Calais to the Dordogne
There are a number of different routes from Calais to the Dordogne. The choice of route depends on personal choice and circumstance. The following may help to decide which route to take.
The shortest route is via Paris, but the road around Paris, the Periferique, can be one long traffic jam. To avoid this and if planning to stop overnight en-route, aim to get to Calais at around 19:00. Arrival in the Paris area will then be around 22:00, by which time most of the traffic will normally have gone. A hotel stop on the far side of Paris provides a head start the next morning and a fairly easy run down to the Dordogne. The Mercure at Les Ulis or the F1 at Les Ulis are both possible stopping places.
To avoid Paris, the recommended route is to head South from Calais past Boulogne and eventually to Rouen at about 200km. For an overnight stop, there is an IBIS hotel at Issneauville, which is just before Rouen. There does not seem to be a way to avoid going through Rouen, but this is not normally a problem. Follow the N154 and signs for Evreux, then Dreux and Chartres and eventually pick up the motorway (the A10) and head for Orleans. Follow the motorway routes all the way South to Brive-la-Gaillarde (or just Brive) and then take the A89 towards Bordeaux, turning off at exit 16.
The alternative to this route is to stay further West. If arriving at any of the otrher French ferry ports, some variant of this route will likely be taken. From Rouen, take the motorway to Alencon amd then Le Mans, both of which have good stopping off places. The Mercure at Alencon has a restaurant right next door - the Escargot Dore. This has mixed reviews, but our experience has always been good. After Le Mans, follow the motorway routes towards Poitiers and then take the N10 to Angouleme. Then follow signs for Perigueux.
All of the above routes converge on Perigueux and from there it is local roads and country lanes to get to Cendrieux.
The shortest route is via Paris, but the road around Paris, the Periferique, can be one long traffic jam. To avoid this and if planning to stop overnight en-route, aim to get to Calais at around 19:00. Arrival in the Paris area will then be around 22:00, by which time most of the traffic will normally have gone. A hotel stop on the far side of Paris provides a head start the next morning and a fairly easy run down to the Dordogne. The Mercure at Les Ulis or the F1 at Les Ulis are both possible stopping places.
To avoid Paris, the recommended route is to head South from Calais past Boulogne and eventually to Rouen at about 200km. For an overnight stop, there is an IBIS hotel at Issneauville, which is just before Rouen. There does not seem to be a way to avoid going through Rouen, but this is not normally a problem. Follow the N154 and signs for Evreux, then Dreux and Chartres and eventually pick up the motorway (the A10) and head for Orleans. Follow the motorway routes all the way South to Brive-la-Gaillarde (or just Brive) and then take the A89 towards Bordeaux, turning off at exit 16.
The alternative to this route is to stay further West. If arriving at any of the otrher French ferry ports, some variant of this route will likely be taken. From Rouen, take the motorway to Alencon amd then Le Mans, both of which have good stopping off places. The Mercure at Alencon has a restaurant right next door - the Escargot Dore. This has mixed reviews, but our experience has always been good. After Le Mans, follow the motorway routes towards Poitiers and then take the N10 to Angouleme. Then follow signs for Perigueux.
All of the above routes converge on Perigueux and from there it is local roads and country lanes to get to Cendrieux.
