For everyone who lives in the UK there's one massive obstacle to travel, the sea that surrounds our island. It's an expensive part of travel to Europe and beyond but there's nothing we can do about it.
Having tried our Hymer motorhome here in the UK and gained some valuable experience we decided it was time to venture into Europe. The perfect opportunity came when one of our children was taking a summer holiday on a water park at Biscarrosse in France in June 2016. We decided to drive there, spend a few days on the water park, then explore France. In the past our only experience of France had been Parisian France; we were not impressed by that. We found the Parisians offhand, and dismissive of our French language ability, which we knew to be quite reasonable. Rural France is completely different and a wonderful experience. We did not book a return ferry crossing in case we wanted to return home after a few days, that has turned out to be our standard method now, so we have flexibility.
France has embraced the motorhome - more of that in other articles.
Next long overland trek in Europe was to Turku in Finland, for a folk dance festival, crossing to the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and finally Finland. Returning through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France. Nearly four thousand miles, 6 ferry crossings (including 3 overnight sailings) plus the Channel Tunnel. 105 hours of driving, average speed 33 mph, fuel consumption 30.7 mpg.
Spain taking in the Moorish sights and many Roman remains. Driving down the centre of Spain from Bilbao via Madrid to Cónchar close to the south coast. Returning via Granada, Cabra, Cordoba, Seville, Italica, Arecena, Mérida, Cáceres, Segovia and finally Santander.
Northern Italy, for a dance festival, leaving the UK in mid March, gripped in ice and snow, across France via Reims, Pierre-de-Bresse, Grenoble and San Germano Chisone in Italy to reach Sanremo. After the festival we drove down the mediterranean coast calling at various places including Carcassonne and varous wineries where we tasted and purchased wine.
The Alsace, out via the Channel Tunnel, across France, Luxembourg, into Germany tasting wine, then back to the UK loaded up with our wine purchases.
Northern Spain - too late to book a cabin on a sailing to Spain we crossed to Caen in France, then passed a very pleasant week wending our way diaginally across France to Provence, then south to Spain followed by 3 weeks touring northern Spain. We explored the Priorat wine growing area, then Rioja, needless to say many wines were tasted and purchases made before returning to a cold England. Northern Spain 2018 trek