Try Pompey to Santander, did it a few years ago and it was great. Get on about 18.00, ditch your kit in your cabin and get to the bar. It's classed as a cruise so there's 24 hour entertainment. Crash out early hours then sleep it off. Ferry arrives in Santander about 20.00. Your in the Pyrenese next day.
Pompey to Santander is very good, I've done, worked well. Suggest you turn left when leaving the port at Santander. Southern France would be an enjoyable obstical but just keep going, next stop....yes Italy! Or there's a new service starting in January. Drop your bike off at Heathrow or Northampton and they ship it in an artic loaded on individual cradles made to hold motorbikes. They only go to Geneva..... nearly Italy. About £399 return I think. Then you fly ride. Saves squaring off the tyres.
Interesting idea. I do like to spend a couple of days meandering down through France on back roads though - providing the weather is good - as there's lots to discover. Definitely would consider for the longer trip to Spain though.
When the wife and I were in the throws of moving down to the Dordogne, here in France, we made a number of visits by bike. I used a BMW K1200GT (2004 version) and she used her Honda Blackbird. We found that Dunkirk to the Dordogne was easy to do in around 6 hours riding. It would have made the trip very expensive had we put the bikes on a train!
Different company. bikeshuttle.co.uk Apparently you drop your bike, lid & leathers at Northampton or Heathrow, fly to Geneva and pick it up there. Simples! Single or one way. Sounds like a good idea. I can see them doing services to more places than just Geneva but it's a good starting point for lots of destinations. No I've got nothing to do with them in case you were wondering. I found them at the Birmingham bike show. Will I use them? Yes if I go to the Alps etc. No If I'm going to Spain. Take the ferry to Santander or Bilbao. Look 'em up. Let me know what you think.
I was wondering about this sort of scenario for going to WDW - anyone done that trip this way? or does everyone just drive down....?
ii think it really pretty poor show that there are no decent rail facilities in this country for transport of motorbikes,, whatever happened to the old "guards van "..
Heh - funny you should say that - we used to sit in the guards van went we went from Nailsea, nr Bristol into Bristol on our BMX's to the skate park on the weekends....those were the days...
I used to be able to take my trail bike in the guards van !!,, now you cant even take a bloody pushbike,,, progress i guess.
