cycling round the Cherbourg peninsula
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I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
Paul there is a cracking hill going out of Cherbourg!
Have a look at this Hotel group - its cheap and cheerful - my pal and I use them - works out cheaper
than a YHA if there are two of you!
They are in Cherbourg, St. Lo, Avranches, St. Malo and Fougere and loadsa other towns all over
France, they tend to be on Industrial Estates out of the main town but thats no problem when you
have got the bike.
Good trip.
http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/
On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:34:38 -0000, nobody760 wrote:
> Paul there is a cracking hill going out of Cherbourg!
>
> Have a look at this Hotel group - its cheap and cheerful - my pal and I use them - works out
> cheaper than a YHA if there are two of you!
>
> They are in Cherbourg, St. Lo, Avranches, St. Malo and Fougere and loadsa other towns all over
> France, they tend to be on Industrial Estates out of the main town but thats no problem when you
> have got the bike.
>
> Good trip.
>
> http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/
Good tip but if you'd rather have an ensuite Etaps are better.
http://www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/index.html
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "A modest little person, with much to be modest about."- Winston
Churchill www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk
On 25 Feb 2004 04:00:25 -0800, paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote:
>I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
>Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
I've only done day rides over there but can say it is fine cycling country. The only caveat I'd
add is that it is a bit hilly; I'd been expecting a coastal plain like the one round here on this
side of the Channel. I'm not sure whether it's a big hill to get out of Cherbourg or whether I
was in shock.
On 25 Feb 2004 04:00:25 -0800, paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote:
>I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
>Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
We have a regular family holiday near a place called Briquebec almost 40kms due south of Cherbourg.
So I know the region fairly well.
Favourite place is the ile Tatihou, a small island just off the coast from St Vaast. There is a
maritime museum, forts and gardens - a very peaceful place. I doubt you could take your bike on the
amphibious (sp?) bus/boat that takes you over to the island thought.
Other favourite place is Portbail - excellent piza restaurant called Amy's Place - not very french
sounding I know. Good rock pooling too.
As far as routes are concerned, when you get to Cherbourg buy some of the 1:25000 maps that the
Inistitut Geographique National produce called Carte de Randonnee and stick to the yellow roads and
you cannot go wrong - just like Lland Rangers really but the scale is a bit large. Most of the
newsagents sell them for a few euros.
Don't expect people to speak any English once you get outside Cherbourg though. This is one of
reasons I quite like the area actually. You know you are in France and not just some tourist area.
JT Remove the singers of Spam before replying
On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:34:38 -0000, "nobody760"
<nobody760@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
>Paul there is a cracking hill going out of Cherbourg!
>
The west side of the peninsula is hilly and rugged, but all the more scenic for it. The east side
is flatter.
John Tomlinson wrote:
>
> Favourite place is the ile Tatihou, a small island just off the coast from St Vaast.
St Vaast is nice in itself, although it has been a little overrun by the English but the probably
feel at home. Not somewhere to cycle when it is too windy.
Originally posted by Paul
I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
As others have noted the west coast is the craggier of the two but very scenic (let us know when your there and I'll give you a wave, I can see a good chunk of the west coast from my office) lots of nice villages and towns all around the peninsula. Ste maire eglis the town where the american paras landed is worth a look but don't try and eat a picnic in the grounds of the museum, they'll chuck you out.
as ever the Logis de France "chain" is good value. If you get as far as Pontorson the Logis "DE LA TOUR BRETTE" is great, the owner is a cyclist I am sure and always looks after you well he kept plying us with extra pasta "pour la velo" and nicking bread from other tables for us.
I'll be doming some day trips over the summer around Diellette which is a nice place if you ignore the nuclear plant round the corner, 'looking forward to that.
Have fun
Steve D
paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote in message news:<1e9b4845.0402250400.1d1fa4ba@posting.google.com>...
> I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
> Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
I'm doing a similar thing in June (Dinard-Dieppe). Etape/Formule 1 seems the best option, but a
bit limited in that area. The first continental tour I ever did was a 5 day circular from
Cherbourg, camping. We got as far as St Vaast and then over to Carteret; quite lumpy but generally
easy going. Enjoy ;-)
On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 16:22:05 -0800, MartinM wrote:
> paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote
>> I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
>> Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
>
> I'm doing a similar thing in June (Dinard-Dieppe). Etape/Formule 1 seems the best option, but a
> bit limited in that area. The first continental tour I ever did was a 5 day circular from
> Cherbourg, camping. We got as far as St Vaast and then over to Carteret; quite lumpy but generally
> easy going. Enjoy ;-)
Just a thought guys.....The D-Day 50th anniversary will be in full swing, so rooms (and room!) might
be at a premium.
