April in Paris

[Cathryn]

Our May Ventoux adventure has been shelved..it clashed with our son's D of E expedition. I am a little grumpy about this, but voila! However,all is not lost...we've just planned and organised a week in the Easter hols cycling from Dieppe to Paris and back. My son hasn't been to Paris since he was 3, so he's very excited. Anyone done the Avenue Verte? It looks excellent.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Yes! It is excellent. The cycle path out of Dieppe is buttery smooth and flat... beautiful riding. A few lovely villages and towns but generally it's just unhurried countryside riding.

There's one or two little gravelly bits past villages you'll probably want to skip. The Paris route goes on a bit - don't assume that because you've reached Paris that you're almost at Notre Dame; it's a good 40 miles from the outskirts to Notre Dame. (But you can get the train if you're bored of it.)

Paris itself has come on in leaps and bounds for cycling infrastructure - we were there a few weeks back and it's almost unrecognisable from a decade ago. Cyclists everywhere.

Obligatory c.t write-up: https://cycle.travel/route/avenue_verte_france

 

[Cycleops]

You might like to hum this as you go:

View: https://youtu.be/wCmcoZktZG4?si=c-6Tfxwpla_zE_zO

 

[Cathryn]

Yes! It is excellent. The cycle path out of Dieppe is buttery smooth and flat... beautiful riding. A few lovely villages and towns but generally it's just unhurried countryside riding.

There's one or two little gravelly bits past villages you'll probably want to skip. The Paris route goes on a bit - don't assume that because you've reached Paris that you're almost at Notre Dame; it's a good 40 miles from the outskirts to Notre Dame. (But you can get the train if you're bored of it.)

Paris itself has come on in leaps and bounds for cycling infrastructure - we were there a few weeks back and it's almost unrecognisable from a decade ago. Cyclists everywhere.

Obligatory c.t write-up: https://cycle.travel/route/avenue_verte_france

Really helpful, thank you!

 

[CXRAndy]

Our May Ventoux adventure has been shelved..it clashed with our son's D of E expedition. I am a little grumpy about this, but voila! However,all is not lost...we've just planned and organised a week in the Easter hols cycling from Dieppe to Paris and back. My son hasn't been to Paris since he was 3, so he's very excited. Anyone done the Avenue Verte? It looks excellent.

Yes, I did about 7 years ago with my two eldest kids, teens at the time. We cycled down from tower Bridge to Brighton via Ditchling Beacon, along the coast road to Newhaven. Ferry to Dieppe (its a late arrival) booked a small guest house-arrived nearly midnight. Then onto the Avenue Verte. We stayed on it most of the way ,but deviated our route to get to guest houses we had booked. It is a truly lovely route, we did it in late August, nice and warm.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1159842738
https://www.strava.com/activities/1161522858
https://www.strava.com/activities/1162948675

 

[Cathryn]

@CXRAndy Thanks - really appreciate the data files. Now I'm second guessing my route planning. How busy were the roads? Quiet lanes or busier?

 

[toffee]

Our May Ventoux adventure has been shelved..it clashed with our son's D of E expedition. I am a little grumpy about this, but voila! However,all is not lost...we've just planned and organised a week in the Easter hols cycling from Dieppe to Paris and back. My son hasn't been to Paris since he was 3, so he's very excited. Anyone done the Avenue Verte? It looks excellent.

Did it in March 16 with Mrs T. Only thing I would say from our experience is don't expect anywhere to be selling food after 6pm in Gisors. All the bars were only selling drinks no food. Eventually we found a pizza place open after wandering round what seemed to be every street.

 

[Cathryn]

Did it in March 16 with Mrs T. Only thing I would say from our experience is don't expect anywhere to be selling food after 6pm in Gisors. All the bars were only selling drinks no food. Eventually we found a pizza place open after wandering round what seemed to be every street.

That is a Pearl of tip! Thanks!

 

[bluenotebob]

I'm not sure when the Easter hols are @Cathryn .. but one thing you should be aware of - almost the whole of NW and W France is flooded. There are major diversions in place on Eurovelo #1 - the Oust valley is inundated and I imagine the whole stretch between Pontivy and Redon is closed. It's no better towards Rennes - everywhere's awash. Same further south - down towards La Rochelle.

The forecast here (in Brittany) for the next 14 days is rain, rain, rain (light rain, rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms) - no let up at all - and that takes us almost up to Easter.

I don't know if the situation is better towards the Pal de Calais - but it's something you might want to check out. Better to know that there may be route diversions, rather than have them come as a surprise.

Have a great trip - I look forward to reading about it !

 

[Cathryn]

Eek! Thanks for the heads up! Shall investigate!