This years fullfatt tour was North Spain, Portugal, Gibralta. After an ear bending from swmbo that this years tour was to be in warmer climbs and a decent time of year I relented and went for the above option. I have never been to Portugal or Gibralta, they are two Euopean countries I seam to have missed over the years.
Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Santandar Return booked (owch !!) (How people afford to put massive motorhomes on there or tow 6mtr caravans I have no idea) Hotels along the way all booked and planned , all to do was now worry about the reliability of taking an L322 on a long trip to warm climates mmmm is this a good idea or not ?
My previous 07 plate 3.6 had its issues over the years, blew a turbo hose in Gremany (shock horror no! they never blow do they !) aand in Scandinavia last year developed a serious oil leak from the turbo pipes I managed to botch it to get home but she was getting older and more issues so due to rust (tons of rust) was scrapped this year. New to me 61 plate 4.4 this was its first tour and was she up to it ?
Cam Tech Craig had it for a couple of weeks when I first had it to fix gearbox leaks, oil in the water, shock absorber wiring etc all the usualls and I had starting issues, new battery and earth cable sorted these, so after 5/6 months ownership I was still a bit nervious taking it on a trip. AA 5star cover pointless with a car valued at £7,550 as they wont repatriate it so it was a go it alone venture.
Swapped the crape space saver spare for the one from under my Disco and carried the other in the boot, Took water, coolant, glues , tape, tools jump pack, OBD Scanner loads off stuff just in case and off we went.

Sailing Plymouth to Santandar, this was great, lovely crossing and I could not believe for late Sept how many 100's of motorbike loaded and loads of motorhomes loads of them.
We travelled to the top left handd corner of Spain, right down the coast of Portugal in Braga, Porto, Lisbon and Sargres. Then crossed the Algarve into Spain again and Seville, down to Gibralta and then the long one day hit smashed back across the whole length and bradth of Spain back to Santandar.
The Fatty did not put a foot wrong, nothing, no warning lights nothing. Great drive and what a way to tour in comfort and style.
Any way on the return crossing it was a bit different, I pulled onto the boat behind a Disco 4, Range |Rover Soprt ahead of us and a New Defender behind, lots of JLR shiney stuff on the boat. It was a rough crossing and all that could be heard was alarms in the hold and the anouncer asking people to tur them off or they will get flat batterys.... I knew mine was off as I know the setting, we got down to unload mine started fine as did the Disco and Defender, the new Sport and the brand new Mk5 fatty both with bonnets up and flat batteries. My little Noco jump pack did well started 3 Range Rovers and a motorbike and still had some charge left in it.
Remember turn your alarms and fridges off on 24hr ferry crossings.
Slight shock returning from 32deg sunsine to 11deg pouring rain.
Very Very happy with the new fatty she has passed her test, 2500 miles 32mpg (fuel in Gibralta £1 a ltr and Rum from Morrisons £7.50 a bottle whats not to like)
Next trip possibly tour of Ireland have not been since 98 so time to go back me thinks.

great story

my recent trip to the south of france was similar but a smaller route [1750 miles]...portsmouth to st malo and eurotunnel back to the UK..

glad your trip went well.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Looks like a nice tour of car parks

There's some lovely driving down in southern Spain, but I've still not managed a Portugal trip. I'm doing a spanish east coast tour in a few weeks, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante & Murcia. Will need to do Portugal next year I think

Good stuff. I am off on Sunday on the same boat but not in the RR. If mine starts behaving I hope to take it early next year. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green

Sadly I fear I have finally conceded to old age and my long trips to Spain and Portugal, but my memories of driving down the Douro will remain with me always.
Is doing the trip in four different fatties a record ??
Cheers
Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

I have taken all of my Range Rovers to Euope, Classic, P38 and both L322's and also my Defenders and Discoverys for work. They just eat the miles up effortlessly. I think the vehicle with the most Euopean miles under its belt was th P38 I had it 10yrs and back then ferries and eurotunnel was cheap, not so these days. If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.

MY 16 Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle
MY 12 Full Fat TDV8
1952 Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl

noworries4x4 wrote:

Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Santandar Return booked (owch !!) (How people afford to put massive motorhomes on there or tow 6mtr caravans I have no idea)

I am leaving from Plymouth and returning to Portsmouth. The Plymouth departure means a 3.5 hour drive there but one fewer night on board than from Portsmouth.

I think I paid around £870 for a car shorter than 5m. Last year was around £900 IIRC.

I have had quotes of four figures for my other car as it is just over 5m, but I draw the line there. That's a bit too much. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green

The ferry for the L322 which just come in under 5mtrs and under 1.90 with a cabin both ways out Sunday in late Sept and back Monday in early Oct so hardly in season or school holiday was £1255.00 so as I said how people put big caravans and motorhomes on there I have no idea, and if you take pets those cabins up on 10 deck are even more expensive.
But does save a ton of fuel and you certainly cant drive there as quick, unless you double drive it and drive through the night. The boat might only being doing 28knts but it does it constantly for 24hrs.
Great service just needs to be a bit cheaper. If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.

MY 16 Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle
MY 12 Full Fat TDV8
1952 Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl

I had/have the rash idea of taking mine to Spain in January for a couple of months to escape the winter, should I ever fix the damn thing. The Plymouth route doesn't run in winter so it's Portsmouth.

The price is £1,100 return when I checked yesterday. I'd need to do the sums to compare driving down through France but with all the tolls, fuel, accomodation, boredom, etc. I doubt there's a lot in it. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green

When you are going for such a long trip, adding a couple of days by driving through “rural France”. can save a fair bit. Select avoiding tolls on your satnav and enjoy the scenery. The roads can be straight for mile after mile and very smooth.

Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

I agree with Mike (Baltic Blue) we always travel Dover Calais and make the drive through France part of the trip experience. We always try and avoid tolls as you get to some nice parts of the country.

Ivan 2013 Vogue SE SDV8
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Luxury

another +1 for Mikes suggestion, and you can stop whenever you want ....

there are some lovely villages/towns and you can avoid the toll roads but those pesky mini roundabouts that seemed to have sprung up every where are a pain in the b*m..  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Yes I did a no toll route from central France last year and it was roundabout after roundabout after roundabout I thought I had travelled back to Milton Keyenes on sterroids. Also watch the village speed limits ... If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.

MY 16 Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle
MY 12 Full Fat TDV8
1952 Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl

I had a play with the Via Michelin website last night.

If one takes Portsmouth > Caen in mid-January (morning sail so no need for a cabin) at £370-ish, then add fuel (my test was to Cadiz right down the bottom - avoiding tolls) at around £270 (I think that is roughly two-and-a-bit tanks), plus at least one-night stay along the way (I am not fussy so €60 is realistic), then one-way is around £700. One night is probably pushing it so two nights would be more comfortable.

Add fuel costs and possibly a one-night layover to the Santander ferry price plus spending on the boat and there is not much in it; perhaps the Spain ferry overall is a bit dearer.

Add tolls to the Caen prices and it is €60-100 dearer each way, depending on route.

It is about 1,100 miles. 2012 Vogue TDV8 in Aintree green