Tour to the Continent during Aug Bank Hols wknd- thoughts?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 30479
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 30479

Hi All,

Thinking about doing a mini tour during bank holiday weekend. Going to go with a simple Carradice saddle bag and stay in Airbnbs along the way. Thinking of:

Friday after 5p – cycle/train to Dover to Dunkerque overnight ferry
Saturday – Dunkerque to Bruges – overnight in Bruges
Sunday – Bruges to Rotterdam – overnight ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich
Monday – Morning ride back down to London? Or Train?

If it’s possible to take these overnight ferries I’ll only have to book 1 night accommodation in Bruges. Wondering if anyone’s done these cities before, route suggestions, etc… hopefully it won’t be too cold… assume it may be windy as near the coast?!
 
Re:

i was thinking of doing something like this a while ago, but from portsmouth as i'm down that way, i like the idea of a short tour, 50miles a day max though so it's not a massive stretch. i'm currently in the alps though (riding), i am having a forced day off though as my van has clutch issues :(

i'd be interested in doing something like what you suggest though, i'm not very experienced in touring as such but would be interested in doing something like this. :)
 
Re:

I would consider somewhere a little more scenic and just as accessible from Blighty...like the Loire Valley.

Or even the Isle of Wight; which is rightly being promoted as a cycling heaven.

Roadking.
 
Re:

IOW is good in places but bearing in mind i ride there alot the traffic can be awful, and lets face it, it's not france is it! part of the challenge i think is being outside the UK.
 
Thanks I've already done IOW and LV - keen to try new places as I haven't been to Bruges and heard it's a great place to visit (even w/o a bike!). Bank holiday is this weekend so I don't have much time to plan yikes!
 
btw jonnyboy666 if you're interested - let me know. it's this Friday so appreciate it's short notice!
 
Re:

sorry i can't, i'd be interested but i just got made redundant and i booked a month in morzine, currently in the 3rd week here! :D
 
Re:

Once you get to the Belgian border, there is the fietsnet network that extends all the way up into the Netherlands.
You just join the routes together that you want to follow, then follow the numbered signposts.

http://www.fietsnet.be/routeplanner/default.aspx

Most of the routes are minor roads with little traffic, with a few cobbled and unpaved sections here and there.
I've ridden quite a bit of the Belgian network and some of the Dutch one. The routes are generally planned to
go past cafes, pubs and restaurants which is handy.

Bruges is well worth visiting, and generally quite bike friendly (if you don't mind cobblestones).

If you can fit in a detour, there is a good cycling museum in Roeslare.

I'd avoid Antwerp city centre if you can, a bit busy and not particularly cycle friendly.

The Dutch islands between the Belgian coast (Knokke-Heist) and Rotterdam are supposed to be nice.

Good luck,

Johnny
 
Thanks all - do you think the cities I'll be cycling through with the ferry connections do-able if I leave friday evening and arrive back in London on Monday evening?
 
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