The Belgian Route

Some members have suggested travelling via Hull from the north of England, which sounds agood idea rather than travel 250 or so miles down to the south coast....  Guess a trip through Belgium would be necessary? Therefore, can anyone recommend a good route down to Umbria from Hull via Rotterdam or Zeebrugge, as short as possible, but not motorways all the way!  Yes I know I could 'Google' or 'TomTom' it, but I am looking for opinions and advice from anyone who may do this journey regularly and know all the pitfalls....  Thanks.

" decided to stay overnight at Dinant, where I have stayed previously and found to be marginally less bad than most towns in Belgium. To anyone contemplating a similar stop - don't." Dinant is not on the route through Belgium - its a minor detour off of it - so the cable works don't affect anyone driving through.  We have stayed at a delightful Chateau outside of Dinant  "Castel LES SORBIERS • rue des Sorbiers 241 • B5543 Heer-sur-Meuse" and would recommend it for a great overnight stay

Indeed, there are no problems on any of the motorways, it's only if, like me, one had fancied stopping the night at Dinant. So, still don't.

"trying to avoid motorway tolls " Rotterdam to Switzerland should be toll free, as long as you avoid the French motorway to Strasbourg.  So either Rotterdam into Germany and down their free motorways to Basle, - or Rotterdam, Belguim, Luxemburg, and on to Nancy and then either Colmar or Mulhouse - all toll free Switzerland costs about £35 for an annual motorway pass [you can go east into Austria instead] and thenm on to italy, where its up to you if you use the autoroutes [I would]

We normally do the French route down and the Germany/Belgium route back. We've found a great little place in Belgium about 5-10 mins off the motorway exit by the European Space Centre in a place called Smuid. It's a family run inn with the most amazing food - Hostellerie Des Tilleuls. We've stayed there about 5 times - great place to spend the last night of the hols and about 3 and half - 4 hours to the Eurotunnel so an easy drive. 

Hi.  We too normally do the France, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland route, and incur no tolls, other than the annual Swiss Vignette, until Italy (where the alternative routes are soooooooo slow that we sadly give up on trying to avoid tolls!).  Maggi, I suggest that you get yourself a good Europe map book which differentiates between toll roads and non-tolled motorways (or at least show the toll booths so you can second guess the road category).  Also the AA website provides (or at least, used to) a list of current toll charges by country and road number, so you can use this list in conjunction with a map to plan a route.  Sadly, I think you'll spend much more by trying to stay on smaller roads, as the trip will take substantially longer - we've tried it and camped along the way, just for the craic!  The above route is still quite direct, and fast...