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Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Give me a shout if I can help at all! We could finally do that Wiltshire meet up!
Saint Malo to Bilbao! We’re off!
- Thread starter Cathryn
- Start date
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Loving it! Now I want to follow in your tyre tracks. Mr HelenD also wants to cycle the Outer Hebrides. Too many potential trips, not enough annual leave!
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Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Truth!!
Emanresu
Senior Member
How was the ferry? There's an interesting route called La Véloscénie which connects Paris with Mont St-Michel. Return via St Malo looks like an option but not sure about the ferry.
I could put this on a separate thread; but if one wanted to commence a ride from the French west coast - say St. Malo - for a trip to say Nice and needed to fly in to the closest international airport, would London Heathrow (Ugh!) then ferry to France or Paris and train to the coast be the best option?
Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
Paris + train to St Malo I would think is the far more convenient and probably much cheaper option.
Last time I looked at Brittany ferries prices, it was coming in at close on £200 return from Portsmouth to St Malo. That was travelling solo with bike. Overnight on the way out, daytime sailing on return (which is the only option; they have one ferry on that route which sails from Portsmouth overnight, and out of St Malo on a day sailing.).
I can't remember if the price I looked at included a cabin on the overnight leg or not...
Check their website, but it isn't a cheap option. Very pleasant crossing though.
Emanresu
Senior Member
That's what I wanted to know, thanks
Think Eurostar are now accepting cycles so you could do train+train. Not sure of the cost as it would vary. SNCF site will give you an idea of choices too.
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/train/bike-onboard
Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
I suppose it depends if you like travelling by sea or not! For some, 8 hours on a ferry might be torture. I did 3 years in the merchant navy when I was much younger though, so for me it is part of the holiday. I love getting on the ferry, having a wander round, a beer or 2 at one of the bars, and then something to eat. If you're into that sort of thing, there is entertainment on board. And IIRC a small cinema?
https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-france/portsmouth-st-malo/onboard
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Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
The ferry was great! I thought Brittany Ferries was the best operator we’ve been on from the UK. 100% will do it again.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
+1 for Brittany Ferries to St Malo. Though our cruising was horrific weather-wise. It's not that expensive if you subtract the cost of a hotel stop given it's overnight.
Rather long and dull in daytime the other way though, IMO.
Rather long and dull in daytime the other way though, IMO.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Eurostar are not, as yet, taking fully assembled bikes on services to Paris, they need to be in a box or bag.
This entire business of taking a bike to start a trip and needing to utilize public transport is an expedition in itself.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
RailEurope is the site I use for planning and pricing European rail trips. As this would be entirely within France the various SNCF sites would be good too.
Paris Montparnasse to St Malo takes only about 3 hours. But that's by TGV, without bike and doesn't factor in getting to Paris Montparnasse from the airport.
I've travelled by train in France quite a bit, but never with a bike. As I understand bikes and TGVs don't mix so you'd need to travel by local trains. All the same I'd guess it would still be way easier, cheaper and less hassle than getting there from Heathrow. Maybe you could cut out central Paris by cycling from the airport to a convenient intermediate station?
Paris Montparnasse to St Malo takes only about 3 hours. But that's by TGV, without bike and doesn't factor in getting to Paris Montparnasse from the airport.
I've travelled by train in France quite a bit, but never with a bike. As I understand bikes and TGVs don't mix so you'd need to travel by local trains. All the same I'd guess it would still be way easier, cheaper and less hassle than getting there from Heathrow. Maybe you could cut out central Paris by cycling from the airport to a convenient intermediate station?
bluenotebob
Veteran
- Location
- France
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Six to 7½ hours by TER, changing at Le Mans, possibly Laval, and Rennes. Also possible from Paris St Lazare via Caen and Dol de Bretagne a couple of times a day. There's not really a useful intermediate station if arriving at CdG and I'm not sure if Orly-Versailles is a great ride.
