free .

Absolutely Tam.............all the way.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[BikerGraham]

It's the easiest route I find and toll free .

What’s the actual route there Tam please ?

 

[Northernraider]

What’s the actual route there Tam please ?

Easier to see the actual stopovers etc on my polarsteps

Follow me on my trip ‘Viva espana ’ at https://www.polarsteps.com/tambrand/6045918-viva-espana?s=34a8fb68-5289-4662-bf6d-8985d2b1d1a0


But this screenshot gives a rough idea . I

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[EuroTrotters]

Easier to see the actual stopovers etc on my polarsteps

Follow me on my trip ‘Viva espana ’ at https://www.polarsteps.com/tambrand/6045918-viva-espana?s=34a8fb68-5289-4662-bf6d-8985d2b1d1a0


But this screenshot gives a rough idea . I

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[JockandRita]

What’s the actual route there Tam please ?

This was our route, (very similar to Tams), but not necessarily our overnight stops.

Dieppe, Rouen, Everuex, Druex, Chartres, Gien, Briare, Pouilly Sur Loire, Nevers, Moulins, Cleremont Ferrand, then the toll free A75 (except the Millau Bridge), all the way down to Beziers. Non toll routes into Spain are quite good, before picking up the toll free AP7, after overnighting at La Jonquera.

HTH Graham.

Jock.

 

[BikerGraham]

This was our route, (very similar to Tams), but not necessarily our overnight stops.

Dieppe, Rouen, Everuex, Druex, Chartres, Gien, Briare, Pouilly Sur Loire, Nevers, Moulins, Cleremont Ferrand, then the toll free A75 (except the Millau Bridge), all the way down to Beziers. Non toll routes into Spain are quite good, before picking up the toll free AP7, after overnighting at La Jonquera.

HTH Graham.

Jock.

Yes it does.
Thanks very much Jock

Do you driver from simple to Cleremont Ferrand on or off tolls ?