Stay : Cycling around Brittany
Here's an idea for a complete itinerary, for a two-week tour of Brittany by bike, at a rate of 40 to 60 km per day, depending on difficulty. Enough time for a few stops and visits. The route includes several stations (in Dinan, Saint-Malo, Saint-Brieuc, Paimpol, Lannion, Morlaix, Carhaix, Hennebont), allowing you to plan a shorter route.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
14 days
€ - Good and cheap
Detail of the stay : Cycling around Brittany - 14 days
Day 1: Rennes-Hédé (43 km)
Steps: Evran
From the station, go to the banks of the Ille and head north on the regional cycle route no. 2 (V2). Perfect to get into shape: the flat route follows the towpath that runs along the Ille-et-Rance canal. A wooded and bucolic route. In Hédé, eleven locks follow one another, a sort of staircase for the boats. Stop by the Maison du Canal to learn more about its history.
CANAL D'ILLE-ET-RANCE
Day 2: Hédé-Dinan (40 km)
Steps: Dinan
Leave early in the morning to reach Dinan. Just before, make a stop at the abbey of Léhon, on the banks of the Rance. When you arrive at the port, leave the bikes and walk to the medieval center by climbing the Jerzual, a pretty cobbled street lined with half-timbered houses and craft stores.
Day 3: Dinan-Dinard (23 km)
Steps: Dinard, Saint-Malo
Continue on the V2, which runs along the Rance river and then follows an old railroad line to Dinard, a chic seaside resort. Admire its splendid villas, then bask on the Ecluse beach. In high season, you can take a sea bus for a trip to Saint-Malo.
PLAGE DE L'ECLUSE
Day 4: Dinard-cap Fréhel (55 km)
Take the V2 in the other direction to Tréméreuc, where you will turn west on the Vélomaritime (Eurovélo 4). Here you are on small country roads, where the difference in altitude is a little more important but still affordable. If you feel like it, continue to Cape Fréhel. If you can't take it anymore, wait for the quiet hours of the next morning.
Day 5: Cap Fréhel-Saint-Brieuc (60 km)
The superb panoramas of the coastline alternate with the countryside. Halfway along the route, take a break at the small picturesque port of Dahouët.
Day 6: Saint-Brieuc-Plouha (35 km)
Steps: Binic-Etables-Sur-Mer
On this portion of the Vélomaritime, you will face serious climbs, but will also enjoy magnificent views of the sea. For lunch, choose the charming port of Binic. Before getting back on your bike, a nap on the beach of La Banche or the beach of Avant-port will be welcome.
PLAGE DE LA BANCHE
Day 7: Plouha-Tréguier (50 km)
Steps: Paimpol
Still some difference in level, but a little less. You follow a tourist road that goes along the highest cliffs in Brittany. A little before Paimpol, stop at the maritime abbey of Beauport, surrounded by beautiful gardens. You will go along the port of Paimpol, then cross two beautiful estuaries (the Trieux and the Jaudy) before arriving at Tréguier.
Day 8: Tréguier-Ploumanac'h (35 km)
Steps: Perros-Guirec
A slightly shorter stage, to breathe a little. Start by strolling through the medieval streets of Tréguier, and visit its magnificent cathedral. The Vélomaritime takes you through the fields to Perros-Guirec. Leave it to reach Ploumanac'h and its magnificent chaos of pink granite. Relax your tired muscles in the turquoise waters of the heavenly Saint-Guirec beach. You are halfway there: why not make a day-long stop here?
Day 9: Ploumanac'h-Lannion (40 km)
Steps: Lannion
The back country of the Pink Granite Coast will test your legs. Take a well-deserved break on the beach of Tresmeur, in Trébeurden. Leave your horse for a short trip to Milliau Island (if the sea is low). Then, until Lannion, the relief is much more lenient.
Day 10: Lannion-Plougasnou (45 km)
Steps: Lannion, Plougasnou
At the exit of Lannion, a long coastline crosses the countryside until the giant beach of Saint-Michel-en-Grève. You then go along the tip of Plestin and the very pretty bay of Locquirec. Take a break there because afterwards things get tougher: several climbs await you until Plougasnou, along this wild coast. But in return, you are most of the time by the sea and enjoy beautiful panoramas.
Day 11: Plougasnou-Scrignac (50 km)
Another rough stage: you first follow the coastline and discover the superb bay of Morlaix. Have lunch in town, then leave the Vélomaritime to join the Vélodyssée (Eurovélo 1). You will have a total change of scenery: the greenway, very wooded, follows an old railroad. It climbs gently, continuously, until Scrignac.
LA VOIE VERTE
Day 12: Scrignac-Rostrenen (60 km)
Steps: Glomel, Rostrenen, Brest, Ploërmel
The greenway continues until Carhaix, where you join the canal from Nantes to Brest. You will pass by the big trench of Glomel, dug by convicts, before reaching the lock of Bonen, in Rostrenen, where you can spend the night. An almost flat stage.
LA VOIE VERTE
Day 13: Rostrenen-Pontivy (55 km)
Steps: Bon Repos Sur Blavet, Pontivy
The majestic Bon-Repos abbey stands on your way: visit it! Then you leave the canal and its towpath, interrupted by the large water reservoir of Guerlédan: the route rises a little and offers you beautiful views of this lake with its wooded shores. To take a dip, go down to the Beau-Rivage beach. After Mûr-de-Bretagne, you follow the Blavet to Pontivy.
ABBAYE DE BON-REPOS
Day 14: Pontivy-Lorient (70 km)
Steps: Hennebont
The last stage goes entirely along the charming meandering Blavet. The towpath borders the pretty hamlet of Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux and its amazing chapel, nestled under a large boulder. The bicycle route stops at Hennebont.
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Brittany
-
Find a hotel
-
Car Rental
-
-5% on travel insurance-15% off travel insurance
-
Find a local agency
