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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 30479
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You are definitely doing the route in the right direction, so should have the wind behind you. It's all flat as a pancake too.
Bruges is a beautiful city, although the quality and choice of beer may make an early start on Sunday somewhat uncomfortable.
 
Awesome, thanks for the tips. I just need to find some cheap accommodations now... airbnb here I come! any other tips appreciated, this is my first solo trip!
 
I'd be tempted to island-hop across the mouth of the Schelde rather than go through Antwerp, which is a ghastly place of big roads infested by container trucks.
You need to take the ferry from Braskens to Vlissingen, then it's Dutch bike paths next to the roads across the dykes all the way to Rotterdam.

Read up on the Dutch bike route system, you follow the numbers and tick off the red posts at intersections. The CTC website has a fair bit.

Also check the European North Sea Cycle Route which is the long distance cycleway along the coast.
http://www.northsea-cycle.com/
 
Thanks - definitely not doing Antwewp - heard it's not cycle friendly. Thought was London - Dover - Dunkirk - Middelburg - Rotterdam - Hook of Holland - Harwich - Colchester - London.

Wondering if Middelburg is the right Dutch island to stay on?
 
Doing more research and I'm keen to reduce the miles so I can enjoy the trip and cities as well (as I've never been to them). Was thinking of this route instead: London->Calais->Roubaix->Bruges->Calais->London

What do you think? also, what is the best site online that will give me a map of bike paths and the best route to take? ridewithgps.com? mapmyride.com?
 
From Bruges I would be tempted to return via Zeebrugge or Dunkirk.

France is a far less densely populated place than the UK, also drivers are nice to cyclists. So I wouldn't worry too much about seeking out biek paths, just stick to minor roads. Try the CTC site for info on getting in and out of ferry ports, which tned to be the worst bits. Dunkirk is particularly nasty.
 
Thanks hamster - not keen on Zeebrugge as that takes me into Hull - I'm London based so just tacks on more time to the ferry/train journey instead of being on the bike.

I'll do Dunkirk on the way back (instead of Calais) as it's closer to Bruges. So my trip will be:

London->Dover->Calais->Roubaix->Bruges (via Ghent)->Dunkirk->Dover->London

I'll take a look at the CTC site, wondering what's so nasty about Dunkirk!
 
Re:

You wont get much sleep on the ferry as Dover->Dunkirk is only two hours and Dover->Calais can not be much different.
 
Thanks Chris D - it's only 2 hrs.... so I'll be now getting an airbnb in Calais.
 
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