Day 1: Popham (EGHP) to Périgueux (LFBX) via Cherbourg (LFRC)

Plan A gives way to Plan B

Our original plan was fly down to Biscarrosse for some log awaited bucket list seaplane flying and enjoy a pre-booked hotel on the lake. However, wild summer forest fires forced Biscarrosse Airfield and surrounding accommodations to close. Time for Plan B: Périgueux in the Dordogne region.

We departed Popham (EGHP) and set a course across the English Channel for our first stop at Cherbourg (LFRC). The airfield café at Cherbourg has recently reopened under new ownership, hosted by a very welcoming owner serving up a nice light menu (and bottles of wine available for purchase).

Flying through the Haze

The second leg from Cherbourg down to Périgueux (LFBX) proved challenging. For the last 70 nautical miles, visibility deteriorated significantly due to a combination of moisture and drifting smoke—despite being over 100 miles east of the Biscarrosse blazes. Synthetic vision and the RNP 29 approach were helpful tools for getting in.

Landing at Périgueux felt eerily quiet: rain and nobody around; after our smoky flight, it was like arriving at the end of the world. We topped up at the self-serve AVGAS pump, then realised we were locked inside the airfield perimeter! Fortunately, an aeroclub door was unlocked, allowing us to exit into town. Knowing we couldn’t regain access until the airfield officially reopened on Monday, we spent the night at an Ibis before settling into a large apartment in Périgueux’s historic centre.

Day 3: Périgueux (LFBX) to Montpellier (LFMT)

Plan C: Following the Lowlands

With the cloud base over the Massif Central too low for a direct mountain route, we went with Plan C: routing south toward Carcassonne before tracking east toward the Mediterranean coast near Montpellier. Toulouse Info offered no info service around their airspace, so we navigated below the TMA independently.

Arrival into Montpellier (LFMT) was lively, featuring rapid frequency changes and coordination around active military zones. After descending to designated altitudes at Visual Reporting Points (VRPs), we were cleared for approach, left base for Runway 31 Right.

3 Days on the Mediterranean

We checked into Hôtel La Motte La Plage at La Grande-Motte—a location right near the coast. A short 15-minute stroll along the promenade brought us to the town centre, packed with bustling seafront restaurants and live music in the hot summer evenings.

Day 6: Montpellier (LFMT) to Roanne (LFLO)

Plan D: The Mountain Route & Thunderstorm Diversion

After three restful days by the sea, we flew north toward Auxerre. We planned to climb over the mountains at 6,000 feet, which required clearance through military zone LFR55D. Crossing this airspace turned into a game of frequency tag: Marseille Info handed us to Provence Info, who then passed us to Orange. Orange assigned a squawk code, granted clearance, and promptly requested we switch back to Marseille Info!

An hour into the leg, the weather began to deteriorate. High cloud layers but convective activity, with thunderstorms causing noticeable turbulence out to our west. Weather radar showed storm cells moving northeast, right over our destination at Auxerre, so we elected to divert and wait out the weather at Roanne (LFLO), with Clermont passing our flight plan diversion message.

Stranded by the Lunch Hour

We landed at Roanne during the French lunch break (12:00–14:00) with no active ATC and an empty ramp, save for a few locals working in an aeroclub hangar (A Rotax service centre here too).

With the airfield café closed, we fueled up with UL91 (at a steep €3.00 per litre), parked the plane, and headed into town. We booked an apartment near the train station for the night. The following morning, the friendly airfield admin and ATC were there and waived our overnight parking fee due to the weather diversion while processing our €10 landing fee. After a long period of wrestling with the computer. (We were anxious to get airborne before the next rain showers)

Day 7: Roanne (LFLO) to Le Touquet (LFAT)

Plan E: Racing the Rain

We spotted a weather window between rain showers and launched north to outrun fresh thunderstorm cells building to the SW. St. Yan ATC provided great service as we navigated towards clearer skies with thunderstorms developing behind us.

We maintained a smooth run under the Paris TMA at 2,300 feet via BCN before making our way to Le Touquet (LFAT). The airport was busy as usual with cross-Channel traffic, giving us a great opportunity to fly the RNP approach from the south.

In Le Touquet, we treated ourselves to a stay at Le Grand Hôtel and a seafood dinner at Pérard.

Day 8: Returning Home to Popham (EGHP)

Our final leg across the Channel brought us back to Popham (EGHP). Upon landing, we were greeted by a French aircraft fly-in underway at the airfield, featuring many classic Jodel designs (G-reg). A nice close to an unforgettable week of touring France.

Trip Summary at a Glance

Leg	Departure	Destination	Highlights / Notes
1	Popham (EGHP)	Cherbourg (LFRC)	Reopened airfield café & warm welcome.
2	Cherbourg (LFRC)	Périgueux (LFBX)	Smoke haze from wildfires, RNP 29 approach, locked airfield escape!
3	Périgueux (LFBX)	Montpellier (LFMT)	Detour via Carcassonne lowlands; 3-day beach stay at La Grande-Motte.
4	Montpellier (LFMT)	Roanne (LFLO)	Military clearance handoffs, thunderstorm diversion off route to Auxerre.
5	Roanne (LFLO)	Le Touquet (LFAT)	Outrunning storms; Paris TMA transit at 2,300 ft; dinner at Pérard.
6	Le Touquet (LFAT)	Popham (EGHP)	Smooth Channel crossing back to Popham for the Jodel fly-in.