4.5 day trip ex London

[Iminquarantine]

Looking for ideas for a 4.5 day bike trip starting from London. The first half day would be going London to Calais, plus about 200km onwards from Calais before bed.

Don’t mind a big motorway ride the next day to get to a good destination, then working my way back over the following 3 days. So say my range is a 1200km radius from Calais.

Any ideas?

Already been down the B500 and Nurburgring Ring area in Germany. I prefer countryside and small/mid-size towns.

[anonymous-user]

We are starting a 10 day trip next week, but I've done a fair bit of the regions that are in range. I'd suggest heading for Dinant - can get there easily in a day. Then from there, you can go through the Ardennes and loop round to the Vosges, and then back.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Another vote for the Vosges. I normally get an earlyish Eurotunnel and it's a 4-5 hour ride over that way. It's worth bashing out the autoroute miles to get there – you can be on nice twisty mountain roads by late afternoon.

[Iminquarantine]

What are those Vosges mountain roads like? Are they more long sweepers, or those hairpins which are paved with cobblestones for good measure?

[bsidethecside]

If you're based in London, don't overlook an evening trip down the A3 to Portsmouth. You spend the night on the ferry and wake up early in France. Did it a month ago and looped back in via the tunnel.

We got to the Dordogne via D-roads (no autoroutes) and were at the hotel by 1700. A long old day, but a great ride if you plan it.

The tunnel is ideal as it isn't too big a sweat if you miss your train, or for that matter arrive early.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Iminquarantine said:

What are those Vosges mountain roads like? Are they more long sweepers, or those hairpins which are paved with cobblestones for good measure?

It's a mix really - mostly sweepers, lots of amazing views. No cobbled bits so far as I can remember (maybe one or two cobbled hairpins?). The Route des Cretes is the most famous road through the area and it takes in lots of the best bits, but it's also an amazing area to explore. I'll hopefully be going out there for the first time in 4 years in Sept - planning to leave Surrey on a Thursday mid morning, arrive by Thursday evening and then spending Thursday and Friday exploring. The Black Forest is only a 1.5-2 hour ride away as well.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Don't remember cobbles when I did it either, and Route des Cretes is amazing. Stop in Obernai for the cake at the place in the town square. It's a bit less overtly touristy than the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhein, more geared towards skiing and walking. Consequently, I found fewer caravans and very little traffic generally. Will return myself.

[SteelerSE]

I put together a tour down through to Luxemburg. It never actually happened so I can't vouch for the roads but the route was based bestbikingroads.com and the recommendations on there.

https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/folder/239842...