crossing the Pyrenees

[foxy]

Hi, anyone crossed the pyrenees in mid feb, if so what is best route. coming from costa blanca to calais. Are snow chains compulsory in france and spain?

[sheer lunar-see]

Hi Foxy,

Yes chains are compulsory in France on certain roads during snowfall, so you should carry them, if the signs are up showing snow chains to be used and you don't use them you could be heavily fined if caught without them.

If you don't have chains then it's best to stick to the motorways where you possibly won't need them. Good luck and safe journey.

 

[Guest Peter James]

I crossed the Pyranees in January snow, Calais to Valencia via Tunnel Du Somport, never saw anything to do with snow chains. I drove lorries back and forth across France Britain to Italy via the Alps for 12 years and was never once checked for snow chains.

[Derek Uzzell]

sheer lunar-see - 2010-11-21 10:19 PM

 

Hi Foxy,

Yes chains are compulsory in France on certain roads during snowfall, so you should carry them, if the signs are up showing snow chains to be used and you don't use them you could be heavily fined if caught without them.

If you don't have chains then it's best to stick to the motorways where you possibly won't need them. Good luck and safe journey.

 

You might want to check the following link:

 

http://www.natives.co.uk/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=9&listcatid=39&listitemid=614

[Eriba trafic]

I wouldnt do it in Febuary it can & forcast to be very cold this year

 

Two years ago i did it crossing Andorra in my air cooled VW westfalia & non working gas heater the roads were cleared but ice in places.

 

The problem was other traffic which wants to drive at 100kph+ then finding the road blocked while the car/van is pulled out of the rocks further along turning on narrow roads with high snow banks is very difficult in a 1964 vw camper,in a 1984 almost 20 foot(5m60) its impossible

 

The other worry is the salt which gets every where is almost impossible to get off and causes rust

 

Better keep to the Atlantic coast road or across to Sete & along the Med coast the mountains are very pleasant in Autum & spring (less snow)

 

Another note less roads are cleared to save money you might drive 60kms only to find your road blocked & have to go back!You will need a GOOD GPS as road signs are not always clear where there are

 

Have a good trip

 

 

[pheasantplucker]

I have seen that chains are compulsory in some countries/conditions, but I have an idea that a fwd Mk7 Transit on 16 inch wheels won't accept chains due to clearance. I did buy snow socks and assume these will fit, but where would I stand if confronted with a situation where I was required to fit chains? There must be Transits permanently on the continent and not just Brit visitors, so does anyone know how they get over it?