Scotland to South Spain or South Italy with dog

[Malo37]

Expecting to depart end Feb ish for six weeks. Any tips appreciated.

[Charles]

Use the Dartford crossing after 10pm it's free.

Avoid the toll roads.

Use Google maps to keep an eye on where you are, don't trust your Sat nav fully.

Get the 'Park for night' and 'Camping car infos' apps.

Join ACSI.

Visit Benidorm everything will be open for business in Feb.

 

erm, that's it for now. Enjoy :-)

[sshortcircuit]

If you are going to use the Dartford crossing you can pay in advance. I paid my two crossings tonight for this year, £5 in total !!!! Get it for free after 10pm, but where do you park up unless an hour later at Dover.

 

Get All the Aires book and ASCI card and you will not go wrong. Not many sites open in France on your outward trip so need to get down to Spain rapidly.

 

Try and plan a route but remember you can change it at any time. Not sure if the high routes over the Pyrenees would be a good idea in February

 

Enjoy

[Willy Wonka]

Make sure the Pet Passport is correct and Inoculations/vaccinations are up to date.

 

If the dog takes any regular prescription medication make sure you take ample supplies with you as it may be difficult to obtain when abroad.

 

Preferably a photo in the Pet Passport but not essential.

 

Take enough of the dog food you regularly feed to them - unless you have a Labrador who will usually eat anything.

 

Rabies treatment is up to date and will not lapse while away – the dog cannot return to the UK until 21 days have elapsed after the Rabies treatment – please note that French Vets give a Rabies treatment which lasts 12 months compared to the UK treatment of 3 years.

 

Consider Pet Insurance – we've never bothered but that's personnel choice.

 

Know how you will restrain the dog when travelling.

 

Dog bags for scooping up faeces - just because Johnny Foreigner doesn't bother doesn't make it right.

 

Ask your Vet (or Google) about Sandfly Mosquito, Processionally Caterpillars, Ticks and Tapeworm – the further South you go the more likely the problems.

 

Buy a Tick removal tool – about 2 quid from Amazon – you'll need it even in Northern France.

 

And ask again when you need a Vet for the Pet Passport visit on the way back to the UK.

 

We've taken our dog abroad all his life, he's eight now, and never had a problem except when he cut a leg chasing a rabbit – and the Vet bill for treatment was minimal compared to a UK Vet.

[Bojitoes]

We are heading off next week so interested in your replies!

 

Benidorm a must as far as we are concerned. El Cisne on a Saturday is grat fun.

 

Depending what side of Scotland you are we would suggest you go M6, M5 , M40, M25, M20 - this route is only 3-4 miles longer and avoids the Dartford Crossing altogether- its also probably quicker.

Have a good trip

Bob

[Billggski]

Nasties should not be a problem in February. Your main problem will be finding sites and Aires open and where to cross either the Pyrenees or alps.

We are off on Friday down to the Alps and there is snow on most main routes through France. The A75 can be closed at short notice as it goes high up.

Toll roads are more likely to be passable.

Good luck, we are in a Defender and are taking chains as well.

[Brian Kirby]

Avoid Germany, and I think Austria, unless your van has winter tyres (legal requirement this time of year) and you must, in any case, carry chains and know how/when to fit them. Best will be to go round either mountain range unless fully equipped as above. Go via Med or Atlantic ends of Pyrenees, or enter Italy from France along Med coast.

[starvin marvin]

We'll be off soon, but heading to Portugal....eventually. Wouldn't consider Italy at this time of year, likely to be far colder than Spain.

 

We use the "western route" thro' France, with one or two deviations to break up the trip. The trick for us to to get through France as quickly as possible, and take our time coming home.

 

Don't bother doing Dartford after 10pm, (unless the time works for your journey) for the saving its simply not worth it, nor IMO is avoiding tolls. We often jump onto the Peage to get around cities and sections of slow roads, we avoid high routes and keep an eye on the weather. ASCI doesn't seem to be much use to us in France, we tend to use our usual stops depending on our crossing time, it usually means either 2 or 3 nights

in France.

 

I need to find out the legal requirement for France and Spain re m&s tyres/chains, and do you only need to fit chains to the driving wheels.

[starvin marvin]

We'll be off soon, but heading to Portugal....eventually. Wouldn't consider Italy at this time of year, likely to be far colder than Spain.

 

We use the "western route" thro' France, with one or two deviations to break up the trip. The trick for us to to get through France as quickly as possible, and take our time coming home.

 

Don't bother doing Dartford after 10pm, (unless the time works for your journey) for the saving its simply not worth it, nor IMO is avoiding tolls. We often jump onto the Peage to get around cities and sections of slow roads, we avoid high routes and keep an eye on the weather. ASCI doesn't seem to be much use to us in France, we tend to use our usual stops depending on our crossing time, it usually means either 2 or 3 nights

in France.

 

I need to find out the legal requirement for France and Spain re m&s tyres/chains, and do you only need to fit chains to the driving wheels.

[Brian Kirby]

Driving wheels only. But, you'd need to fit narrower front tyres if fitting chains if your base is a Mk7 Transit, as the chains will otherwise foul the inner wing - see Transit handbook for tyre sizes.