Seeking inspiration....

[Polite]

I have done a few routes at home and abroad and have always booked into either cheap b&b or youth hostels rather than camp.

This is nothing to do with not liking camping but more a combination about not owning a tent or any of the right gear that goes with it, having to carry loads of stuff on my bike plus my own fear of not finding anywhere to stay after a hard day's cycling and *hangs head in shame* I've never actually set up my own tent.

Could anyone inspire a route in France - I love nature, landscapes and being outdoors but also my creature comforts - approx 10-14 days in July/August.

I will be cycling alone (boo hoo), I'm reasonably fit but not TdF standard, money is important but I'm not on a shoestring and I'm even sociable occasionally ;-).

I'm willing to overcome my fear of camping (I don't have a tent or accessories) or happy to spend up to €25 (ish) a night too.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ern1e]

Hi Polite sorry but I can't help with routes but having strolled around Asda yesterday they where selling a 2 man tent for around £25 ish and they did not seem to heavy (well to me !) and there is a hugh amount of camping equipment out there to choose from, the other most important piece of kit (after the tent) is the stove my chioce for this is the good old trangia stove nice and light and works a treat lol. Now as to finding places to camp well thats another wee problem but you can always stealth camp lol.

 

[hopless500]

I have done a few routes at home and abroad and have always booked into either cheap b&b or youth hostels rather than camp.

This is nothing to do with not liking camping but more a combination about not owning a tent or any of the right gear that goes with it, having to carry loads of stuff on my bike plus my own fear of not finding anywhere to stay after a hard day's cycling and *hangs head in shame* I've never actually set up my own tent.

Could anyone inspire a route in France - I love nature, landscapes and being outdoors but also my creature comforts - approx 10-14 days in July/August.

I will be cycling alone (boo hoo), I'm reasonably fit but not TdF standard, money is important but I'm not on a shoestring and I'm even sociable occasionally ;-).

I'm willing to overcome my fear of camping (I don't have a tent or accessories) or happy to spend up to €25 (ish) a night too.

Thanks in advance.

Hello Steve !

Joking aside - a small lightweight tent would be sensible - but I would buy from a camping/outdoor specialist shop, not a supermarket! Have a trial run or five at home, and then off you go. Choose a dark green or similar and stealth camping is a breeze

 

[lpretro1]

Trouble is it's not just the weight of the tent you add - as a minimum you then need sleeping bag, sleeping mat, stove, utensils & cook pots, cutlery, plate/bowl, gas or meths to fuel stove!!!

 

[Gravity Aided]

And Food and water, as well. Not a lot of weight, but enough to make you notice. I echo Hopeless 500 in that a camping store will give you many more options, giving you the choice of
weight
versus comfort
versus expense,
pick two .
Think of what you can barely get by without, take that list, and halve it.