Cherbourg Cycling Tour

[TheSandwichMonster]

A friend of mine is just about to get his first road bike and we're thinking about heading away for a few days on a bit of a holiday. Thinking about getting the ferry to Cherbourg from Poole and then having a few days in/around Carentan. I found THIS link via the ferry website and thought we could do some of it, along with stops for food/beer along the way.

Does anyone have any knowledge of riding in the area, particularly with relevance to cycle-friendly places to stay (anywhere is good, but towards the budget end of the range). We're looking to travel light, so B&B's or hotels as opposed to campsites. Aside from accommodation, does anyone know anything else of the area with regards to anything that we should particularly look to visit, or roads that we should ride?

 

[Dave Davenport]

We've done several short tours in that area, always starting and finishing at different ports (Cherbourg, Caen, St.Malo). There are lots of nice roads and the D day beaches are worth a visit. We normally camp but the couple of times we've stayed in small hotels they've been fairly pricey.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

Thanks for the input Dave

 

[NickWi]

Hi, My wife an I took our Tandem to France last year into the same area, into Cherbourg and back from St Malo roughly following the East coast down through the invasion beaches before cutting across the middle and following the other coast to St Malo. The terrain is pretty easy if a bit more hilly in the middle but the roads are good and the vast majority of drivers even better.

We stayed in B&B or small hotels and just turned up. Only in one village did we have a problem, but that was becasue they has a local festival on, so we just road to the next village and no problems. We either eat out in local restaurants or bought food from the local shops and eat in our room. Either way all easily done with school boy French.

Lastly, we had one really misserable day with several punctures, rain and a broken gear cable so we caught the train. A fellow tourist we met said it was easy, and it was. The ticket booth had an English option, the Station Master escorted us across the tracks and also spoke to the guard to make sure he knew where we were getting off. The train had spaces for 6 bikes on and nobody battered an eyelid that we were had a large fully loaded tandem with us.

In truth they probably didn't want two stupid tourist getting in the way of the locals, blocking the platform and buggering up the timetable, but it was all done with a polite smile.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

That's great Nick, thanks for the detailed reply. How did you find the accommodation in terms of cost? Reasonable?

 

[Ivan Ardon]

The ride down to Carenten via Barfleur is an easy days ride of around sixty miles. It's a bit lumpy (rolling hills) between Cherbourg and Barfleur then mostly flat all the way. Plenty of WW2 stuff to look at, but apart from that a little featureless. Carenten is OK, there's a nice pizza / Italian by the harbour that's worth seeking out if you're carb loading, and there's an excellent bike shop there on the right as you enter from the north.

To the north west of Cherbourg, it's worth a trip up to the Cap de la Hague. Empty roads, some cracking scenery and some challenging climbs. Well worth the effort though, and I say that as someone who doesn't particularly like hills. East of Carenten, you've got the D-Day landing beaches. Head to Isigny-sur Mer then dive to the coast. I usually make the effort to get to Bayeux when I'm over that way.

Accommodation I find on the expensive side around Carenten - 30 - 35 euros per person per night. Cherbourg and Bayeux have youth hostels that are cheap and comfortable for much less.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

Thanks Ivan, appreciate that. I've done some of the WW2 places before, but fancy seeing some again as I've just been re-reading Band of Brothers! Thanks for the info on costs, too.

 

[Badgeroo]

As said friend, who now has said bike purchased.. What is the riding like for a novice rider?

 

[Dave Davenport]

As said friend, who now has said bike purchased.. What is the riding like for a novice rider?

Ideal, quiet roads & not too hilly. Just remember to ride on the right!

 

[Badgeroo]

I made that mistake once whilst driving in France... And it was at the end of a full days driving!

 

[User269]

There are now some designated cross channel routes, here . There are new roads and cycle routes in the Weymouth area which enhance access. I expect you know the area fairly well, but if you want some detailed local knowledge of good cycle routes to access Poole from Devon, let me know.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

There are now some designated cross channel routes, here . There are new roads and cycle routes in the Weymouth area which enhance access. I expect you know the area fairly well, but if you want some detailed local knowledge of good cycle routes to access Poole from Devon, let me know.

You know what, I didn't know anything about those, but they certainly look interesting. I tried to work out a route to Poole just on Friday, but I ultimately gave up as there didn't seem to be any way of avoiding the A roads. That looks like a really useful resource - I'll have a study and come back with any questions, thanks!

 

[wintonbina]

Email the tourist office in Cherbourg & they will post you a list of accomodation. With regards to cycling once you get out of Cherbourg its reasonably flat(ish). Very do-able, we had some real novices with us 2 years ago & they coasted it. Also F1 hotels are quite good & cheapish (similar to our Travelodge).