HOLIDAY DETAILS

The Area: Normandy is one of the best known regions of France. The area has a long association with the British and for many years much of the area was under English rule. Today it remains very popular, mainly due to the Channel Ports along the coast, but most people crossing the Channel do not venture too far, and inland Normandy remains peaceful and quiet.
It is a very picturesque area, best known for its rolling green hills, apple orchards, timber framed houses and as the home of Camembert and Calvados. There are still plenty of notable forests in the area and much of the southern part of Normandy is within the boundaries of the Normandie Maine Regional Park. Not surprisingly, given the history of Normandy as the home of Kings and Noblemen, there are plenty of chateaux and castles in the area that are well worth a visit, including the magnificent fortress abbey at Mont-St-Michel. There are a few large cities, Rouen, Caen and Le Havre but mostly it is a predominantly rural region of pretty little villages and small attractive towns. Linking them is a wealth of minor lanes that are mostly traffic free and ideal for cycling.

The Holiday: This trip is designed to be a moderately leisurely trip through the delightful Normandy countryside, and should allow you plenty of time to see the local sights and explore the towns and villages. However this will obviously depend of your level of fitness. If you are an inexperienced cyclist you should be aware that, although large parts of the route follow river valleys which offer easy, pleasant cycling, some days also have moderately hilly sections with some quite steep climbs (although generally these are fairly short), and you need to be prepared for this.
Leaving St Malo there are a few hills but then the ride along the Bay of Mont-St-Michel to Beauvoir is mostly level. From here the route turns inland taking you through rolling countryside, with a moderate amount of up and down, but there are also long level sections along river valleys. The route through the forests around Carrouges is undulating, and although there are long steep climbs out of the Vie and Touques valleys, the routes along the valleys are delightful offering mostly level riding. The final part of the ride to Ouistreham is again mostly level. You should ensure that the holiday is within your capabilities based on the information provided. You are responsible for ensuring that you reach the accommodation at the end of the day, and no refunds will be given should you fail to complete a day's ride.

Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small hotels or B&B's (Chambre d'Hôtes). All the accommodation is privately owned and run, and as such does vary. Some are in the centre of towns or villages, others are in small hamlets with few local amenities. We have tried where possible to mix types of accommodation so that you will get to try various different styles on each trip. Note: If you are booking a trip by yourself, or are part of a group but have requested a single room each night, there is an additional supplement of £30.00 per night. In most establishments en-suite facilities are standard and we include these where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed. Breakfast is included at all the accommodation. You should note that breakfast in France is generally not as substantial as breakfast in the UK. No other meals or drinks are included in the cost of the trip. The accommodation has been chosen so that there will be somewhere nearby for a meal in the evening, (or if there is no nearby restaurant an evening meal will be available at the accommodation - 'Table d'Hôtes'). Further details are given in the route information that comes with the trip.

The Start and Finish: This holiday starts and finishes at the Ferry Terminal at Portsmouth. Portsmouth is served by regular train services from most parts of the UK and there is secure car parking available at the port. The trip starts with an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo in Brittany. The ferry departs Portsmouth at 20.30. You should plan on arriving at the port at 19.30. The cost of the holiday includes the cost of a standard twin bed cabin for the overnight crossing.
The return ferry from Caen departs Ouistreham (the port for the city of Caen) at 17.15 and arrives back in Portsmouth at approximately 22.15. Accommodation is available in Portsmouth if required.

Documents: British Nationals require a full passport to visit France. If you are from the UK or another EU country, Canada, the USA, Norway or New Zealand a passport is all you need. Nationals of some other countries require a visa.

Bikes & Cycling: The type of bicycle that you bring for this tour is entirely up to you. Some people take mountain bikes, others touring machines. The most important thing is that you are used to the bike and are comfortable riding it. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears for this sort of trip. There are few steep climbs along the way and do not forget that you will be carrying your luggage which may mean that you may need a lower gear than you would normally use.
Most of the Bike Adventures route follows minor roads, and traffic is generally light, however there are some busier roads as you leave St Malo and around a few of the larger towns.

Weather: The weather in Normandy is similar to southern England, although usually a degree a degree or two warmer. Summer is usually very pleasant with warm sunny days and temperatures in the mid - high 20's. However there is always is a chance of a shower or thunderstorm and so you should be prepared for wet weather as well.