Mini NSCR advice needed

[craign74]

Hi,

I'm putting together a week long ride in May this year for me and 3 friends, we're going from Newcastle upon Tyne
to Hull, catching the ferry to Zeebrugge, and then spending 3 days biking to Ijmuiden for the ferry back to
Newcastle. I've got everything booked in England including ferries, and have maps for this side of the water. I'm
hoping someone can answer a few questions regarding the other side, these are...

1. Most important one first, where can I get hold of a (new or used) map of the North Sea Cycle Route that covers
the section between Zeebrugge and Ijmuiden?.

2. Where do we pick up the NSCR after leaving the port at Zeebrugge?.

3. What is the distance between these two ports? (I'm guessing around 100 - 120 miles).

4. Where are likely places I'll be able to find reasonably priced accommodation for the 2 nights we'll be
stopping over? Looking at Google Earth I'm thinking Middelburg, and then somewhere around the Hook of Holland.

Lots of question I know, hoping someone can give me some advice.

Many Thanks
Craig

[Ron]

1 Here is a link to the map...http://www.northsea-cycle.com/default.a ... u=2&lang=1

If you feel you really need a paper map, there is a petrol station not far from the ferry terminal at Zeebrugge where you could pick up a map.
I suggest you Google LF1, and you will get lots of info.. Sustrans used to sell a little book with maps and pictures and text in English of the LF1, check their website.

Follow the coast north towards Breskens, and your route will merge with the LF1 Noordzee Route cycle route. At Breskens you take a ferry across the Scheldt, to Vlissingen (Flushing) follow the signs indicating the LF1b (NOT LF1a which is the reverse direction!) and these will take you to Ijmuiden.

2 When you leave the port area you will come to the road Kustlaan, turn left and follow it towards Knokke Heist.

3 Your estimate is about right, perhaps a little nearer to 130 miles.

4 Regarding accommodation, when in the Netherlands look for the tourist information office, known as the VVV (vay vay vay ) they will assist you and also have maps for cyclists. There is also the ANWB (roughly equivalent to our AA or RAC)who sell maps for cyclists. Sometimes the VVV and ANWB are in the same office.

It might help you a little to know the Dutch for cycle path/route is Fietspad.

[pal]

There's a good online bicycle route planner for the Dutch sections (all in Dutch, but not too hard to work out): handy for calculating mileage, and also for detailed directions through urban areas (though to be honest, signposting is so good that you don't really need it):
http://www.fietsersbond.nl/fietsrouteplanner/fietsroutes-vandeurtotdeurplanner/index.html The Belgian equivalent (I think) is this (though I've never used it myself): http://www.fietsnet.be/routeplanner/default.aspx

For paper maps, Stanfords stock the ANWB cycle maps (some bigger branches of Waterstones do as well); there's also the very good Map Shop (http://www.themapshop.co.uk/).

[DougieB]

Hi,

I'm in Rotterdam at the moment, just cycled down here from Ijmuden today. Fantastic cycling ! A very nice dutch couple I met on the ferry over let me follow them down to the Hague (where they lived), via 'the dunes' route. It's about 35 miles of 700c friendly cycle route, completely away from an roads (apart from skirting a couple of small towns). A map of those cycle paths would be almost required, unless you just ask the other people cycling (there were quite a lot).

I picked up a map on the ferry over, it's not great and doesn't have cycle routes on it. I'm here for a few days, and I was going to nip into the tourist info to see about cycle route maps. if i get some I can post something over to you ? I'll know more tomorrow.

I'll probably be heading south following the NSCR in the next few days, down to France.

cheers

[craign74]

Thanks all for the tips and advice, that should get us there no problem. Roll on May

[Robstn]

This blog http://lf1northsearoute.blogspot.com is dedicated to the LF1 North Searoute. It contains usefull online maps with much more detail compared to te NSCR map mentionend above, and GPS tracks.
Also there is a description how to use the Belgian Coast Cycle Route to get on the LF1 to the north.

[craign74]

Thanks Robstn,

We'll be taking printouts from this map as well. It's showed me where to find a couple of hotels which are being booked for the 2 nights on route between Zeebrugge & Ijmuiden....

Thanks
Craig

[syklist]

4. Where are likely places I'll be able to find reasonably priced accommodation for the 2 nights we'll be
stopping over? Looking at Google Earth I'm thinking Middelburg, and then somewhere around the Hook of Holland.

I've done the NSCR in Holland and some of the coast route in Zeeland you will be following. Here some pictures of the route south of Renesse and from Renesse up to Maassluis.

Campsites between Hoek van Holland and Ijmuiden can be relatively expensive. But they are still a lot cheaper than a B&B. You could also try registering with Warmshowers.org. There is a host in Oostvoorne, south of Hoek van Holland and others in the Den Haag and Scheveningen area.

[craign74]

Thanks for the advice, we've already made hotel/pub bookings in Breezand and Rozenburg. Camping may be the way to go next time though.

[craign74]

Well we're all packed and ready to hit the road on Monday morning from Newcastle, thanks again for all the good advice and tips. Think we've struck lucky with the weather (not)

[Ron]

Well we're all packed and ready to hit the road on Monday morning from Newcastle, thanks again for all the good advice and tips. Think we've struck lucky with the weather (not)

Enjoy!
I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up a little and I'll be heading for Newcastle too.