Which maps for France?

[john xyz]

Hello. Myself and 14 yr old son are cycling to Paris in August and i'm starting to plan a few things.
One problem is locating the right maps. Series Blue seems slightly too detailed, so i think i need the orange ones - 1:100000.
Trouble is, i think they're almost impossible to find in UK, and even online i cant find anywhere that details which ones i would need.
Anyone on here give me any tips? Thanks,,,,john

 

[fatblokish]

Hello. Myself and 14 yr old son are cycling to Paris in August and i'm starting to plan a few things.
One problem is locating the right maps. Series Blue seems slightly too detailed, so i think i need the orange ones - 1:100000.
Trouble is, i think they're almost impossible to find in UK, and even online i cant find anywhere that details which ones i would need.
Anyone on here give me any tips? Thanks,,,,john

ere, try this
http://www.michelinonline.co.uk/travel/reg.htm
just bought a couple from Amazon for £4 ish each. They are at 1:200k and seem to mark most of the roads I intend to take.

 

[srw]

You want IGN 1:100,000 maps, not Michelin - they've got countours, so you can avoid gratuitous shortcuts up and over hills. As you'll know if you watched yesterday's Tour de France, the bit of France you'll ride through specialises in really nasty hills.

The best source in the UK is probably Stanfords - there's a shop in Covent Garden which had the entire series in stock when I went to have a look a couple of years ago. They also do mail order. If Oxford's nearer you might also try Blackwells.

 

[dellzeqq]

if you're simply cycling to Paris it is perfectly possible to find your way by using Google Maps and printing bits out. You have to hit the 'walk' button, and check the junctions to make sure the map isn't directing you across a field, but, while it takes a bit of time, you will be able to work out where you can stop for a bite to eat.

If you do buy maps, the IGN series is a better bet than Michelin, and costs about seven quid a map from Stanfords.

I'd buy a map of Paris and bigger than 1 to 100,000.

If you're going via Dieppe I can send you a link to The Fridays route

 

[User269]

I kept finding Stanfords took ages as they never had the maps I wanted in stock, so for some time now I've ordered online direct from IGN, and they've alwasy been quick to arrive.

 

[rualexander]

You can get the IGN 1:100,000 mapping for the whole of France for your smartphone, if you have one, for ￡42 from Viewranger

 

[TheDoctor]

Or get a decent road atlas - Michelin or AA at 1:200 000 or so.
Right scale and the whole country for a tenner.

 

[fatblokish]

Try plotting your route out on ridewithgps or bikeroutetoaster and then marking up your maps with a highlighter pen. This will allow you to avoid hills (should you so wish) whilst these two plotting websites permit you to see and so take-in the french cycle routes "voies vertes" and quieter roads.

 

[Blue Hills]

I picked up an AA 2011 IGN 1: 180,000 map of the whole of France for £5.99.

May be worth looking out for.

Detailed enough for cycling, though doesn't show contours.

 

[Blue Hills]

See above - similar to this I think.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Read-France-Atlases-Maps/dp/0749558946

Got it from Waterstones - a big non-Waterstone-branded sale sticker on it so I think the distributors have knocked it down - may be an idea to look in general bookshops.

Maybe use with fatblokish's suggestion above.

 

[hoopdriver]

Another vote for the IGN maps

 

[bof]

A France Road atlas and cut the bits up that you want and maybe plasticate them against the rigours of this great summer. Michelin is very accurate and the green lines tracing the roads are a good guide of what's more scenic, and its cheap. For hill plotting use the sites ridewithGPS or Openrunner and you will get a profile. Openrunner's, which is French but has an English interface, profiles underestimate the climbing but you can swap between Google and IGN maps online. RidewithGPS has pretty accurate profiles IMO, but Google only mapping.

My personal preference is Michelin but IGN maps are good and the AA road atlas based on them is a decent alternative to Michelin and may be cheaper.

If you have a GPS you can get an OSM (Open Street Map, free) image of France. I was very happy with my one use so far. I cannot remember where I got it: the site is one where the person running it is trying to set up an online mapping business - Google OSM & France.

btw 1:100000 is too detailed for long distance on road touring - you want approx 1:200000. You may want to print big towns or your Paris route from the web.

 

[doog]

You want IGN 1:100,000 maps, not Michelin - they've got countours, so you can avoid gratuitous shortcuts up and over hills. As you'll know if you watched yesterday's Tour de France, the bit of France you'll ride through specialises in really nasty hills.

The best source in the UK is probably Stanfords - there's a shop in Covent Garden which had the entire series in stock when I went to have a look a couple of years ago. They also do mail order. If Oxford's nearer you might also try Blackwells.

The Michelin maps have chevrons on the roads to indicate gradient and they work pretty well. As stated a Michelin 1:200 000 map of France can be had for under a tenner and with the required pages ripped out, placed in plastic sleeving and put in route order the OP will have a cheap and highly accurate way of getting from A to B.(Also a lot cheaper than buying individual maps)

 

[robgul]

The Map Shop (just Google it) at Upton-on-Severn has every IGN map in stock - best for cycling are the 1-100,000 as suggested (don't even think about the Michelin) - excellent service and for some strange reason they are cheaper than buying IGN maps in shops in France???

Being French and obtuse, IGN has changed the map cover colours over the past few years - 1-25 used to be light blue, they still are; 1-100 used to be green, then dark blue and some are now (IIRC) orange ... you'll probably find different colours in stock as they have not all been reprinted at the same time (and some of the latest series 1-100 have slightly different coverage areas) - if in doubt ring the man at Upton and you'll find him amazingly helpful.

Rob

 

[john xyz]

This is great , thanks guys.
I dont posses smartphone or satnav (we do have an indoor loo here though). So will consider both ign and michelin maps and will highlight the route before departure.

We live near Dover so are cycling from Calais. Hope to use mainly the unclassified 'white' roads - as opposed to D roads. Though i appreciate this will lengthen the jorney a little. Wild camping is also planned.

Ive also research the avenue verte, but dont get all the hype. apart from one small section, its all roads! Hardly a friendly green cycle rourte!