European cycle tour with my partner

[Pjays666]

Hi, some advice needed please. I have some crazy idea to park up at the port in Hull, take bikes to Rotterdam and cycle to Zeebrugge for return ferry to hull. I would only want to be going about 40 miles a day on scenic routes ie rivers, canals etc. I would be using a touring bike and my partner would be using her electric bike. I am not sure whether we will be staying in B & B or camping as I want my better half to enjoy it (selfishly so she will want to do more) This is my first attempt at touring so any advice will be really appreciated regarding routes or research tools as I really don't know where to start. I will probably be looking at doing this around april /may next year. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Look at the thread "Top Touring Tips " and search on Holland in this thread.

Loads of info.

 

[rich p]

Look at maps to see where you'll end up after your daily mileage. Search for accommodation or campsites in the vicinity and tweak accordingly.

 

[andym]

Open Street Map is a pretty good resource for cycle routes.

For campsites there's eurocampings.co.uk (the ACSI camping organisation is based in the Netherlands so this is their home turf). Get a decent map (ie 1:200,000 or better) and mark it up with the campsites.

For hotels and B&Bs there's Booking.com (they're Dutch as well).

Not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings but the touring tips thread seems completely random: yes you might find a gem in there but a bit of googling might be a better use of your time. A quick search on "cycle routes Netherlands", came up with a shedload of useful resources eg:

http://www.holland-cycling.com

and

http://en.nederlandfietsland.nl/en

and loads more. If it's in Dutch then use Google Translate (or Microsoft Translator).

April is a bit high risk if you aren't hard-core campers (the weather might be wonderful but it might not) although of course there's nothing to stop you carrying camping gear but opting to stay in B&Bs if the weather isn't great.

 

[Pjays666]

Thanks guys I have (or should I say SWMBO) has decided that we will be staying in B & Bs and are probably looking at zeebrugge to Rotterdam taking in some places such as bruge etc for overnight stays, sightseeing. My main consideration is that it should be scenic and enjoyable for her. As I said she will be on an electric bike so the distance of 40 miles a day will be a doddle for her and I have been regularly doing 60s (albeit not chasing her doing 15mph).Should we be looking at booking everything in advance or just look for somewhere the day before etc. We will be fine doing this over 5 or 6 days and diverting to places of interest along the way.

 

[rich p]

I'd pre-book for that sort of trip especially as you'll be visiting tourist hotspots. It takes the angst and time-wasting out of the equation on a relatively short tour.

 

[Hill Wimp]

i would second that ^^^

I can recommend The Ibis centrum in Bruges. It's central, nice and a good price.

 

[Pjays666]

Thanks @Hill Wimp I will look that up.

 

[Hill Wimp]

It may not be appropriate on your forthcoming tour but i can recommed cycling between Bruges and Ghent. This really is all canal and bike paths, very easy and lovely and personally speaking Ghent is much nicer than Bruges.

IMHO Ghent has soul whereas Bruges, which i know very well has just become a jam packed tourist mecca. Still pretty though but then so is Ghent.

 

[rich p]

It may not be appropriate on your forthcoming tour but i can recommed cycling between Bruges and Ghent. This really is all canal and bike paths, very easy and lovely and personally speaking Ghent is much nicer than Bruges.

IMHO Ghent has soul whereas Bruges, which i know very well has just become a jam packed tourist mecca. Still pretty though but then so is Ghent.

Agreed, I'm going back again, to Gent this autumn. Love it.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Agreed, I'm going back again, to Gent this autumn. Love it.

We arrived last month at the end of their Jazz festival which then rolled straight into their 10 day Ghent festival. It was brilliant and we managed to find a gorgeous b&b in the centre too.

http://www.dolders.be/

 

[snorri]

l, take bikes to Rotterdam and cycle to Zeebrugge for return ferry to hull.

Are you sure the Hull Zeebrugge ferry will carry passengers with bikes?
All indications suggest this is a freight ferry carrying mainly trailers but with limited cabin space for lorry drivers.

Edited to say Ignore what I said, I can only offer apologies for getting it completely wrong!

 

[Pjays666]

Are you sure the Hull Zeebrugge ferry will carry passengers with bikes?
All indications suggest this is a freight ferry carrying mainly trailers but with limited cabin space for lorry drivers.

Yes I went on that ferry in November on a tour with my local ctc. We only went for three days staying in bruges. Had no problems on ferry with bikes but I will certainly check thanks

 

[Pjays666]

It may not be appropriate on your forthcoming tour but i can recommed cycling between Bruges and Ghent. This really is all canal and bike paths, very easy and lovely and personally speaking Ghent is much nicer than Bruges.

IMHO Ghent has soul whereas Bruges, which i know very well has just become a jam packed tourist mecca. Still pretty though but then so is Ghent.

Now that does give food for thought, I would need to check distances and possibly look at a round trip back to zeebrugge

 

[Hill Wimp]

I have not done any of the North Sea route but i understand from many of those that have have that it is very windy.

Being slightly sheltered along the canals is a bit nicer.