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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Doesn't load for me !@

 

[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 ?

 

[JockandRita]

Yes it does.
Thanks very much Jock

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

All our driving through France Graham is toll free. I set up my Truck Sat Nav for (non toll) Motorways and other Major Routes, and away we go.

On the Bordeaux Route, I have done some of the tolls just on the A63 in the past, down to the Spanish border at San Sebastian, then non toll again.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[BikerGraham]

All our driving through France Graham is toll free. I set up my Truck Sat Nav for (non toll) Motorways and other Major Routes, and away we go.

On the Bordeaux Route, I have done some of the tolls on the A63 in the past, down to the Spanish border at San Sebastian, then non toll again.

Cheers,

Jock.

Thanks Jock.

As we are driving down this year for the first time been deciding which route to take.

But thinking now will follow the route and sat nav settings your have given me and see how it goes.

Getting tunnel across on 15th December.

Appreciate the advice

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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

View attachment 966123

Loading on my phone.

I see you called in at my second home (javea)

 

[Northernraider]

Loading on my phone.

I see you called in at my second home (javea)

Yes you weren't in so I just parked on the drive

 

[JockandRita]

Getting tunnel across on 15th December.

Appreciate the advice

No problem Graham. I'm only too pleased to have helped. Enjoy the drive down, as some of the scenery on that A75 is quite spectacular, especially the drive down to Millau town and back up again, if you want to avoid paying the bridge toll. For us at Class 3, it's 36 x Euros each way.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[BikerGraham]

No problem Graham. I'm only too pleased to have helped. Enjoy the drive down, as some of the scenery on that A75 is quite spectacular, especially the drive down to Millau town and back up again, if you want to avoid paying the bridge toll. For us at Class 3, it's 36 x Euros each way.

Cheers,

Been to Millau many years ago camping and across the bridge took the A75 towards Montpellier. As you say it’s a very scenic route and area.

Think this whole route will be an interesting interesting drive. Planning on taking 3 days from Calais.

We have spare days each way though.

Have a site booked in Mar Menor for Christmas week but nothing else booked.
So looking forward to an adventure this year

 

[alasdairandannie]

The easiest way for me would be Portsmouth -Bilbao

The problem with that is availability, in particular because you may want a pet friendly cabin.

So you may have to opt for Santander.

If you want to go down the Spanish ferry routes, you would be looking around £550 for a 7 metre motorhome one way.

Otherwise, st, Malo or Caen would mean you can avoid paris and Rouen.

I’ve driven to Dénia (well Javea) in our case via varying routes, ports, crossings for 30 + years.

£550 May sound a lot, but driving through France where diesel is still over €2 a litre on some motorways (1.30 here at the discounters in Spain) Then there are toll costs to factor in.

We took the Javea - Manchester route via st-Malo - Portsmouth last time. Via the Somport tunnel which will be closed for repairs to access roads for some time.

Short and tall, book brittany ferries, even if it has to be Santander. Book flexi, keep checking and you may find a Bilbao crossing come free and you can change online.

bigtree has just done the trip from Scotland and was in Denia

Maybe ask him !

So come off the autoroutes to fuel. Diesel is widely available at €1.55-1.60!

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[MichaelT]

Here's our route from last years trip, this year doing similar depending on weather (if it's bad then go west and cross into Spain at Irun) and so long as somport is open. We are going down to Seville and maybe Portugal so will follow the left side into Spain again but go further west and south.

Polarsteps

Polarsteps is the personal travel log in your pocket.

www.polarsteps.com

 

[EuroTrotters]

So come off the autoroutes to fuel. Diesel is widely available at €1.55-1.60!

Yes