Self guided cycling holiday in Brittany, France
| country: | France |
| location: | Brittany |
| trip type: | Self guided, introductory cycling holidays |
| departures: | Departs every Wed, Thu & Fri from March - October |
| price: | From £640 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes half board twin ensuite in 2/3 star accommodation, luggage transfers, maps, itineraries, tourist information, and rental bike. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Jutting into the Atlantic, Brittany sets itself apart from the rest of France in more ways than one. Strong Celtic traditions and rites of worship are evident in the prehistoric monuments and vestiges explored on this itinerary. The indigenous language of Breton, discernable on signs and buildings, conveys the proud sense of identity found within this region.
Brittany's 1100 kilometres of wild coastline is home to spectacular medieval villages that we explore both on foot and by bike. We devote plenty of time to take in the breathtaking wonder of Mont Saint Michel, along with the 'pirate's town' of St Malo and the quaint seaside villages, oyster parks and mussel farms along the way. Following canal towpaths into Brittany's interior of Argoat (meaning 'Land of the Woods') we discover the ancient fairyland of Dinan and the picturesque fortress of Combourg, complete with the Lac Tranquille.
Rental bike: 21 speed men's and ladies' bike, equipped with one saddlebag, a water bottle, an anti-theft device and a repair kit. Includes adjustment by a cycling specialist.
Brittany's 1100 kilometres of wild coastline is home to spectacular medieval villages that we explore both on foot and by bike. We devote plenty of time to take in the breathtaking wonder of Mont Saint Michel, along with the 'pirate's town' of St Malo and the quaint seaside villages, oyster parks and mussel farms along the way. Following canal towpaths into Brittany's interior of Argoat (meaning 'Land of the Woods') we discover the ancient fairyland of Dinan and the picturesque fortress of Combourg, complete with the Lac Tranquille.
Rental bike: 21 speed men's and ladies' bike, equipped with one saddlebag, a water bottle, an anti-theft device and a repair kit. Includes adjustment by a cycling specialist.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join Fougères |
| Day 2: | Cycle through the Couesnon Valley to Pontorson (26 miles/42 km) |
| Day 3: | Explore the ancient seaside hill town of Mont Saint Michel with its famous Gothic Abbey and extraordinary high tides which almost surround the island, and continue on to Le Vivier sur Mer (22 miles/35km) |
| Day 4: | Cycle to Saint Malo (22 miles/36km) |
| Day 5: | Cycle through the River Rance Valley and on to the medieval city of Dinan (28 miles/45km) |
| Day 6: | Cross the Bocage to Combourg (20 miles/33km) |
| Day 7: | Cycle to Tremblay (30 miles/49km) |
| Day 8: | Cycle to Fougères (19 miles/31 km), trip concludes |
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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A self-powered cycling holiday such as this is the ideal way to explore the natural and cultural highlights of a region, allowing you to set your own pace and travel under your own steam and minimise the impact on the environment. After a thoroughly rewarding day’s cycling you will be warmly welcomed into a small, locally owned pension, hotel or B&B which has been chosen for it’s charm and local character.
A delicious and hearty evening meal is definitely the order of the day and you’ll be introduced to small, locally owned provincial restaurants. All meals provided use locally-grown produce from neighbouring farms and vineyards, such is the way of small businesses supporting other small businesses within the rural communities you’ll visit. Friendly local staff are ideally placed to give you a knowledgeable insight into the local terrain, flora and fauna and an authentic account of the history of the region. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |