France End to End

Description

A Classic French Adventure from Channel to Med  

Our 14 day tour takes us from Brittany’s St Malo shoreline and doesn’t stop until we reach the glamorous and warm Mediterranean waters of Nice on the French Riviera. Our journey of more than 900 miles takes us through no fewer than 19 of France’s regional départements as we ride into some of the country’s most striking and dramatic landscapes, discovering the true heart of rural France. 

With the Massif Central, Ardèche and Verdon gorges there is plenty of truly spectacular scenery and we are confident that this is a holiday you will remember fondly for a long time to come—and not forgetting the option to tackle Mont Ventoux if you wish! 

Tour Summary 

Passing through a patchwork of subtle and striking changes in terrain and landscape this is a route of two distinct halves. We begin by hugging the Brittany coastline, momentarily flirting with Normandy, and seeing the iconic Mont St Michel before heading south to the banks of France’s longest river, the Loire. 

The route then plunges down into the fruit and vineyard choked Ardèche département before following the famous gorge of the same name to the Rhône valley.

Crossing the Rhône announces our arrival in Provence. The towering shape of Mont Ventoux on the skyline, hot sun, lavender fields and blue-shuttered cafés, combine to make you feel as if you are in a separate country entirely. Finally, after an exhilarating descent to the Mediterranean coast we cruise along the Promenade des Anglais for a celebratory dip in the Med.

Overview of Route

Itinerary

Arrival Day: Saturday > St Malo

Far more than just a ferry port, St Malo boasts the most impressive walled citadel on France’s northern coast as well as large stretches of sandy beach. The wide, sweeping bay to the east of the town makes a great starting point for your journey.

Take a stroll around the beautifully preserved fortified walls and the maze of cobbled streets in the old town, some of you might like to take a dip in the sea. In the evening we will eat at one of St Malo’s many restaurants for a chance to catch up and meet your fellow Pedal Europe riders, and chat about the epic journey ahead. 

Day 1: St. Malo to Chateaubourg

73 miles | 118km |  2765ft | 843 m

A gentle first day with friendly flat terrain, enjoying the wide expansive views of Mont St Michel and quiet back lanes of rural Brittany and Normandy.

Pedalling right from the hotel door we make our way to the official start on the beach front, just 500m away, for the obligatory photo with ‘La Manche’ (The Channel) against the backdrop of the tidal island of the Fort National, clearly visible from the promenade.

This morning’s ride takes us out of St Malo, hugging the coastline and this early part of the first stage gives a true taste of Brittany. We pass close to the small fishing port of Cancale, famous for its fresh oysters, before searching for the misty outline of Mont St Michel across the marshes and the vivid colours of the Cote d’Emeraude.

As we start pedalling inland, just before the town of Pontorson, don’t forget to have a look over your shoulder for your last glimpse of the sea for 2 weeks! Pedalling south-east away from the sea; the route winds through the tranquil roads of rural Normandy and Brittany, weaving our way past golden fields of hay and deep green pastures. The latter part of today’s stage passes through the town of Fougeres with its well preserved chateau then onto our over night stop in Chateaubourg.

Day 2: Chateaubourg to Arville

69 miles | 110km | 2502 ft | 763 m

Starting with straight roads linking crests crowned with churches, we cross the great Loire river and meander through our first vineyards of the trip, arriving at the small town of Arville, with its fantasically preserved Windmill.

We head due south as we cross from Brittany into the deeply rural Mayenne and then the Loire. We pass though many small villages punctuated by occasional market towns such as Craon and Segre. Most settlements are located on top of small rises, their church spires each competing to be the tallest. A series of undulations along the straight roads ensure the next church is a great visual target to lure you south.

Just over 100km into today’s stage we cross the famous Loire River – France’s longest river at over 1,000km. We follow the great river upstream, starting with the 

Day 3: Arville to Richelieu

78 miles | 121km | 3185 ft | 970 m

From Arville we take mainly cycle path to Angers past its imposing castle ramparts. Pushing on in the morning through farmland and orchards heading for the lovely, lazy Loire River – France’s longest river at over 1,000km. We follow the river east on a lovely route passing through ancient villages to Saumur, the ‘pearl of the Loire’ and thence through its famous vineyards.

For those with the time there will be chance to visit the famous castle at Chinon, before heading on to our evening at Richelieu, home to the infamous Cardinal.  

Day 4:  Richelieu to Argenton-Sur-Cruese

80 miles | 127km | 3692 ft | 1125 m

Leaving Richelieu behind we will continue southwards. Our generally flat route takes us into the Brenne National Park. This calm, quiet area is known for its many forests, lakes, interesting habitats and rare aquatic species. Further along we will join with the River Creuse and follow this majestic river through to Argenton-sur-Cruese our overnight stop. 

Day 5:  Argenton-sur-Cruese to Aubusson

78 miles | 125km | 5471 ft | 1667 m

We will start to notice the hills increase today as we continue towards the Massif Central. Todays ride follows the River Cruese for large parts on roads where you hardly see anyone. A lovely day in the saddle will see us arrive at the attractive town of Aubusson which is know throughout France for it’s fine tapestries. 

Day 6:  Aubusson to Le Mont Dore

60 miles | 96km | 5692 ft | 1734 m

From Aubusson we cycle through the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region known for its stunning vistas and volcanic landscape. 

We will cycle through a number of woodlands amongst yet more stunning scenery and find ourselves in Le Mont Dore. Surrounded by mountains Le Mont Dore acts as a ski resort in the winter and attracts many walkers and bikers during the summer.

Day 7:  Le Mont Dore to St Flour

66 miles | 106km | 5951 ft | 1813 m

The days starts with a long scenic climb out of this beautiful ski-resort towards Col de La Croix, greeted with a fantastic view over the valley before a superb long descent.

After a couple of further climbs to lunch the afternoon contains some excellent downhills on silky smooth tarmac. We will finish our ride in the hilltop town of Saint Flour. Nicely situated in the Auvergne region the upper town affords superb views over the surrounding area.

Day 8:  St Flour to Mende

52 miles | 83km | 5124 ft | 1561 m

Once we have left St Flour a our road takes you over to the Viaduc de Garabit where the road descends to a scenic lake. The scenery is stunning so we hardly notice we are climbing for the early part of the day.

As we enter wolf country beware the ‘Beast of Gevaudan’ snapping at your heels! The roads here are fantastic with little traffic to disturb some amazing views. 

Day 9:  Mende to Les Vans

51 miles | 83km | 3532 ft | 1076 m

Initially we follow the Lot River towards its source along a meandering valley then we have 2 very gentle cols, punctuated by a seemingly endless descent down a fantastic winding valley for 15 miles and we will pass by the impressive Chateaux de Champ before arriving at our lovely picnic spot overlooking the Lake L’Altier.

In the afternoon we descend through the cool pine forests of the Cévennes to the warm valleys of the Ardèche crammed with vineyards and fruit orchards

Day 10:  Les Arcs to Malaucene

83 miles | 93km | 5141 ft | 1207 m

Our morning brew stop is at the stunning Pont d’ Arc, the gateway to the Gorges de l’Ardèche and ride along a superb road with fantastic vistas around every bend.

Further along the road descends and we will pass through St Martin before we catch our first glimpse of Ventoux, the mountain that will be ever present for the next few days. Further along we will cross over the River Rhone and enter the wine growing region of the Rhone and pass through vineyards and orchards. 

Day 11:  Malaucene to Sault

28 miles | 61km | 5985 ft | 1937 m

Today you will follow in the footsteps of some of previous Tour de France greats and begin your climb of the iconic Mont Ventoux.

This classic ride is a tough climb but you will be rewarded with fine panoramic views over area. A long descent takes you down into Sault where you will have a well deserved rest. For those who do not fancy climbing Ventoux you can cycle the stunning Gorge Du Nesque which is also a fantastic ride.

Day 12:  Sault to Moustiers-St-Marie

67 miles | 107km | 4704 ft | 1434 m

We will leave Sault and cycle through the delightful lavender fields of Provence.

Further along we will pass through a number of ancient towns and villages and you will also notice the landscape change too as the lavender fields are replaced by steep sided valleys and stunted old trees. As the afternoon approaches a number of fantastic views opens up as we get closer to the picture postcard town of Moustier St Marie. Perched on a cliff face and guarded by the towns star, a lovely place to spend the night.

Day 13:  Moustiers-St-Marie to Castellane

52 miles | 83km | 4457 ft | 1450 m

One of the most spectacular days cycling of the tour awaits as we venture into the Gorges de Verdon.

This stunning gorge is the 2nd largest gorge in the world after the Grand Canyon in USA and makes for some truly memorable cycling. The azure waters of the Lac de Saint Croix marks the start of the glorious ascent to the top of the canyon. After lunch the route is mostly flat and down hill as the route takes us along the top of the gorge then down to the strikingly aquamarine Verdon River which we follow to all the way to Castellane.

Day 14:  Castellane to Nice

57 miles | 91km | 3407 ft | 1038 m

Our final day in the saddle is another stunning ride. A climb away from Castellane reveals superb views back over the town before the road flattens out and continues along a lovely valley surrounded by mountains. The route plunges from the high Provençal plateau, clinging to cliffs and weaving through arches blasted through the rock to the precariously perched village of Greoliers.

From Greoliers we lose nearly 1,000m as we descend thorough the tight twists of the Gorge du Loup, reaching the Med at Cagnes-sur-Mer. We pass from Cagnes into nearby Nice where we ride along the famous ‘Promenade des Anglais’ to dip our wheels in the warm sea and reflect on our epic journey through France before our final photo’s and group meal.

Departure Day

If you are departing on Sunday we'll as ever organise transport to Airports or Railway Stations based on people's required times - we'll request these from you nearer the time. Should you want to stay on and enjoy Nice a little longer that is no problem.

However the Pedal Britain team will be departing early for the long journey home on Sunday with your bikes. 

What's included

    15 Nights Bed & Breakfast Accommodation

We stay in a great mix of cyclist friendly Hotels or B&B's. Where ever it is possible we all stay together in the same accommodation as a group. No need to check in Pedal Britain team will have done that for you, just collect your key and relax. Bikes are either locked in a secure area of the hotel or in your room. Breakfasts are all included with a choice of Full or Continental available.

 Fully Supported Tour 

The Pedal Britain support van is never far away to provide any assistance you need, be it access to your day bag, resolve a mechanical issue, report a first aid problem or just have a morale boosting chat. Just phone the driver or tap helmet as we pass if you need anything and we'll stop for you.  

Daily Luggage Transfer

The support vehicle moves all of your luggage between each nights accommodation. Luxury, wherever time allows we'll even put it in your room for you. Also we recommend leaving a day bag in the support van to further reduce what you need to carry on the bike.

Includes Lunch and Brew Stop Refreshments 

Lunches are a mix of rolling buffets in pubs and cafes or a picnic in a very scenic spot. The famous Pedal Britain pop up café delivers welcome brew stops at strategic points along the route to keep energy levels up providing you with water, tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits, cake, flap jacks and anything else you specifically request.

Expert Cycling and Tour Guides

Pedal Britain prides itself on having staff with a 'can-do' attitude, their entire focus is on ensuring they attend to your every need, to ensure that you have the best experience possible. They have detailed knowledge of the route, are first aid qualified and decent mechanics - but most importantly they care about you. When asked 'What makes Pedal Britain better than others?' quite simply it is our amazing staff - the one thing our competition cannot copy.

Pedal Britain Tour App & Detailed Route Notes

From here you can download the relevant file format for the daily route maps - GPX, TCX etc.. These can then easily be transferred to whatever GPS unit you are using such as a Garmin or Wahoo.

Don't have a GPS unit? No problem, just download our APP and it turns your Smart Phone into a GPS unit with turn by turn route navigation.

We also provide very detailed route notes which act as both information about the days cycling and back up to your electronic gadgets.

Live Tracking App

Pedal Britain Live Tracker app allows family and friends to see how well your progressing. The same tracker also helps us keep you safe and also ensure your following the route!!

Facebook Tour Groups

We will invite you to join a closed Facebook group for your specific tour. This enables you to get to know people before the holiday and provides a platform to share training experiences or any questions, concerns you may have before the tour.

Not Included

Evening Meals - although group bookings will be made at local restaurants attendance is optional, however payment isn’t!!

Travel Insurance - We highly recommend you take out insurance 

Transport to Start at St Malo or home from the End in Nice

Easy Bike Transfer (Available for a Fee or Free if dropping & collecting)

Single Room Option (Limited number available for a supplement of £500pp)

Cycle Hire (Contact us to discuss options)

Travel logistics

Getting to the Start - St Malo

Ferry

Easiest way is via the overnight ferry which departs from Portsmouth at around 8.30pm on Friday evening arriving in St.Malo at 8.30am on Saturday - giving you the day to explore the town or surrounding area.

