Cherbourg > Ouistreham

[hatler]

All,

We're cycle touring en famille this Summer from Cherbourg > Ouistreham (leaving the car in Portsmouth).

We're a family of four with a 15 yo and a 13 yo. Mum and dad will be on MTBs with panniers. Kids will be on road bikes. We're taking a week over it so we won't be breaking any speed records, but the whole idea is to nose around, do some sightseeing and have some nice lunches, perhaps even a day's land yachting.

(We did a Ouistreham > Bayeux and return last Summer so have already seen the Eastern end of the invasion beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry.)

This is clearly a well toured area by you lot, so who's got what suggestions for us ?

Many thanks for whatever you suggest.

 

[hatler]

@mmmmartin, as discussed. All input very gratefully received.

 

[StuAff]

Check out the thread for the Fridays' Normandy tour 2013- many excellent ideas should be found there. To name but two: Saint Vaast la Hougue is lovely and we had great food at a restaurant there. Cracking ice cream from the biscuit factory at St Mere Eglise (and that church where the paratrooper got stuck on D-Day night– they have a model hanging from the spire, on the wrong side!)

 

[Dave Davenport]

The D day museum at Arromanches is worth a visit.

 

[clockworksimon]

The Cotentin peninsula is worth exploring before heading too far east. I have holidayed for 3 family summer holidays in this area and done lots of day rides from our various gites. The west coast above Portbail is beautiful with huge, quiet beaches looking out to the Channel Islands. Riding across the centre is both picturesque and fascinating. Lots if little and sometimes large memorials of various events following D Day. Very moving. Ride across the Marais park to Mere d'Eglise, going past villages battled for in Saving Private Ryan.

 

[mmmmartin]

@hatler Am away, with poor internet. Back Tuesday evening. More then.

 

[Donger]

Various random thoughts: L'Estaminet cafe/restaurant opposite the church in the main square of Ste Marie du Mont (near Utah Beach) is a nice place to eat out. The very NW tip of the Cotentin is very picturesque and surprisingly like the coast of Brittany. Barfleur on the NE tip is a pleasant little fishing port. There are nice flat roads running most of the way along the East coast, past various D Day relics and memorials.

 

[hatler]

Funnily enough I'm familiar with a few of the coastal bits, having sailed into one or two of them, and been towed into another by the local SNSM life boat.

 

[hatler]

All home safe and sound. A real blast. Already planning next year's trip, possibly from St Malo. Thank you for all your hints and tips. I'll provide a brief account of what we got up to when I find the time. A little too much else to focus on at the moment.