Hi Phil,

You are MUCH better off going Calais - Dover. The crossing takes an hour and a half at night and then takes about two hours to get to Rouen. The way you propose is 8 hours just on the ferry then a drive to Rouen.

From Skipton (presuming thats where you'll be setting off from), I'd head over to the A1 (M62, M1, M18, A1) then follow this to the M25 and go round it (Clockwise) and get onto the A2/M2 to Dover 9if you end up on the M20, don't worry - it's just as good). The dartford bridge is free after 10pm and not expensive during the day (I really would avoid the M25 in the daytime). Like Catalan Boy, I was also a long distance lorry driver for many years. I spent hours parked on that ring road.

We did the Calais, Rouen, Evreux, Chartres, Orleon, Verzon, Limoges, Brive la Gaillarde, Cahors, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan, route. Total tolls one way, around 63 euros.

We went off the motorway at the border to go through el Jonquera to stock up on loads of baccy (Dozens of shops selling just booze and baccy) and also to avoid the long uphill drag by motorway (its downhill if you go off the motorway and uphill  (long and steep) if you stay on the motorway - we could see the trucks really struggling. The whole journey through France is up and down long steep hills all the way.  Don't forget the tolls are on your passenger side and make sure you have cash AND a visa card at the ready. Some toll stations will only take French bank cards.

There is a site which shows all the 'camping aires' at http://www.eurocampingcar.com/index2.php3?lg=uk&cat_id=0 which you might find useful for overnight stays. Dont stop on the 'Rustic aires' on the motorways in France. It's an on the spot fine if caught (we got away with it though) but the service stations are fine for overnight stays.

All the rustic aires have water and toilets both in France and in Spain but the standard really varies. The service stations all have showers for 1 or 2 euros - you leave your van keys as security and they all have chemical loo disposal points.

The tolls in Spain are hideously expensive but paying just to get past Barcelona alone is worth the cost.


Hope this helps.

John