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Literally no idea what we want to do for holiday this year. Not got endless amounts of cash as currently doing a kitchen refurb, so limited to NW Europe. Have a van, many bikes, walking boots and touring kayaks. Have done Scotland a lot since 2020.
Was thinking maybe a chilled bikepacking tour in France or some where - couple of weeks (we have up to 2.5 weeks in late August) of stopping at cafes, enjoying some sunshine etc. Gravel bikes or 29er HT. Any route suggestions? We don’t have panniers so bit limited on number of clothes changes if we also want to take camping stuff!! And possibly somewhere we can get to by taking the train. From memory the TGV doesn’t allow bikes?
Leave the van in Portsmouth, take Brittany Ferries to St. Malo, and cylye round the coast of Brittany, surviving on croissants, oysters and assorted seafood. Take the bikes on the open ferry at Brest Harbour and come back along the southern coast line. Back up to St Malo and home.
Look at the routes in bike packing.com. The Ardennes route is good.
Not sure if NW Spain counts as "NW Europe", but if money allows take a ferry to Santander and do the St. James' Way along the north coast.
Thanks all. Some bikepacking.com perusing is a good idea.
For ease you can't beat the overnight ferry from Portsmouth. You could make it circular and come back via Plymouth and wind your way back to Portsmouth. People will tell you Devon Dorset Hampshire will be too busy to cycle but only if you choose busy roads. Loads of quiet roads, byways and tracks.
Of course you could make a month of it, cycle down the atlantic coast, pyrenees and along the Spanish coast to Santander and get the ferry home to Portsmouth from there.
Now there's a thought.......i've still got some paniers in the shed....
Of course you could make a month of it, cycle down the atlantic coast, pyrenees and along the Spanish coast to Santander and get the ferry home to Portsmouth from there.
Now there’s a thought…….i’ve still got some paniers in the shed….
Damn work - cause that is tempting!
This mornings adverts for womans spaces on the Nice-Turino rally has inspired me (not to join the event, but do so something that way ourselves). Got very distracted from work looking at routes and train options.
lots of long distance overnight trains in Europe that you can take your bike on then ride back over a week or two
for example
https://www.nightjet.com/en/angebote/fahrradmitnahme
Second the Ardennes but this is also a cracker
https://bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-france-traversee-du-massif-vosgien/
I am defiantly starting to see some ideas forming! Thanks all. Just need to warn @p20 of my plotting! Haha! If we do go down this plan, it will be at a chilled pace with time to feel like we are actually on holiday, not just smashing out the miles!
As suggested by The Brick
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where-to-go/the-tour-de-manche-bike-route.html