--
Jon
____________________________________________
jondotrogersatntlworlddotcom
============================================
Jon <see_my.sig@end_of.message> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.02.27.10.01.53.880981@end_of.message>...
> On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 16:22:05 -0800, MartinM wrote:
>
> > paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote
> >> I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing
> >> in Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers,
> >> etc.?
> >
> > I'm doing a similar thing in June (Dinard-Dieppe). Etape/Formule 1 seems the best option, but a
> > bit limited in that area. The first continental tour I ever did was a 5 day circular from
> > Cherbourg, camping. We got as far as St Vaast and then over to Carteret; quite lumpy but
> > generally easy going. Enjoy ;-)
>
> Just a thought guys.....The D-Day 50th anniversary will be in full swing, so rooms (and room!)
> might be at a premium.
That is why I'm doing it, have never been to the D day beaches and thought this would be an ideal
opportunity. Will be booking my rooms as soon as the Accor website accepts bookings (100 days in advance);-
) (also it's the 60th)
On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 12:44:31 -0800, MartinM wrote:
> Jon <see_my.sig@end_of.message>
>> On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 16:22:05 -0800, MartinM wrote:
>>
>> > paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote
>> >> I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing
>> >> in Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers,
>> >> etc.?
>> >
>> > I'm doing a similar thing in June (Dinard-Dieppe). Etape/Formule 1 seems the best option, but a
>> > bit limited in that area. The first continental tour I ever did was a 5 day circular from
>> > Cherbourg, camping. We got as far as St Vaast and then over to Carteret; quite lumpy but
>> > generally easy going. Enjoy ;-)
>>
>> Just a thought guys.....The D-Day 50th anniversary will be in full swing, so rooms (and room!)
>> might be at a premium.
>
> That is why I'm doing it, have never been to the D day beaches and thought this would be an ideal
> opportunity. Will be booking my rooms as soon as the Accor website accepts bookings (100 days in
> advance);-) (also it's the 60th)
So it is!
Went a couple of years ago (in November, and all the museums etc were full then).
Fascinating stuff though, not to mention thought provoking. Nice to see the odd cafe and shop that
still "welcomes our English and American liberators", (despite that fact that we abandoned them to
their fate in 1940)
I guess if you stay away from Omaha (as of course you will if you stay on the peninsula), you'll
miss the worst of the crowds.
Enjoy it!
--
Jon
____________________________________________
jondotrogersatntlworlddotcom
============================================
On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:59:51 +0000 (UTC), John Tomlinson
<john.tomo@pythonbtinternet.com> wrote:
>On 25 Feb 2004 04:00:25 -0800, paulfearnley@msn.com (Paul) wrote:
>
>>I am planning a 3 day cycle tour round the Cherbourg peninsula in May, starting and finishing in
>>Cherbourg and staying overnight in Chambres d'Hotes. Any suggestions for routes, stopovers, etc.?
>
>We have a regular family holiday near a place called Briquebec almost 40kms due south of Cherbourg.
>So I know the region fairly well.
>
Sorry for replying to my own post but I forgot to say there is disused railway line that runs from
Briquebec to Portbial. If you are into sustrans style cycle facilities, it is ideal.
JT Remove the singers of Spam before replying
Jon <see_my.sig@end_of.message> wrote in message snip
> Fascinating stuff though, not to mention thought provoking. Nice to see the odd cafe and shop that
> still "welcomes our English and American liberators", (despite that fact that we abandoned them to
> their fate in 1940)
You could say the same about the Channel Islands! without getting into a war debate I was in Dieppe
in 95 for the 50th VE day and the place was covered in French, British, US and Canadian flags
(unlike over here). Someone at work called in at Juno on the way back from Le Mans and was very
moved by it. Yes I am going to Omaha; not a problem on a bike and not staying there. Bayeux is a
must as well ;-)
"MartinM" <Martinm2@wcms.org.uk> wrote in message
news:3cf5c6dc.0402280030.19297892@posting.google.com...
