Suggestions for a week's tour?

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

My other half has a special birthday coming up and said they would be up for a week's touring. Any ideas? as I am at a loss. We reside in middle England and would prefer it to be flattish. We don't mind taking a ferry or trains and would be using hotels or hostels. Preferably not the Netherlands as we plans for there already.

I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[VinSumRox]

That's a real open question!

How far will you want to cycle each day and would you prefer mainly on road or off road?
Also a point to point route or circular?

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

That's a real open question!

How far will you want to cycle each day and would you prefer mainly on road or off road?
Also a point to point route or circular?

We will be looking at about 30 miles a day and would prefer flattish terrain off road. We don't mind trains or ferries so point to point or circular is fine. 👍

 

[Jameshow]

UK or EU?

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

UK or EU?

Either is fine with us to be honest, but we thought it would be really difficult finding a flattish route over 5 days unless it was canals?

 

[VinSumRox]

Either is fine with us to be honest, but we thought it would be really difficult finding a flattish route over 5 days unless it was canals?

Or one of the EU river routes like the Loire or Rhone.
Going from Orleans towards Angers/Nantes is a nice route and pretty flat. Have a look at:
https://en.francevelotourisme.com/cycle-route/la-loire-a-velo-loire-valley-by-bike

 

[mjr]

Or one of the EU river routes like the Loire or Rhone.
Going from Orleans towards Angers/Nantes is a nice route and pretty flat. Have a look at:
https://en.francevelotourisme.com/cycle-route/la-loire-a-velo-loire-valley-by-bike

Loire would be my suggestion. Maybe some of the "Châteaux à Vélo" route?

Cycling Les Chateaux a Velo • Experience France By Bike – https://experiencefrancebybike.com/cycling-les-chateaux-a-velo/

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Follow Offa's Dyke — an ancient earhwork that runs more or less parallel to the river Severn. Details here. A few hills but nothing mountainous and some of the most beautiful country you will see anywhere, especially in an English spring.

 

[Emanresu]

How about London to Paris. 247 miles which just about matches your daily target.

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/avenue-verte/

At the end you can box and fly the bikes back. Don't think Eurostar is bike friendly yet.

Or just work through these one by one

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Ferry out to Cherbourg and back from Saint-Malo. Wiggle around as required. I've done that and it was nice. You could probably substitute le Havre or Caen as ferry ports and different wiggling.

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

Or one of the EU river routes like the Loire or Rhone.
Going from Orleans towards Angers/Nantes is a nice route and pretty flat. Have a look at:
https://en.francevelotourisme.com/cycle-route/la-loire-a-velo-loire-valley-by-bike

I looked at this and expanded the search some which found the Canal de Garonne. It stretched from Bordeaux to Toulouse and looks like it might be perfect for us.

 

[Flite]

Up and down the Vale of York and north as far as Darlington is pretty flat and lots of interesting places to visit.

 

[mjr]

I looked at this and expanded the search some which found the Canal de Garonne. It stretched from Bordeaux to Toulouse and looks like it might be perfect for us.

The V80 from Bordeaux to the canal at La Reole is a flattish ex railway and both Cre´on and Sauveterre are quaint.

 

[Farmer Sue Tickles]

The V80 from Bordeaux to the canal at La Reole is a flattish ex railway and both Cre´on and Sauveterre are quaint.

This is one of the things confusing me. Doesn't the Canal de Garonne start in Bordeaux?

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Velo Francette from Caen down to the Loire valley - mostly rail trail or towpath - then follow the Loire upstream for as long as you like.