Hello!
Does anyone know how easy it is to get cleared through the low restricted airspace corridors (usually 800'AGL upwards)?
In Germany? Never heard of anything like that! Between the French border and EDSB and between EDSB and EDNY there is no airspace restriction at all. Apart from ED-R 9 that covers the whole of Germany and starts at 10.000 ft MSL, above which a clearance is required for VFR flying (which is near impossible to get).
Try to download the AIP plates as Backpacker suggests for the airports that you want to visit (or send me an Email in case you have difficulties with it).
If you can get it in time, the "Fliegertaschenkalender" is always nice to have (
R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, Fliegertaschenkalender Ausgabe 2009). It is a bit like your Pooleys guide but much smaller in size and should give you enough information for landing on every aerodrome in Germany in case of a diversion (just bear in mind that there are no overhead joins here. Traffic pattern altitude is usually 1000 ft above aerodrome altitude und you join downwind unless otherwise instructed.).
Both EDSB and EDNY have quite expensive landing fees. For your refuelling stop, either Lahr (EDTL), Freiburg (EDTF) or Donaueschingen (EDTD) could be cheaper alternatives in the vicinity. Or Speyer (EDRY) on the Rhine in the north if you have to avoid high ground due to weather.
Greetings, Max