Hello. I'm cycling in France for 7 days, starting in Bordeaux and staying in campsites along the way. I have no idea what is a good direction to head towards though! Does anyone have any good ideas for where I should cycle to? I'm looking to cover about 60 to 70km each day, so perhaps about 450km in total. My only aim is to cycle though beautiful scenery and quaint villages along the way. I do need to end somewhere I can get a TGV back to Paris.
Many thanks for any good advice, Kind regards, Martin
coventry
1
newislander
Well i've just finished a trip in france and was in the dordogne. Lots of lovely villages there.
I can hardly understand someone just getting to the start point and leaving their direction and whole route up to the dubious suggestions of others.
For what its worth i started my journey in a lovely village called Brantome.
2
rayswartz
Head east toward the gorges: Dordogne, Lot, Tarn.
Here is my journal entry that starts when I head up the Lot river and eventually over to the Tarn . Both fabulous rides!
3
coventry
Many thanks Ray. I'm pleased to get good ideas to add to the firmament! That's a great journal you have too!
4
chavo
We biked to Bordeaux from Paris and had a terrific time! Camping is largely a breeze and the vineyards of the Loire Valley are somewhat mesmerizing (or maybe that was just too much vin!) One location that stands out to me was when we reached the Dordogne. We camped by the river in Bourg adjacent to a forteresse where I swear I had a paranormal experience involving a ghost. Never forget it! Between St. Savin and Bourg is especially lovely. Once you make it to Paris, be sure to camp at the Bois de Boulogne. Too convenient, too comfortable, too good a deal! Bon voyage! ps: if you happen to camp at Chambord which is a great hiking and cycling spot, you might think twice about camping there as the wild boars are a little unsettling.
5
arizona
Might be handy to know your cross-posting Coventry:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2339361
And nice to see some likeminded answers.
Great tripreport, rayswartz, seeing the pics I like to cycle along the Lot in the rain ... after the rain.
6
ramonz
I would head to Landes the beaches there are long and undeveloped the forest is extensive with proper cycle pistes.
The area would be good to cycle through although i was on a motorbike as i came from further down in the south of Spain and was headed to the uk
Loads and loads and loads of camping i stayed at camping 'le tuc'. really nice and quiet the place is a dream for me and quite a few others as it is now summer hols in France, will be more people around but never crowded the forested area must be as big as Engerland???
head for Mimizan and beyond...
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