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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Just back from the Alps
Just back from an amazing overland Alpine trip to Chamonix, Sollières-Sardières and Bardonecchia Italy
Me and my son have had an absolute blast.
We explored Chamonix on cable cars and many walks, done the Great St. Bernard pass, Furkah pass and swam in Lac Passey.
Then we headed further south and done the Mont Cenis pass, Colle Sommelier, Jafferau route and fortes, grand alps pass and Strada Assitetta, the weather was fantastic, people fantastic, roads and routes were awesome.
Can’t wait to go back Very Happy



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 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #852476 27th Aug 2020 8:28pm
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stinus



Member Since: 12 Jul 2020
Location: Kapellen
Posts: 12

Belgium 2003 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

What tire size do you run, 265?
Post #852483 27th Aug 2020 8:51pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Thanks Very Happy

Yep 265/75/16 I think it’s the more popular choice

Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #852484 27th Aug 2020 8:53pm
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LandymanStefan



Member Since: 30 Aug 2017
Location: Surrey
Posts: 881

England 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Glad everything went well!Great pictures too!

I've missed this year out but will be heading back next year too Thumbs Up
Post #852487 27th Aug 2020 9:03pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Cracking pictures. Did you go as part of a group or did you hit a traffic jam in the mountains? Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #852504 27th Aug 2020 10:14pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
#landystephen Thanks for your help pointing me in the right direction Thumbs Up

I’m tempted to organise a group venture there next year Question 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)


Last edited by bear100 on 27th Aug 2020 10:18pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #852505 27th Aug 2020 10:15pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
It was just me and my son this time.

Haha yes we did hit a jam on the Jafferau route, about 15 of us in total, but with a bit of reversing it wasn’t so bad Razz 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #852507 27th Aug 2020 10:18pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10756

England 
Great your son and you had a cracking time and thanks for the pic's Thumbs Up 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.
Post #852727 28th Aug 2020 7:24pm
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
bear100 wrote:


I’m tempted to organise a group venture there next year Question


Very interesting Thumbs Up
Post #852743 28th Aug 2020 7:41pm
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3294

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
/\/\ Grenadier for the local info.

Such a lovely part of the world. Cheers for the photos Bear. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.
Post #852748 28th Aug 2020 7:45pm
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s55shh



Member Since: 30 Dec 2019
Location: staffs
Posts: 193

United Kingdom 
any chance of sharing your route map?
Post #852891 29th Aug 2020 10:55am
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Jerry



Member Since: 13 Nov 2015
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 197

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 Adventure Phoenix Orange
^^ I would also be interested in the route if possible please
Post #852922 29th Aug 2020 2:45pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Absolutely! no problem I will put it together and let you know

Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #853481 31st Aug 2020 10:00pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5818

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Weather was awesome, glad you both had a great time. Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #853500 1st Sep 2020 6:15am
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Hi all,

In response to your requests for my routes and itinerary etc.
I’ve put together a what and where for you.
There’s a lot of driving so we built in some chill days which I think is important.
It doesn’t look much but I spent hours upon hours researching routes, camp sites, POI’s distances etc
There’s quite a few routes we would have liked to do but simply didn’t have the time.

Day 1
Leave home at 7am to catch tunnel crossing at 11.50am lunch at terminal/on train.
Leave Calais at 13.30 local time Head for campsite Camping Nature 13 Rue de l'Evangile, 51300 Luxémont-et-Villotte, France arrival roughly 5pm
Hours 7am till 5pm
Miles 241 Folkestone + 223 Villotte
Total 464
Great campsite, very quiet and laid back, spotless, clean, great showers etc
Very cheap at €12 a night

Day 2
Leave at 10 am head to Chamonix
Head to campsite, Camping De Mer Glaice
Hours - 5
Miles - 331
Great campsite, friendly, good showers and toilets, very clean and tidy, fresh bread. Food available via various local stalls each night. A nice 40min walk into town along the river with a cracking local bar on route, there was a chap with his guitar and another on a mouthorgan one evening, it was a great night with very friendly owners. So much to do in Chamonix

Day 3
Explore Chamonix
Cable car ride to Augille du midi
And another the opposite end of town
Fantastic day! The cable car Du Midi is the highest this side of the Mississippi! Fantastic views and not to be missed.

