Ok Frank, you are going to have to explain yourself there!!!

I've been looking further at the Black Forest...
This is a basic route to Todtmoos (just because we've been there in the 7 before... many years back!)



But, it is very difficult to find decent roads (like we are used to finding) in the north east corner of France...
All the roads I have checked are either open, flat, and boring, or too built-up.

So, if anyone know good routes in the area please post them!

And here is a 1250 mile loop...



We could make shorter, by cutting across roughly via Limages and Clemont-Ferrans, but the area East of the Millau Viaduct does look great! (Parc national des Cévennes).
That would be about 1000 miles...

I'm up for a long loop Steve......

Both look good to me LePres...
You said how long the routes are but how long will they take?

Looking at the three different loops - Long, Shorter, and Shorter Still, I actually think the 'Shorter' (or even Shorter Still) route is the better, as I think I can find better roads for the last third of the blatt.
The 'Longer' route goes back up through the 'Champagne' region, but that is back into the flat-lands of North-West France...

As for duration, I'm thinking 6 to 10 days, with the ability for anyone to join late, or leave early... as needed.

If we are all agreed on the 'Shorter' loop, I'll build up a 'suggested' schedule?

Well done Steve
The Parc des Cevennes does look good can we do a little detour.

All looks good to me... especially if we travel via various wine regions!! Personally prefer Bordeaux, Rhone etc more than the fizzy stuff but will go with the flow (especially if the flow is from recently-opened bottles!)

Ok - so, working on the 'Shorter Route' as the basis (roads not yet locked in, just the general 'route') my thoughts are...

Overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg.

Day 1 - as we have done the Brittany/Normandy region fairly well, I suggest a 'faster' blatt (not too small roads) to the first stop point.
For the first stop point I suggest 2 nights at the fantastic small hotel/B&B a few of us stayed at on 'The Long Way Up'. Hotel La Vieille Maison.
(A request from TeaBag!)
Mileage would be about 360 miles... so quite some way - hence the use of 'larger' roads' for the first part through Brittany/Normandy.

Day 2 - spent exploring the local region, such as Parc Naturel Regional Pengord Limousin?

Day 3 - blatt over to Parc National des Cévennes, for another two night stopover. About 300 miles.
(But there are some great roads and locations around Bergerac, so may want to split this?)

Day 4 - explore area around Parc National des Cévennes
(There are some really great roads and locations here!!!)

Day 5 - head up to Parc Naturel Regional du Morvan, for a one night stopover. About 300 miles, depending...
(Those that want could make this a 2 night stopover to extend the trip further, or could head to Provence on day 5 for a stopover there - somewhere around 'Seillans' for example? Lovely little town...)

Day 6 - head to Park Naturel Regional du Perche for a one night stopover. About 225 miles.
(We have driven through some of this area on the way back from Le Mans, but...)
Or, head to Park Naturel Regional de la Haute Vallee de Chevreuse? a bit closer to Paris (close to Versailles... but I am NOT doing those queues again!)

Day 7 - head to Le Havre for the evening Vomit Comet home... about 115 miles...

The concern is that averaging around 300 mile on day-3 and day- 5 could be pushing it?
If the trip could be extended to 10 days we could do more/make the travel days shorter distances???

Eugene
A couple of extra days would make it a bit more enjoyable , to take in the scenery, the food ,the alcohol, the people .

Ok - the question is, can we do 360 miles on the first day???
Or should we split that up into two days, with a stop over on the coast on the way down - say, around Park Naturel Regional de Brière?
(That is where we had a paddle in the sea on Le Brittany Blatt...)



If we extend the time in France to 9 days that give us the above... with a couple of 2 night stops, and four 1 night stops.



Day-1 stop at Brière Regional Natural Park
Day-2 & 3 stop at Périgord Limousin Natural Regional Park
Day-4 & 5 stop at Grands Causses Natural Regional Park
Day-6 stop at Pilat Regional Natural Park
Day-7 stop at Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan
Day-8 stop at Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Regional Park
Day-9 ferry home...

As you can see, I've used 'Parcs' (Parks) as a basis for the route...

And as a 'shorter route', but longer duration, we could skip the 'Grands Causses Natural Regional Park', and instead head to the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne' (Volcanoes!), and cut through 'Périgord Limousin Natural Regional Park', and 'Millevaches en Limousin Natural Regional Park' on the way? (not shown as the route below, but easy to modify).



This will miss the Parc area to the East of the Millau Viaduct, but... more 2 night stopovers.

Day-1 stop at Brière Regional Natural Park
Day-2 & 3 stop at Périgord Limousin Natural Regional Park
Day-4 & 5 stop at Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne
Day-6 & 7 stop at Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan
Day-8 stop at Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Regional Park
Day-9 ferry home...

And a bit of info on the Massif Central area.
The first and last two night stopovers are effectively either side of this religion, with the Day-4 & 5 being bang in the middle...

Sod it....go long

What dates are we considering...I can't do 12-17 July......

Eugene can't make May 22nd - 29th