Going camping in the south of France next year, and want to try the Col de Turini. Seen a few videos of it, including its appearance on Top Gear a few years back, looks great fun! Has anyone driven it before? Are there any other roads in the south of France (Nice/Cannes area) worth a look?

Omylord yes! Zoom in on google maps. Far more squiggly roads than you can shake a sharp stick at.

I stayed in an appartment in Mons, just above Fayence. The middle w/e the French National Rally Championship was centred there and we go to watch from our balcony. The following morning, we drove a couple of the routes and could see where the "OH Merde!" moments had been.

At Castellane, on the N85 (or whatever it is called now) - the Route Napoleon took after escaping from Elba - you can make decisions as to where you want to go. Up the side of Lac de Castillon, turn right and the main road take you back to Nice, but on you left you will pass turnings for the Cols de Allos, Champ, Dalois and Vars. All different and have their own character.

The Col de la Bonnette, the highest through road pass in Europe is worth a detour on its own, although you could fit it in as part of your route home. It has been resurfaced and regraded and is now an easy drive, but high!. Fantastic views.

From Briancon heading north, up the Col du Lautret, rather than take the softies option down to Grenoble (and awful traffic), turn right on to the Col de Galibier. I have been through here mid august and after the fog, the snow came. But it is very rugged and scenic. I have been through in October and it has been glorious - but you are best to check the forcasts before you go and don't try it if the boards say FERME.

An alternative is to take the Bourg Oisans road and drop in on Alpe d'Huez, a dead end but an interesting ascent. After Huez, the road is called Route des Cols, so by now you sort of know what to expect.

I have been to the coast in high summer, and even on the bike the traffic is a pain in the bum. I was there October last year and not only was it very nice and warm, but there was no traffic, you could park where you wanted. If you want a break from mountains, the coast road is not bad. We stopped in St Maxime and had a decent meal, followed by a walk along the beach.

My partner taught French, and had used some material based on a visitor to Collobrieres. It turn out to be fantastic, very unspoilt, but with a couple of good restaurants and a cheap hotel. It is a centre of chestnut growing and there is a famous maker of chestnut ice cream. Delicious. The drive to and from. although flatish, is as twisty as anything you will find up the side of a mountain. More fab.

This takes you within spitting distance of St Tropez, You can get a ferry from St Maxime, which saves you having to find parking!!!!!

If you want more specific info let me know, but really there is more than you can do in a couple of weeks, so you could easily have a quick plan before you go, and see how long it takes to get to places.

Other things to do? Gorge du Vedon, Mont Ventoux is a bit far but nice to have done. "n" number of picturesque villages, views without measure.

I don't have a satnav, useful as they may be, but a Michelin road atlas, as big as possible, and larger scale IGN green series folding maps which show the smaller roads serves me well, they are also much more interesting, with far less traffic - because everyone else is on the satnav route!

The growth of satnav culture has seen many road signs eliminated, locals know, foreigners have satnavs.

Good Luck and Bon Route!

Great, thanks for the info. Had a look at a few of your suggestions on Google Maps. Castellane looks really good. Would like to go back to Alpe d'Huez (been there before during the winter) but I think it's a bit too much of a detour for us. Thanks for the tips about St. Tropez. I'll probably be investing in a road atlas however!

The atlas is a good purchase. The well known roads can be rather too well known in the summer. The less frequented routes are not so likely to have caravans, or worse - campervans all over them.

Early starts always worked well for me. I could then give the "Mecs des Chute de Pierres" clearing away the new rock falls a cheery wave. But then lightweight camping on a moto is not conducive to laying in.