In reply to mutt:
Isn't there absolutely loads to go at in France and north Spain?
I've been researching ways to do this too. Didn't make it anywhere this time last year by train, but a trip to Catalunya is imminent. I was watching train tickets, + got lucky as en.oiu.sncf put loads of promo tickets up in Feb...Paris to Barcelona TGV in 6.5 hrs for €25 2nd class, €40 1st class. I'd been planning a way carefully, as I wanted to do the Paris to Barcelona leg all in daylight, so to make it work this time I am taking a an overnight coach for London to Barcelona via Chunnel, around 9hrs, costs as little as £17 Flix Bus. But next time and ideally, re being more environmentally friendly, the Eurostar is as cheap as £29 each way, London to Paris, but more commonly around £37, depends how in advance you plan. You can take the 0541 Eurostar from St Pancras, to Paris GdN, then give yourself an hour to get to GDL for the 10.09 TGV, and you can be in Barcelona for 5pmish! From Bristol this would mean getting up stupid early, or planning the journey for a different Eurostar departure with a night in Paris, or, choosing an arrival in Barcelona at 10 PM if you can find an air bnb that will let you in that late, and there are some at around £15!
The return journey costs about the same if planned ahead, so from London you can get to Barcelona in a day for £60, and £60 back.
Even if hopeless at planning the return can be done by train to Montpellier if you fancy a stop over, with French practice, then on to Paris next day with only 3 weeks notice for £35.
I'm actually travelling by myself this time and hoping for the best on arrival re finding partners, but if no joy I don't climb steep stuff so will manage ok with my shunt. I'll get a train from Barcelona to Lesborges del Camp and then try hitch the final hrs car leg up to Siurana, as I can't get credit cards to do car hire, shame as it's so cheap and allows visits to other crags eg Arboli, Monsant etc. I need to go by myself first time to get the hang of being organised and making it work without missing connections and ruining the trip for someone else!
I'd be up for repeating this at the end of the year or next March if anyone is keen, and you are happy to hire a car, I'll share the costs.
I've hardly ever flown, but I think I might prefer all this to flying, it's more adventurous I think. Anyway if you gave me free plane tickets, I'd rip them up, the planet just can't cope with all these flights.
I have solo trips to France planned too, as my French is improving and I'm happy to find french partners.
I did make it to Buoux in November last year by coach (possibly only 1/3 as environmentally friendly than planes, whereas trains are apparently around one tenth the emissions? not exactly sure though), but things didn't go quite to plan and the trip ended too soon with hardly any climbing done.
Car hire isn't so cheap in France but happy to share the costs. If anyone fancies planning a trip with me, without flying, please do get in touch.
It's a shame there aren't more people out there who are up for this though, slightly higher costs, need to plan carefully, time taken vs 2 to 4hrs flying, needing the convenience of a quick weekend or weeks trip to some "sun rock", the planet isn't going to die, we'll be ok, space travel will save us, etc, all those kind of lame excuses, + loads of ukc climbers + people in general who obviously must have those thoughts floating around wherever their brains are located whenever they plan a holiday abroad, and so many who it seems just aren't ever going to care anyway.
Post edited at 00:02