Day 4
Head for the Great Saint Bernard pass
Head towards Martigny Switzerland to start pass which will end at Aosta Italy, take the Colle route other wise you miss the pass and bypass in a Tunnel
Then Head back to Chamonix
Hours - 8
Miles - 200

Day 5
Lac Passy for the day, Lake swimming and picnic.
Lots to do here, inflatables assault course, hire little boats, BBQ, cafes etc
A nice day out with great views.
Hours - 1.5
Miles - 36

Day 6
Head towards Sollières-Sardières
Camping le chenantier, L’envers 73500
Hours 2.5
Miles 110
Set up camp and head to Mont Cenis pass, start at Lansleburg.
Great campsite again, friendly, clean, relaxed, quiet, fresh bread every day.
Mont Cenis pass has some great views with lots to see and do along the way.

Day 7
Head to Bardonecchia for the colle somellier pass
This is an awesome day!
Start in France and a few miles up the road you get to Frejus tunnel which takes you to Italy, miles long!
Then the fun begins, off road to the top of Colle Sommelier, the views and the drive will be one to remember, when I was there the gods must have been watching because 12 defenders turned up at the same time, 4/5 from one group and the rest of us solo. An amazing sight to see us all criss cross up the mountains, you end up in the snow its that high!
Not to be missed

Day 8
A chill day today, visited local villages for lunch, a bit of shopping, supermarket and a BBQ with a beer or 3

Day 9
Head to Bardonecchia, for the Jafferau route. Bardonecchia to Excilles and back over the Mont Cenis pass.
What a day this is, a little bit challenging at the start with diff lock used for a bit due to loose stone and steep inclines but certainly nothing to worry about, lots of wild life and plenty of Alpine Marmots to admire.
The views are tremendous and breathtaking, this was my favourite day of the trip. Lots of forts to visit and explore, perfect wild camping territory....simply amazing!!
Not to be missed

Day 10
We visited Serre Chavalier today, my son’s favourite skiing resort and he wanted me to taste in his words “the worlds best Lasagne” of course when he’s here its full of snow and he stops off half way down the slope. I checked the route planner and it looked pretty good with roads......but in reality they were dirt roads but it turned out to be a lovely drive up the slopes which was very high up, but when we got there it was closed despite the website saying open! Oh well a lovely picnic was had instead.

Day 11
Head to Meana Di Susa for colle du Assiettes finish at Sestriere
Take road sp 172 and sp 173
Lunch break at refuge house Assietta
Località Assietta, 10060 Pragelato TO, Italy
The clouds were low and the views were missed on this one, but it’s supposed to be one of the very best routes for views, we got a few glimpses and pretty much mountains as far as the eyes can see. We were going to wild camp here but the weather had better ideas so we headed towards La Vachette and again another great campsite. Camping Montana

Day 12
Today a chill day and another swim in a lake, Lac du Pontillas, again lots to do around the lake really good for kids.
We tried a local restaurant for dinner near the campsite......and what a night it was, very friendly and outstanding food and wine.
Not really visited by tourists and we all including the chef had a great laugh trying to translate the menu!

Day 13
Head back up south near Dijon
Camping Huttopia Etang de Fouché
Near Arnay-le-Duc
Really great campsite, pool open until late, immaculate shower block, pick you own pitch
Shame to stay one night.

Day 14
Head to Calais for the tunnel.
Stayed at a campsite in Licques near Calais
Camping Pommiers Des Trois pays
Pretty good to be fair but nothing special.
Hours 5.5
Miles 360

Any questions please feel free to ask, and as mentioned I’m thinking of organising a group of like minded peeps to do a similar trip next year. Me and my son were living the dream while away.
The off road routes Sommeiller, Jafferau and Assitetta were very easy and not difficult, my standard defender had no issues at all.
Thumbs Up Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #853935 2nd Sep 2020 8:58pm
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