Mike is certainly the best to find the best route to go. Just for info:
Calais to Pau: 670 Miles, 10 hours
Cherbourg to Pau: 560 Miles, 8.30 hours
Bilbao to Pau: 161 Miles, 2.5 hours. Sorry you'll have to travel into France at least for some… miles!
Because this forum is meant to help, just for you Iain some very important informations. Pau has a lot of history being the town of "Le bon Roy Henry" also said Henri IV. He had no less than FIFTY FOUR mistresses and 27 children officially recorded. The others were said… free practice! An other well known specialty is "Les coucougnettes de Pau", friandise based on almond wrapped in chocolate added of raspberry, ginger and Armagnac. Being coucougnettes, you must eat them by two, one for each cheek.
After eating your first pair just say a native "je viens de me bouffer les coucougnettes, c'est délicieux mais un peu bourratif!". She or he will love you and ask for a selfie!