> Jon <see_my.sig@end_of.message> wrote in message snip
> > Fascinating stuff though, not to mention thought provoking. Nice to see the odd cafe and shop
> > that still "welcomes our English and American liberators", (despite that fact that we abandoned
> > them to their fate in 1940)
> You could say the same about the Channel Islands! without getting into a war debate I was in
> Dieppe in 95 for the 50th VE day and the place was covered in French, British, US and Canadian
> flags (unlike over here). Someone at work called in at Juno on the way back from Le Mans and was
> very moved by it. Yes I am going to Omaha; not a problem on a bike and not staying there. Bayeux
> is a must as well ;-)
I did a short tour much like this one February about 10 years ago. I took the boat to Cherbourg then
followed the coast south and east past the D-Day beaches with a couple of days break in Bayeux. I
think the war graves cemetery I visited was in Bayeux. I'm sure the tapestry was. I finished up in
Caen and got a boat from Ouistreham. This enabled a visit to the site of Pegasus Bridge and the
superb exhibition/museum in Caen whose exact name I've forgotten - something like Exposition de la
Paix. Accommodation was not a problem. But it was February and bloody freezing.
tony R.
"tony R" <hesiod3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OC40c.5007$rb.63105@news.indigo.ie...
>
> "MartinM" <Martinm2@wcms.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:3cf5c6dc.0402280030.19297892@posting.google.com...
> > Jon <see_my.sig@end_of.message> wrote in message snip
> > > Fascinating stuff though, not to mention thought provoking. Nice to
see
> > > the odd cafe and shop that still "welcomes our English and American liberators", (despite that
> > > fact that we abandoned them to their fate
in
> > > 1940)
> > You could say the same about the Channel Islands! without getting into a war debate I was in
> > Dieppe in 95 for the 50th VE day and the place was covered in French, British, US and Canadian
> > flags (unlike over here). Someone at work called in at Juno on the way back from Le Mans and was
> > very moved by it. Yes I am going to Omaha; not a problem on a bike and not staying there. Bayeux
> > is a must as well ;-)
>
> I did a short tour much like this one February about 10 years ago. I took the boat to Cherbourg
> then followed the coast south and east past the
D-Day
> beaches with a couple of days break in Bayeux. I think the war graves cemetery I visited was in
> Bayeux. I'm sure the tapestry was. I finished up in Caen and got a boat from Ouistreham. This
> enabled a visit to the site
of
> Pegasus Bridge and the superb exhibition/museum in Caen whose exact name I've forgotten -
> something like Exposition de la Paix.
Le Memorial du Caen, I believe. Worth half a day of anybodies time, took my stepfather ther - he got
in Free as he is a veteran; fought in Eygpt. The above route makes sensealthoufg I think you need to
go north then east!. When you get off the ferry in Cherbourg follow signs for the "Val du Saire".
This takes you on the Coast road to Barfleur (365 steps up the lighthouse - no charge and fantastic
views) and on round to St Vaast renowned for oysters. If you're into a gourmet experience the
"Fuschias" is the place to go. I have stayed at "La Chaumiere" in Quettehou about 5k inland of St
Vaast, typical small family run hotel; good food and that amazing French furry wallpaper! Generally
I would avoid the formula hotels and stick to your plan of Chambre d'Hotes - you meet a family,
otherwise Logis de France although be aware the French charge by the room so much better value if
you take a Friend. If you stay in Cherbourg you must make sure your'e bike is secure; I'm afraid
tourists are sometimes a target there. Anyway have fun and next time take more than 3 days!
> Accommodation was not a problem. But it was February and bloody freezing.
>
> tony R.
In message <cifv30l0jrv55tdica6c06m725uoaa7ehi@4ax.com>
John Tomlinson <john.tomo@pythonbtinternet.com> wrote:
> Sorry for replying to my own post but I forgot to say there is disused railway line that runs from
> Briquebec to Portbial. If you are into sustrans style cycle facilities, it is ideal.
Rather on the bumpier end of the Sustrans spectrum IIRC.
--
CTC Right to Ride Representative for Richmond upon Thames
On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 15:15:15 +0100, Paul Luton <pluton@freeuk.com>
wrote:
>In message <cifv30l0jrv55tdica6c06m725uoaa7ehi@4ax.com> John Tomlinson
><john.tomo@pythonbtinternet.com> wrote:
>
>
>> Sorry for replying to my own post but I forgot to say there is disused railway line that runs
>> from Briquebec to Portbial. If you are into sustrans style cycle facilities, it is ideal.
>
>Rather on the bumpier end of the Sustrans spectrum IIRC.
I have only used about half of the route, but I would not call it bumpy and I am a roady through and
through. Even my kids dont like going off-road.
This is a picture I took in April 2003 (148KBytes):
http://www.btinternet.com/~john.tomo/KIF_0725.JPG
The surface is a fine gravel. JT
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