The routes "less cycled" in Europe

[nogoodnamesleft]

Another little cycled route La Vallée du Loir à Vélo (V47).

185 miles along Le Loir valley between Angers and Illiers-Combray. Note it's Le Loir not "La Loire". At the Angers end it starts around where Le Loir meets La Loire and then ENE. Connects with La Velo Francette at the westerly end.

Varied cycling, some farm tracks, some quiet rural lanes. Some wine growing regions (good quality reasonable priced wine); wine growing museum at Lhomme along the way. Small typically French towns and villages. Interesting self-operated chain ferry across the river Plenty of easy camping along the route.

Interesting maybe more obscure long distance route.

 

[blackrat]

There are some lovely pictures here (thank you) of routes that would be wonderful to ride. If only they were a lot closer to me.

 

[Emanresu]

There are some lovely pictures here (thank you) of routes that would be wonderful to ride. If only they were a lot closer to me.

What do you use to get your pics. Some sort of drone?

 

[simonthread]

Brandenburg

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/lost-in-brandenburg-five-days-around-the-märkisch-oderland.277551/

Brandenburg belongs to our most beloved regions. Even on the signposted routes you can feel the vast, natural landscapes of northern Brandenburg. We really enjoyed there the Tour Brandenburg and Uckermärkische Radrundweg routes - through the least densely populated part of Germany.

Another little cycled route La Vallée du Loir à Vélo (V47).

I have the Loir on my to-ride list. It definitely fits perfectly into such a selection

What do you use to get your pics. Some sort of drone?

Yes, many of my photos are taken with a drone.

S.

 

[chriswoody]

Brandenburg belongs to our most beloved regions. Even on the signposted routes you can feel the vast, natural landscapes of northern Brandenburg. We really enjoyed there the Tour Brandenburg and Uckermärkische Radrundweg routes - through the least densely populated part of Germany.

Depending on the type of touring you like to do, one of the big draws of Brandenburg is it's the only place in Germany where wild camping is allowed. It was really nice to be able to pitch up next to a small lake and take a dip to cool down. As you say it really is a lovely place to visit, whilst it doesn't have the overall wow factor of say a big mountain region, there is a wonderful charm to the place.

If you like that area then you need to come and investigate my corner of Germany some time. The Lüneburger Heide is a large Heathland in Lower Saxony that is criss crossed with many trails, though many are not paved and it's one of the least densely populated places in Germany. It certainly qualifies as one of the routes less cycled.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bikepacking-the-lüneburg-heathland-of-northern-germany.273703/

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/my-sons-first-bikepacking-micro-adventure.266354/

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/riding-home-from-hamburg-with-my-son.291232/

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Depending on the type of touring you like to do, one of the big draws of Brandenburg is it's the only place in Germany where wild camping is allowed.

<bitofftopic>
I've always found camping in Germany "difficult" or just "not great". Campsites seem mostly dedicated to permanent installations. One town I stopped at had 3 campsites and as I arrived lunchtime I visited all 3 and none had anywhere for tents - in the end I managed to get a space on a small bit of grass next to a toilet block.

Another campsite got space, then owner came down and got really threatening concocting daft reasons why I couldn't be there and eventually "compromised" on another bit of grass. Except an hour later at 17:00 they came over a threw me out because "I'd put my bike on the grass". So with no campsites in the area I was thrown out late ...

Just generally "difficult".
</bitofftopic>

 

[simonthread]

Depending on the type of touring you like to do, one of the big draws of Brandenburg is it's the only place in Germany where wild camping is allowed.

Continuing this practical (off)topic , it is worth adding that it applies only during a tourist trip (cycling or hiking, afair), only for one night and outside protected areas

And... at least a few years ago Brandenburg wasn't the only one. Then wild camping was allowed also in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen and one or two other lands. Has it changed recently?

S.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Then wild camping was allowed also in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen and one or two other lands. Has it changed recently?

Also, for those more familiar with DE, if you just "wild camp" somewhere sensible how likely are you to be "moved on" (or whatever). Once cycling early morning beside the Rhine came across a temp on the grass between the path and the river. Occupant a German cyclist who was packing up so stopped to chat and asked about wild camping and he shrugged and said for him it was getting late and no convenient campsites nearby.

 

[chriswoody]

So to answer points raised above, simply put, it's complicated, very complicated, each state has its own laws pertaining to forestry and nature reserves.

So as mentioned above, Wild Camping in nature reserves and protected areas is strictly prohibited everywhere, that's the simple bit. Camping in forests is again completely forbidden.

The law differentiates between sleeping in a tent and bivvying and here's where it starts to get complicated. Bivvying isn't strictly prohibited and it's generally agreed that if you need to bivy out in an "emergency" that that's ok, provided that your not in a forest or nature reserve. The following is taken directly from the Bergfreunde website: "In Bavaria, for example, camping in the open countryside is not explicitly prohibited . The same applies to Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, Hesse , and Berlin . In contrast, wild camping in the open countryside is prohibited everywhere without exception in Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia , and Saarland . In Bremen, camping in fields is not permitted, but otherwise, there is no explicit prohibition. Brandenburg allows camping for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, and canoeists "if they are authorized to do so under private law and no special conservation regulations preclude it."

If, like me, you indulge in the odd cheeky wild camp, then arrive late, leave early, be very discreet and above all leave no trace. As for what happens if your caught, well it could be anything from a polite request to move on, to a fine of several thousand Euros. In my experience though, cycle campers tend to be ignored if you are tucked out of the way and causing no harm.