Hi, new to the forum and looking for advice. I'm 65 and reasonably fit. I've done a bit of touring in the uk. Now looking to go to Hook of Holland in May and cycle a circular route back to same ferry, using Euro Velo. Going to be camping, mostly. Want to include some historical sites, perhaps Arnhem, possibly Eindhoven but completely flexible regarding routes. Any advice regarding routes and anything else would be gratefully recieved. Probably look to do about 40 miles a day (I'm old). Thanks all.
First European tour
- Thread starter fjonny
- Start date
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All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
You'll have a great time!
My absolute favourite cycling days are the ones when I clear customs at the Hoek and cycle out through the glasses to the coast, then up through the sand dunes to Scheveningen.
Here's a picture.
Unfortunately you can't hear the cuckoos or skylarks.
My advice is to be prepared for rain, don't cycle on the road if there's a cycle path, and to come back with a clear memory of what cycling can be like.
My absolute favourite cycling days are the ones when I clear customs at the Hoek and cycle out through the glasses to the coast, then up through the sand dunes to Scheveningen.
Here's a picture.
Unfortunately you can't hear the cuckoos or skylarks.
My advice is to be prepared for rain, don't cycle on the road if there's a cycle path, and to come back with a clear memory of what cycling can be like.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Welcome!
I don't think you can go too far wrong in that area, just decide what you want to see and route accordingly.
Cycle.travel is an excellent planning tool, and has some preset routes available to browse too:
https://cycle.travel/browse
I'm a convert to GPS navigation, and would recommend a bar mounted unit - I have a Wahoo roam, but there are many others to choose from.
I don't think you can go too far wrong in that area, just decide what you want to see and route accordingly.
Cycle.travel is an excellent planning tool, and has some preset routes available to browse too:
https://cycle.travel/browse
I'm a convert to GPS navigation, and would recommend a bar mounted unit - I have a Wahoo roam, but there are many others to choose from.
nogoodnamesleft
Well-Known Member
You don't say how log you are planning to go (65 so retired?).
Camping in NL is easy and cycling is great.
One route I'd recommend subject to how long you are going for would be LF Waterlinieroute. It's an established NL Cycling long distance route (signposted all the way) it Nederland Fietsland established route (https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/fietsroute/lf-waterlinieroute/).
In english Dutch Waterline. It's a historic defensive line constructed for the defence of Holland (Holland rather than Netherlands) and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site (though a fairly long one!. It's flat low lying land running from mid west side of IJsselmeer (Edam) south to Bergen Op Zoom area. The idea was that when faced with invading troops dykes and sluices would be opened to flood a large flat area to a depth of a few feet making it too deep to march through but too shallow for boats.
Along the "line" are a number of different forts and water management features of varying ages (WW2 and older). Forts are interesting, some abandoned, some being renovated, some now commercial cafe's, etc. I even camped at one (you camp inside the fort compound.
Overall 255 miles (though you could start midway and just do part).
Easiest way to sort camping (that I found) is to use https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268630 and press the "Find Hotels and Campsites" button then top left of the map uncheck hotels and chains.
Fairly convenient for Hoek ferry post. Do ask if any details if you are potentially interested.
Camping in NL is easy and cycling is great.
One route I'd recommend subject to how long you are going for would be LF Waterlinieroute. It's an established NL Cycling long distance route (signposted all the way) it Nederland Fietsland established route (https://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/fietsroute/lf-waterlinieroute/).
In english Dutch Waterline. It's a historic defensive line constructed for the defence of Holland (Holland rather than Netherlands) and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site (though a fairly long one!. It's flat low lying land running from mid west side of IJsselmeer (Edam) south to Bergen Op Zoom area. The idea was that when faced with invading troops dykes and sluices would be opened to flood a large flat area to a depth of a few feet making it too deep to march through but too shallow for boats.
Along the "line" are a number of different forts and water management features of varying ages (WW2 and older). Forts are interesting, some abandoned, some being renovated, some now commercial cafe's, etc. I even camped at one (you camp inside the fort compound.
Overall 255 miles (though you could start midway and just do part).
Easiest way to sort camping (that I found) is to use https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268630 and press the "Find Hotels and Campsites" button then top left of the map uncheck hotels and chains.
Fairly convenient for Hoek ferry post. Do ask if any details if you are potentially interested.
Thanks for all the reply's. I'm going for 10-14 days so will probably get out of NI and possibly do some of the Rhine.
nogoodnamesleft
Well-Known Member
I've found the Rhine (EV15) a bit "challenging" for camping in some places. Some campsites are really dreadful eg went to one and agreed a place to pitch, then owner came over and got really aggressive so I move to a different agreed plot (in their deserted tent area) then at 17:00 owner came over an threw me out 'cos "I'd put my bike on the grass of their tent field!
Some stretches very few campsites (I had to camp at a kayak club at one point (I used to kayak).
Be careful about "listings" as several campsites along the Rhine no longer accept short term stays ie all summer/year chalets or transient workers (eg on roads in one place for a few months). But some of the listings are not updated to reflect this. 1st time I did it 2019 (EV15 downstream from Basel to NL was great but 2nd time in 2023 was a lot more of a challenge finding places.
Other consideration if on an e-bike is security in Germany. In 2023 main campsite in Koblenz was locking all bikes in a large shipping container overnight for security (after too many thefts). For other reasons I was staying in the large site just outside Koblenz and asked them to which they said "Yes, we've lost some. Are you riding an e-bike" and when I said it wasn't they said "you'll be fine, they only take e-bikes".
