North Sea Cycle Route; Zeebrugge to Calais

[snorri]

It is flat indeed, but like you I found it interesting.

 

[HJ]

The Bikeline books are IMO of use to non-English speakers because the maps are clear, a list of hotels is a list of hotels and the text is essentially an accompanyment to the mapping.

Agreed, that is what I was trying to say above, there are worth it for the maps and the map keys are given in English in all editions, you don't need the text.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Except maybe for those bits where they put, say, a red exclamation mark on a dangerous bit of road. You could be trying to decipher the text bit and booomph! you're the new mascot on the front of a lorry!

 

[Tony]

There's a memeber on here called Tony, or Tourist Tony. I think he's done it.

If you can find his name on the member list you can pm or email him. He hasn't been around for a while.

Already replied to this elsewhere, so job done. Am at present in Oz having finished a ride round WA coast from Perth to Kalgoorlie. Now in Cairns having a break....
For those still in search of answers: The Belgian IGN do a 1:50,000 map which covers the coastline as a two-sided strip. The bit from Gravelines to Dunkirk involves an awful two-mile straight south of the aluminium plant. There is a signed cycle route from Dunkirk town centre towards Calais by way of La Grande Synthe.The promenades are often full of peds (and erratic leisure riders), but beat cycling on a narrow kerbed strip between pavement and tram line, too narrow for safe overtakes. The surface is often block paving, and often has tyre-grabbing seams. Not good for road bikes, but bearable with, say, 32mm. The signposting is by white A4 sized plaques attached to lamposts et al. Beware of priorities at junctions--some have the cycle lane with priority, some do not. There is a dinky closed bridge at, IIRC, Nieuwpoort, which you can still ride across and avoid a long haul round the harbour.

 

[snorri]

Since when? I cycled on the North Sea route through Belgium and France this summer. As far as I am aware, the shortened route now ends at Calais.

I passed comment after looking at the website which has been amended since my NSCR tour several years ago, France is no longer mentioned and there is little or no detail for Belgium.
http://www.northsea-cycle.com/
There is actually a cycle carrying ferry from Zeebrugge to the UK, but the ferry is discontinued between Lerwick and Bergen. As this ferry is still on the NSCR website, I would be wary of relying on the website for current information.
As you say, there are still routes for cyclists but it would appear that France is no longer included in the "official" NSCR.

 

[HJ]

Since when? It was supposed to end at Zeebrugge but doesn't as there is no ferry from Zeebrugge to the UK that carries bicycles.

Of course there is a ferry from Zeebrugge to the UK that carries bicycles, Supperfast Ferries, or are you thinking of some other UK?

Should be quite handy for getting back to Burntisland...

 

[14june1942]

H Jock: Superfast is indeed handy for Burntisland; used it back in June for my tour from Zeebruge to Venice. For next year we have decided against the NSCR in favour the Bike Express to Orleans then a leisurely ride to Montpellier; that way we cut out the (relatively) uninteresting transit of northern France.

 

[Fietslogies]

Cycling in Belgium (Flanders) along towpaths, canals, rivers, ...

Hi,
Quite close to the sea and with much more comfort is this one :

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-pat...wpoort-Oostende-Brugge-Damme-Maldegem-Eeklo-G

You can combine it with part of

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ghent-Bruges

This one is passing through Zeebrugge.

More maps :
http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/fietslogies

You can also pick up the LF1, one of the many long distance cycle routes in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Cheers,
Fietslogies

 

[Fietslogies]

Cycling along the Belgian coast : Kustfietsroute

If speed is not your major concern, these 2 free PDF-files show the Belgian part of the North Sea Cycle Route. The maps are very detailed, the route is about 84 km and brings you from France along Adinkerke, De Panne, Oostduinkerke, Nieuwpoort, Lombardsijde, Westende, Middelkerke, Raversijde, Oostende, Bredene, De Haan, Wenduine, Blankenberge, Zeebrugge, Heist and Knokke to Cadzand in the Netherlands.

http://fietsen-wandelen.be/uploadedFiles/KFR_NL_R.pdf

http://fietsen-wandelen.be/uploadedFiles/KFR_NL_V.pdf

Have fun