London to Paris: Route Advice

Posted on
Page
of 6
/ 6
Last Next
  • A friend and I are planning to cycle to Paris in August. I have been looking at potential routes and I wondered if anyone on here had any advice.We are looking for a route thats not too strenuous, on quieter roads, lots of countryside etc...Is it best to go to Calais or Dieppe?What's the best way to approach Paris?

  • Me an the other one are cycling to Paris at the end of June, going Newhaven to Dieppe and following this route ish:

    http://www.donaldhirsch.com/dieppeparis.html

    the first 40 miles in France follows Avenue Verte, a disused railway track, so should be pretty quiet.

  • You've used the search haven't you James?

    Up there.. at the top... try using oh I dunno "London Paris" as your search terms.

    :-*

  • :-*

    Is this what Australians look like?

  • ASCII characters? Sure.
    If you take loads of acid and stare alternatively at a poster of Steve Irwin and this...

  • there are so many people who do this route that it's well marked now

  • that donald hirsch route is pretty good, but completely fucks up in the suburbs.

    we did it last year, brighton to paris in a day, didn't really sleep the night before (overnight ferry) and we went totally loony trying to find our way through the housing estates, across major roads etc.

    not sure what to suggest except to get some sleep!

  • Yeah, get your route through Poissy right or it will be very painful. Lovely ride though.

  • Be ure to document it well, I'm sure that will appreciate that.

  • done this - have gps routes if anyone wants them? email me nzuraw at lunicuscc dot com

  • any hints on kipping in france? how do locals take to pitching up in fields?

  • no problem there... met a few people who have been doing just that too, they've never had any problems. Though sometimes, asking the farmer to use the barn may be better

  • awesome Powerpoint document in the link thanks, never opened one happily before!
    8 of us are going third weekend in June... looks too easy now!

  • coming back Eurostar, couldn't get bike on same train... anyone know how that works?

  • You have to check your bike in as freight by taking your ticket to the freight terminal in advance of travel -- it's at the same station, but further down the platform, I can do a better explanation if you need it! It's not very practical, and I don't think they'll put your bike on the same train. Phone the english office and ask them.

    Ah, a bit of googling, and voila!

  • Thanks for that, it ain't clear on the booking form online... Hmmm, maybe if I sharpen my bar ends I could get the bike classed as "sporting weapons" then I can save a fiver! Sweet

  • Just cycled this last week (well the Dieppe to Paris section, didn't have time for London-Newhaven). Route is pretty gentle with only a couple of decent hills. I was geared but the other managed it fine on a ss with a pretty heavy load. Camped at Forges les Eaux and Triel sur Seine. Forge les Eaux was 5 euro per night for both of us, free showers, Triel was 11 euro and 2 euro per shower (this was the 1st site you come to, there is another one next door, slightly pricier. There is a 2km downhill on the way into Triel sur Seine that was lovely to coast down, would be a shame to have to go down on a fixed! Normandy is beautiful to cycle through, quiet country roads, considerate drivers. Followed the Donald Hirsch route - v.good directions, only got lost once or twice, didn't have a map but there are very useful maps on bus stops/billboards in every village and town. Pics to follow at some point.

  • The only problem with touring in normandy is the calvados hang overs.

  • I am cycling L-P with a group of pupils from my school in order to raise a load of cash for charity. We are leaving this Sunday. Because it is with kids, I have had to be V precise with my planning - choosing a quiet ish route etc. I have google map links or publisher or pdf files of the route that I have turned into booklets for each rider. You are more than welcome to these if they would be of use. Just let me know. I will be able to tell you next week whether the maps are any good and if the kids make it.

  • I am cycling L-P with a group of pupils from my school in order to raise a load of cash for charity. We are leaving this Sunday. Because it is with kids, I have had to be V precise with my planning - choosing a quiet ish route etc. I have google map links or publisher or pdf files of the route that I have turned into booklets for each rider. You are more than welcome to these if they would be of use. Just let me know. I will be able to tell you next week whether the maps are any good and if the kids make it.

    I'd love a copy of that once you've checked the viability!
    Good luck with the ride, hope you raise muchos monies.

  • I am cycling L-P with a group of pupils from my school in order to raise a load of cash for charity. We are leaving this Sunday. Because it is with kids, I have had to be V precise with my planning - choosing a quiet ish route etc. I have google map links or publisher or pdf files of the route that I have turned into booklets for each rider. You are more than welcome to these if they would be of use. Just let me know. I will be able to tell you next week whether the maps are any good and if the kids make it.

    Did they?

  • Hoping to do this route in the next 2 weeks sometime but would like advice from people who've done it. The situation is as follows:
    A friend and I are meeting somewhere around Paris to start on a bit of a cycle tour. The plan is to camp and share a 2 man tent but, since he's setting off before me, I won't have a tent for this stretch of the journey.
    Would it be extremely hard to do this in a day considering I'm not a super fit roadie type?
    If not, would it be viable to try and stay somewhere en route, either a hostel or just at the side of the road?

  • Hi Jim, I cycled to Paris last year and yes you could definitely do it in a day. We stopped and camped for the night about 30 miles before Paris and only didn't carry on because we didn't want to camp in Paris itself.

    We rode to Newhaven which was pretty shitty, and the ferries are funny times. We ended up drinking pints of guiness in a scary pub before the ferry, and I got so pissed I lost my keys and eventually found them tangled in my spokes just minutes before the ferry.
    You could get the train to Newhaven, I think the ferry is at 1am. Gets you there for 6am so you get an early start. I think it was 119miles from Dieppe and fairly flat, can't remember exact route, my friend was in charge (i think he got it from bikely.com).
    Something I would advise you to avoid is a cycle path along a railway for the start of the France leg of the journey. It was really flat which was great at first but it became really boring and I just remember longing for a hill or something to look at.

    Good luck and enjoy. Riding in France is wicked.

  • Great news. Will let you know how it goes!

  • I am cycling L-P with a group of pupils from my school in order to raise a load of cash for charity. We are leaving this Sunday. Because it is with kids, I have had to be V precise with my planning - choosing a quiet ish route etc. I have google map links or publisher or pdf files of the route that I have turned into booklets for each rider. You are more than welcome to these if they would be of use. Just let me know. I will be able to tell you next week whether the maps are any good and if the kids make it.

    that would be a great help! i'm cycling from london - newhaven - dieppe - paris and leaving on monday so need to have a route planned asap!

    any help would be amazing!

  • Post a reply
    • Bold
    • Italics
    • Link
    • Image
    • List
    • Quote
    • code
    • Preview
About

London to Paris: Route Advice

Posted by Avatar for JamesRotates @JamesRotates

Actions