I'm thinking about cycling from St Malo down to Bordeaux on the vois vertes and then across to Perpignan and on to Barcelona. Has anyone done some/all of this route and able to offer advice - whether I'll need maps/likely terrain, etc...?
Also, if I do it, it'll be towards the end of October. As I understand it, the French campsites close end of September. Does anyone know otherwise?
Any links to relevant blogs would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
West coast of France - vois vertes
West coast of France - vois vertes
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Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
yup, french campsites close at the end of the season, when the customers stop arriving. you will need to research alternatives. I'd avoid F1 hotels but they are cheap. you might like them, i find they are usually in the wrong place.
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
I'd avoid F1 hotels but they are cheap
Not heard of them. How cheap? I never really consider hotels unless I'm outside Europe.
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Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
Campsites - They do not all closed - however most do even as early as the end of August - however there are a significant number that have weird closing times all the way through to Jan 1st - A copy of both the ADAC guide and Michelin plus the internet will give you some targets
the easy ones are touted as being open all year
http://www.camping-municipal.org/campings-ouverts-toute-l-annee.htm
there will be some big gaps that you may have to fill with hotels - however there I suspect that there will be a few campsites that are open if you dig a bit
Ive cycled up western France during October on my way back from Nice - I managed to find campsites all the way without researching - The ride is pretty dismal - all the apartments shuttered up, quite a lot of the ordinary shops and cafes are closed - sometimes the towns seem almost devoid of life like some alien has vacumed all the people.
the easy ones are touted as being open all year
http://www.camping-municipal.org/campings-ouverts-toute-l-annee.htm
there will be some big gaps that you may have to fill with hotels - however there I suspect that there will be a few campsites that are open if you dig a bit
Ive cycled up western France during October on my way back from Nice - I managed to find campsites all the way without researching - The ride is pretty dismal - all the apartments shuttered up, quite a lot of the ordinary shops and cafes are closed - sometimes the towns seem almost devoid of life like some alien has vacumed all the people.
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
F1 hotel are cheap and offer a good value buffet breakfast. They seem to have modelled their décor on Blake's 7 or 70s Dr Who. As they are aimed at business travellers they tend to be on industrial estates or near airports. The one for Toulouse airport is very handy. You can take your bike into your room.
http://www.hotelf1.com/gb/home/index.shtml
I've ridden the East coast from the French border to Barcelona. I don't know if the Spanish campsites will be open in October but I remember they were a bit more expensive (the cheapest site was more expensive than the most expensive one we stayed at in France) and not as good a quality as France. As you are out of season you should be able to find a reasonably priced hotel in the touristy bits. The road got busier as we got nearer to Barcelona. If it all gets too much the is a small commuter train that runs along there and you can take it to the centre of Barcelona with your bike as long as you are outside peak hours.
http://www.hotelf1.com/gb/home/index.shtml
I've ridden the East coast from the French border to Barcelona. I don't know if the Spanish campsites will be open in October but I remember they were a bit more expensive (the cheapest site was more expensive than the most expensive one we stayed at in France) and not as good a quality as France. As you are out of season you should be able to find a reasonably priced hotel in the touristy bits. The road got busier as we got nearer to Barcelona. If it all gets too much the is a small commuter train that runs along there and you can take it to the centre of Barcelona with your bike as long as you are outside peak hours.
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
If you're in Perpignan look in on the Hotel Paris-Barcelonne. I've never stayed there but at the end of our Strasbourg-Perp. diagonale they let us shower for a negligible fee, snooze in their lounge and then go out for dinner with our bikes out of sight on their balcony, which was only accessible from the lobby. Current rates are 40-50€ and it's opposite the main railway station with lots of restaurants in the area. Great people who understand cyclists.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
Many thanks for the info.
The hotels will be out of my reach financially. I travel on 10 - 15 euros a day max, so campsites and a bit of wild camping will be my preferred options.
I'm interested in the route south. Anyone know how well signposted the vois vertes are? I've read that the prevailing winds are south/south west. Again does anyone know any different?
Final question is terrain... flat, hilly etc?
Re Spanish campsites, I know they can be a tad pricey so the last stretch to Barcelona will be wild camping.
The hotels will be out of my reach financially. I travel on 10 - 15 euros a day max, so campsites and a bit of wild camping will be my preferred options.
I'm interested in the route south. Anyone know how well signposted the vois vertes are? I've read that the prevailing winds are south/south west. Again does anyone know any different?
Final question is terrain... flat, hilly etc?
Re Spanish campsites, I know they can be a tad pricey so the last stretch to Barcelona will be wild camping.
http://www.farewellburt.wordpress.com - Europe on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
b1ke wrote:. Anyone know how well signposted the vois vertes are? Final question is terrain... flat, hilly etc?
Once you're on them they are signposted pretty well, but you need a backup map or GPS because there will be the odd missing sign (or you may miss one because of plants growing across them).
They can be pretty slow along the coast south of Nantes because they wiggle in and out and between campsites, villages etc.
But mostly flat once you're through Brittany. You can plot routes on something like ridewithgps or cycle.travel and see the contours.
Chris F, Cornwall
Re: West coast of France - vois vertes
not sure if this is any help
Funnily enough, I was just copying some of the information from this site when you posted. Yes, it's a very good resource.
Thanks for all the comments on this topic. Very helpful.
http://www.farewellburt.wordpress.com - Europe on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....
http://www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com - West Africa on a Tandem....