Beaujolais plan

Mon.05.11.07. I have spent the morning finalising the details of the Beaujolais trip. I have given up on the people at Angers who have been very tardy with their response to my e’mails. M. Cremond has not replied to my last request, so he, like many others will find himself in the ‘fuck off’ bin. An executive decision has been made; the group will now go to Sancerre on Tuesday instead of Angers. The details are as follows. 

                       The Beaujolais trip 12.11.07 to 17.11.07.

           Monday 12.11.07. Depart Wigan for Dover for the 13.45 ferry to Calais to

arrive at 16.00 hrs. The travel time is approximately 6 hours. A suggested route is

M6 south, M42 (London), M40 (Oxford, London) M25 (Heathrow, Gatwick) M20 (Folkstone, Dover).

·      Arrival in Calais 4.00pm; the journey time to Honfleur is 3and half hours. 

From Calais, Abbeyville, Rouen, (Caen), Honfleur to stay at the Hotel de la Tour which is situated on the Quayside. Tel 02 53 449 002. There have been 5 twin bedded rooms reserved and paid for. Dinner has not been booked.

·      Tues.13.11.07. Honfleur to Sancerre; the journey time is 5 hours.

Honfleur, Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Cosne-cours, Sancerre. We are staying at the Hotel du Ramparts which is located in the inner walls of the town overlooking the river. Tel. 02 48 54 10 18. The cost per room is 48 euros plus tax and breakfast. There have been 4 double rooms and one twin bedded room reserved (not paid for). Dinner has not been booked.

·      Weds.14.11.07. Sancerre to Beaujeu; the journey time is about 2 and half hours.

Sancerre, Nevers, Moulins, Lapalaisse, Charlieu, Chauffailles, Beaujeu. We are staying at the Hotel le Mont Brouilly in a nearby village called Quincie en Beaujolais. Tel 04 74 04 33 73.  The double rooms cost 69 euros (not paid for). Dinner has been reserved as this is a very popular, successful restaurant and the cost varies from 22 euros to 46 euros for set menus. Breakfast is not included. The celebration the Sarmentelles takes place in the village from 6.00pm, with such events as wine tasting together with various parades and a firework display at midnight.

·      Thurs.15.11.07. Quencie en Beaujolais to Buxy; the journey time is about 1 and half hours.

Beaujeu, Cluny, Cormatin, St. Gengoux le National, Buxy. We are staying at Le Relais du Montagny in double rooms for 59 euros (not paid for). The dinner has been reserved at ‘Aux Vins Annees’ which is located in the centre of Buxy. It is a Michelin starred restaurant with set menus from 20 euros to 52 euros. During the afternoon we could visit the co-operative ‘cave’ which is situated directly next door to the hotel for free tastings and purchases. The wine starts at 4 euros a bottle, but boxes can be bought or Caravan water bottles filled.

Other places to visit or see could be, Cluny, an historic town with the National Horse jumping centre. The famous Montagny Cave just outside of Buxy, expensive but excellent wines. Wolfgang’s Papillion bar in Bissy sur Fley. Even though he is German he is very personable. Living in the village for 17 years he imports bottled beers from all over the world proudly possessing a 10 page menu of the beers that he stocks. Perhaps for the ‘walkers’ in the group a visit to ‘The Voie Vert’ which is a green walk from Buxy to St. Gengoux and takes in the countryside seen from the converted railway line, is an implausible alternative activity.

·      Fri.16.11.07. Buxy to Cambrai; the journey time could be 5 to 6 hours.

Buxy, Chalon sur Soane, Dijon, Troyes, Reims, St. Quentin, Cambrai. We are staying at ‘Le Mouton Blanc’ situated in the centre of the town in the Place du Gare’ (near the railway station). We have 5 rooms, I double bed room @ 80 euros, I twin bedded room @ 80 euros, 1 double room @ 70 euros, 2 twin bedded rooms @ 70 euros (not paid for). I haven’t reserved dinner but I believe that the hotel restaurant has something of a name in the town? Breakfast is 7 euros.

·      Sat.17.11.07. Cambrai to Calais; the approximate journey time to the coast is about 1 and half hours. The ferry departs at 11.15am and arrives in Dover at 11.30am.

Cambrai, Arras, Bethune, St. Omer, Calais, Dover, M20, M25, M40, M42, M6.

 All travelling times are approximate. We can board earlier ferries if so desired (I shall check on ferry crossings particularly Dover/ Calais if we want to gain more time on the French side on Monday?). The hotel rooms are priced for two people sharing.