Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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jack1
Posts: 165
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 10:45pm

Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by jack1 »

Hi,can anyone suggest a cycle route from St-Malo,May 5/6 weeks ? This was a 3 month trip,but unfortunately I'v had to half my trip.would like lovely countryside/ villages,small towns,any suggestions would be welcome,B/B small hotels/camping ? Many thanks, :D
the_twin
Posts: 70
Joined: 11 Mar 2018, 9:01pm

Re: Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by the_twin »

Not easy to answer without knowing how far you want to go each day and to some extent the bike being ridden.
jack1
Posts: 165
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 10:45pm

Re: Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by jack1 »

Hi,thanks for your reply,hoping to do 40/60 mile a day,just taking it steady I'm in no rush. :D some days may only do 30/40 depending on weather etc.Thanks 8)
the_twin
Posts: 70
Joined: 11 Mar 2018, 9:01pm

Re: Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by the_twin »

You could get the little ferry from outside the old town walls in Saint-Malo and go over to Dinard. From there there is a nice route south along the river towards Dinan. Then head West round the coast until you either get fed up with the wind and rain blowing in your face or you start going south towards Brest. From Brest you can take another little boat over to the Crozon peninsular. Following around the coast will take you to lots of interesting towns and villages. There is plenty of accommodation although the small town centre hotel does seem to be in decline unfortunately. At some point you will need to head inland where accommodation may be a little scarcer. You'd then want to head north up towards the Normandy coast perhaps at Honfleur and then head back to St-Malo taking in the invasion beaches, Mont St Michel, Bayeux and various places linked to William the Conqueror. Which in Normandy seems to be pretty much everywhere.

You might want to consider some of the off-road routes that run on old railway lines or along canals. A resource is here https://cycling.brittanytourism.com/cycle-route-in-brittany. For maps you want the IGN 1:100000. You can see all their mapping online for free (Geoportail). You can make up your own routes on the white and yellow roads. The official on-road cycle routes tend to meander all over the place and are not well sign posted. The Michelin Green Guides are good for finding historical sites. If you want a big lunch look out for the place with white vans and tractors outside offering the menu ouvrier for €11. You will then need to find a convenient place for a lie down.
ernest
Posts: 24
Joined: 25 Jun 2013, 6:46am

Re: Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by ernest »

Have you decided on a route? I will be coming up through France (roughly - Toulouse, Niort, Nantes, Roscoff) between 27/05 and 1st week in June. Could meet up our routes allow.
Chat Noir
Posts: 228
Joined: 22 Jan 2010, 8:52pm
Location: York

Re: Cycle trip 5/6 weeks from St-Malo/ starting 2nd May

Post by Chat Noir »

The Twin has given you some very good ideas.

I'm cycling from St Malo to Bilbao in mid-May, crossing La Rance on the ferry boat to Dinard and starting on the old railway line from the centre of the town and down to Dinan, before heading on south and up and over the Pyrenees.

To suggest some additional ideas, http://www.reddogbooks.com publish interesting books about Brittany. The Green Ways, old railway lines or alongside canals and rivers, are beautiful ways of getting around and can provide a self-made itinerary. Many campsites, but not all, are open by the beginning of May (we're camping on our trip) and other accommodation plentiful and reasonably priced. http://www.bretonbikes.com probably knows more about cycle touring in Brittany than anyone else and a friendly and accessible website which might give you some more ideas (sometime poster on here, as well). My own preferred route planner is http://cycle.travel/, which helpfully shows accommodation, including campsites, and can provide profiles of routes.

We're going down to the coast, picking up another cyclist at La Rochelle, before free-wheeling south through Les Landes. While that might be a little too far, cutting across to the Atlantic coast, perhaps picking up the Nantes - Brest canal for some of the way, and then spending time along the coast, or all the way back, provides varied and interesting cycling the whole way (and the wind will blow you back). There are some interesting hills in the middle of Brittany - really, it's a hugely attractive area.

Enjoy your trip.
Dawes Galaxy 1979; Mercian 531 1982; Peugeot 753 1987; Peugeot 531 Pro 1988; Peugeot 653 1990; Bob Jackson 731 OS 1992; Gazelle 731 OS Exception 1996; Dolan Dedacciai 2004; Trek 8000 MTB 2011; Focus Izalco Pro 2012
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