Caen to Cherbourg

[andynlou]

Hi All,
I am new to this but I am planning on cycling from Caen to Cherbourg in August.
When I look on google maps there are a lot of trails that run along the coast.
Does anyone know if they can be cycled?

TIA

Andy

[JJF]

Welcome.
France has lots of cyclable roads.
One type of routes is called Voies Vertes (Green Ways). They exclude motorised traffic and are for the use of horses, cyclists, wheelchairs, roller skaters. Generally they were created from former rail tracks and canal tow paths. You can find details if you click on AF3V.

[Psamathe]

When I cycles round that area I used https://cycle.travel to create routes. It's a dedicated cycle route creating system (free) and I've never had a bad route from it. It prioritises low traffic routes and you can select whether to require paves surfaces.

Ian

[PT1029]

I would use something better than google maps. The green line for cycling can be very variable in its cyclebility..... Thin white lines can be almost anything from legally ridable to not. Better to use cycle.travel (mentioned upthread) or open street map. Best to get used to what ever you use to get the best from it.
Google maps are fine for a quick look - see. Google street view is very good to help clarify any unclear bits - eg, does the side road still have access to a main road (even a gap in a fence) or is it competely blocked off.

[Psamathe]

The route I took https://psamathe.net/destination-decided/ - link is to 1st day, near bottom link to next, etc. Although I started from Ouistreham and only went as far up the peninsula as far as Sainte-Mère-Église. (Excuse the silly post titles but more used to reassure parents I've not suffered some horrible accident).

The outes were from [url]https:cycle.travel[/url]. Short days as I was uncertain of my level of fitness particularly with full camping gear.

Ian

[groberts]

I cycled the reverse in 2010 from Cherebourg to Le Harve via Caen to coincide with the annual D-Day rememberence on 6th June. Just take my route and follow something like it in reverse, using a Michelin 1:150,000 map numbers 303 and 304, which I found quite adequate. As long as you stay on the minor roads they're usually very good. Here's my write up of the trip.

https://roundthebendpart1.wordpress.com ... june-2010/

It was a memorable, moving and very intersting ride which I'm sure you'll enjoy. Some homework on the area it's history beforehand will make the ride all the more rewarding.

Graham

[brianleach]

As long as you stay on the minor roads they're usually very good. Here's my write up of the trip.

+1

I've done it a couple of times. Just using the Michelin maps. Generally the minor roads are pretty quiet. I was on a "normal" Dawes tourer so have no view on the cycle paths.