Ferry Ports to The Massif Central

These are the most direct and quickest routes using as much A-Roads as Possible so will incure a Toll but make the trip down to the twisties and scenic area of the Central Massif possible in one easy trip down - the timings do not include breaks for fuel or coffee and food... There are more scenic routes which utilise more National Routes and D roads hoever these will incure the possibility of an overnight stay half way down. Pleasse email if you would like a route and reccommended accommodation.

Caen to Riders Rest: 324 miles 6hr 30 min

Calais to Ridersrest: 487 miles 7hr 30 min

Le Havre to Riders Rest: 378 miles 6hr

Roscoff to Riders Rest: 408 miles 7hr 30 min

Saint Malo to Riders Rest: 342 miles 6hr 50 min

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Millau to Toulouse

Distance: 121 Miles; 194 Kms

Towns: Millau Saint-Rome,-de-Tarn, Saint-Affrique Albi, Marssac-de-Tarn, Gaillac, Montastruc-La-Conseillere, Toulouse.

Regions: Midi Pyrenees

Roads: D41, D96, D993, D999, N88, D988

Attractions: Millau Viaduct, West Tarn Gorges

Coffee Stops: Saint-Rome-de-Tarn, Marssac-the-Tarn

Description: Take the D41 west out of Millau following the river Tarn to the D96 which continues to follow the river untill crossing it on the D993 at Saint-Rome-de-Tarn (Coffe stop), carry on on the D993 to the D999 at Saint-Affrique. Follow the winding D999 to Albi either cut throught the centre or take the N88 byepass to Marssac-de-Tarn where you pick up the D988 through Gaillac all the way until picking up the N88 again in Montastruc-La-Conseillere should pretty much get you there It is 121 miles some 3 - 4 hours dependant on speed and stops. The route starts with a technical twisty bit but twards the end it becomes a fast strech of road into Toulouse from Albi though you will start to pick up traffic...

Treignac to Perpignan

Distance: 293 miles; 472 Kms

Millau Viaduct to Andorra

Distance: 217 miles; 350Kms

Towns: Millau, Saint-Rome-De-Tarn, Saint-Affrique, Moulin-Neuf, Belmont-Sur-Rance, Lacaune, La Slavetat-Sur-Agout, Saint-Ponse-De-Thomieres, Corniou, Lespinasiere, Caunes-Minervois, Carcassonne, Limoux, Quilan, Coudons, Roquefeuil, Ax-Les-Thermes, Merens-Les-Vals, Pas-de-la-Case

Regions: Aude, (Languedoc-Roussillon); Aveyron, Tarn, Arierge, (Midi Pyrenees); Andorra

Roads: D41, D993, D999, D32, D607, D602, D907, N112, D920, D620, D118, D117, D59, D613, N20, N320, N22, CG2,

Attractions: Millau Viaduct, West Tarn Gorges,

Coffee Stops: There are many small villages which you can enter and have coffee - head for Centre.

Description: This route is a feast of turns and twists. It starts off by following the river Tarn west out of Millau before joining the wider roads which wind their way south and west through some fantastic roads and scenery of the Midi Pyrenees. Whilst this is only a couple of hundred miles it is a long ride expect to take 5 to 7 hours dependant on stops. Make sure your battery is charged up on your camera.

Neuf Chateaux in one day

Distance: 230 miles 366 Kms

Regions: North Dordogne, Haute Vienne, Correze.

Attractions: Chateau de Puymartin, Château de Puyguilhem, Château de Jumilhac, Château de Hautefort, Château de Bourdeilles, Château Châlus Maulmont , Arnac Pompadour National Stud and Chateau, Segur le Chateau, Le Tour Masseret, Château de Coussac-Bonneval.

Coffee Stops: Ussel, Vigeois, Arnac Pompadour, Peirqueux, Chalus, Masseret,

Description: There are some narrow roads with dodgy road surfaces on this route so beware... The Dordogne region has many of the finest castles in France, often in spectacular locations, and frequently surrounded by carefully manicured gardens with far-reaching views over the surroundingcountryside. Many of the castles date from the turbulent times in the 12th-14th centuries and the wars between England and France (see Hundred Years War). Also where Richard the LionHeart spent most of his days.

Segur le Chateau

Arnac PompadourMasseret Tower

Château de Jumilhac

Château de Coussac-Bonneval

Château de Jumilhac

Saint Flour through the Twisties

Millau Viaduct

Distance: 371 miles; 607Kms

Towns: Treignac, Tulle, , Mont Verde, Pont-D'Orgon, St-Paul-Des-Lades,Espinat, Aurillac, Montsalvy, Espalion, Palmas, Laissec, Severac-Le-Chateau, Millau, Chirac, Marvejols, Nasbinals, Chaudes-Aigues, St Flour, Moissac, Condat, Bort-Les-Orgues, St Angel, Maymac, Bugeat, Viam.

Regions: Corezze, Cantal, Puy-Dome, Aveyron, Lozere, Midi Pyreneese, Auvergne, Limousin

Roads: D940, N120 (D1120), D920, D28, N88 (D1088), D809,A75, D911, N9 (D1009 or D1109), D267, D900, D12, D13, D989, D921, D679, D979, D940, D160, D132e3

Attractions: Millau Viaduct

Coffee Stops: Tulle, Aurillac, Espallion Lunch in Millau, Marvijols, St Flour, La Belvedere overlooking the Barrage at Bort-Les-Orgues, Bugeat

Description: This is a long days riding however if you are heading on rather than back to http://www.ridersrest.net/ then you can take either route down and either over night in Millau or continue to the Rhone Alps via the Tarn Goges or down to Toulouse angain via the Tarn River roads. I would reccomend the route through Aurillac as being the fastest route but still with some excellent tarmac and fast swooping bends. But if you are coming back up to http://www.ridersrest.net/ then after a good lunch in the cnetre of Millau it is a good 200 mile run back through some beautiful mountinious views over St Flour, and down through Bort-Les-Orgues. So if you have the stammina and the desire to visit the Millau these are good routes there and back.

The bridge is somewhere almost every biker who ventures into the region heads for so is kind of a biker mecca the roads to get there are superb even the A75 motorway is a biking motorway. Plus you are in some of the spectacular views France can offer...If you head North and West you head into the Volccano's Puy Mary and Puy Dome, Mount Dore, Super Besse. The Dordogne Valley running from Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne to Argentat and Bort-le-orgues with its Castle-De-Val or further West to Aurillac and Rocamadour on some good tarmac with relatively uncongested roads... If you head North and East you enter the many many gorges and passes into the Rhine Alps or South on to the Med... But I digress...

The Millau BridgeA view of the Millau Viaduct from the town of Millau

Crossing the Millau Voaduct