Estimated Cost - around £40 one way for foot passenger and reserved seat or £100 if you wanted a cabin (less if sharing)

Air

Sadly direct flights to Dinard have been stopped since COVID. But there are still plenty of options:

Rennes - You can fly direct from Gatwick and then get either the train or taxi from Rennes to St Malo (1 hour away)  

Paris - You can fly to Paris then either connect to Rennes by air. Alternatively you can catch the train from Paris to St Malo. Once in Paris another option is hiring a 'one way' car and drive to St Malo perhaps with an overnight enroute. 

Train

There is a train station in St Malo and can be reached with 2 changes in around 6hr 30mins from London:

Euro Star from St Pancaras to Paris Gare du Nord, change here for train to Rennes, changing here for train to St Malo. Estimated cost for this is around £100 one way based on leaving London at 7.52 arriving St Malo 3.30pm on Saturday. Or of course you can travel up the day before and spend time in St Malo.

Getting Home

Air 

There are regular and relatively cheap flights from Nice Airport which is 10-15 minutes from the Centre in Taxi or there is a bus which takes 30 minutes. 

By Rail 

There are trains from Nice to London leaving around which take around 12 hours leaving Nice at 12.30pm with one change in Paris arriving into London St Pancras around 11.30pm - around £150-£170. With later trains you will need to stay overnight in Paris - cheaper but require accommodation.

Bike transfer

Getting Your Bike to St Malo & from Nice

Update for 2023 Tours

Procedures for taking our vans full of equipment and bikes into the EU changed from 1st January 2022. There are now many extra pieces of paperwork that we need to complete, but the one that affects customers joining our European tours is called an ATA carnet.

This document details every item and piece of equipment that we take into the EU, for customs this has to be the same when we return to the UK and has to be completed for every van that we take to/from the EU.

Good News

We can still take bicycles, helmets and saddle bags over into the EU.

Bad News

I'm afraid that we can no longer take your personal luggage.

A further restriction is what we take out has to be exactly the same as what we bring back, so there is no flexibility to offer one way transport for your bike. If that did happen then we would be subject to a 20% charge of the value of the bike.

Each ATA carnet is subject to a fee and also a security bond payment which is dependent on the value of the bikes that we are carrying over in each van. You will be requested 8 weeks prior to the trip to complete a customs declaration form that we use on the ATA Carnet. 

It is for this reason that sadly we can no longer take bikes to/from the EU for free and will have to charge £50 per bike to cover the additional charges (covers both ways) which is in addition to any charges listed below for bike transfers and will be added to your balance invoice. 

Option 1: Customer Drop Off / Collection

FREE of Charge

If you can bring your bike to our offices in Northamptonshire then we will take your bike Free of Charge. No need to dismantle we'll take it fully assembled and safely secure it in the support vehicle for transporting to St Malo and Pedal Britain will bring your bike back from Nice.

Option 2: Bike Collection or Delivery - Pedal Britain Support Van

Cost for this service is £75.00 per bike - One Way to Start or From the End

On the Tuesday and Wednesday before a tour starts and in the week after a tour end, based on geographical location of clients that have signed up for this service, Pedal Britain's support van will come to an address of your choosing, which could be work, home or cycle shop to collect / deliver your bike. This means our van will transport your bike to St Malo for the start, and will bring your bike back from Nice then deliver to you in week after.

No need for dismantling we'll take it fully assembled and safely secure in the support vehicle for transporting. 

Option 3: Bike Collection or Delivery - Transport Partner

Cost for this service is £75.00 per bike - One Way to Start or From the End

If you happen to fall outside the geographical area being covered by the support van prior to the tour then do not despair we have an alternative solution.

On the Monday before a tour starts we'll arrange for our trusted transport partner to collect your bike from an address of your choosing, which could be work, home or cycle shop and deliver your bike to Pedal Britain.

Clients will need to securely package up their own bike in a Medium size (150 x 22 x 90 cm) cardboard bike box. A local bike shop will for free or small fee provide a suitable box and much of the packing material you will need for this. Pedal Britain will bring your bike back from Nice and return your bike to you the same way in the week after a tour ends.

We cannot via this service accept helmets or any day bags packed inside the boxes.

Bike Transfer Service: Both Ways

Total Cost is £150.00 per bike 

Terms & Conditions of Bike Transfer Service

• Pedal Britain cannot be held responsible for any damage that occurs in transit - although we will obviously take great care of bikes in transit
• Where a third party is being used Pedal Britain cannot be held responsible for any damage in transit
• We recommend that you have insurance in place to cover you for any accidental damage or theft during transit