The French Bike Hop

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Sunday to Thursday weekly but check my calendar to see if your dates are listed. (ignore hours)  

I cycle tour in France 3 to 4 times a year so I am offering these guided holiday tours as an add on to the daily routes I offer in and around the New Forest. I’m not a professional tour guide but I have done this journey before so I am confident you will have a great cycling holiday with me. 

As a voyager member with Brittany Ferries I can get the best prices for channel crossings and reduced cabin rates. I would normally arrange and book everything on your behalf but I am happy to act as your tour guide only.

There is something quite wonderful about cycling from your home with your bike, filling your panniers for your bike trip with everything you need and leaving your home comforts behind. Peddling of your drive you get that feeling of independence and freedom.  

So this 'French Bike Hop is from the New Forest to Saint Malo in France and one option is to travelling down to Rennes mainly on the national cycle paths.  As I have done this route before I can lead you on this marvellous journey so you can enjoy the experience and not have to think about the unknown! (I did that a few years ago!) My guided tour start on a Sunday mid-morning from the New Forest or at the Wightlink car ferry terminal at Lymington around 11.30am. (But you could also start this journey from the Ferry terminal car park in Portsmouth around 6pm on the Sunday and park your car (£13 per day) ready for our return on Thursday evening). After the 30min crossing to Yarmouth we take a leisurely cycle across the Isle of wight on a mixture of small roads and cycle paths to the eastern town of Ryde for around 5.30pm. Here it’s a short passenger ferry ride into Portsmouth Harbour where we cycle just 4 minutes to the Brittany Ferries Terminal to board our trip to Saint Malo with overnight cabin. The 3 course Table d’hote menu in the main restaurant provides excellent French cuisine with sensibly priced wine.  

We arrive at Saint Malo early on Monday and we would usually stop for breakfast near the old town before taking the sea boat across the estuary to Dinard where we start our 2.5 day cycle trip down to Rennes. It's approximately 65 miles. I can arrange suitable accommodation for Monday & Tuesday night but booking a few months ahead will be essential especially in the summer months. We will cover approximately 25miles per day with time to stop off and take in some of the town and villages on the way. Arriving in Rennes Wednesday mid-day will have some time to cycle around the town, have some lunch and take in some sites before we take the train back with our bikes to Saint Malo and our bike friendly hotel. Wednesday evening you can explore the old town and enjoy the many bars and restaurants it has to offer. Depending on the tide a beech walk is recommended to sea the sun go down.

For those that don’t want to travel so far, bike routes going east over to Cancale (Oyster Capital of France) and onto Le Vivier-sur-Mer can be a shorter alternative or just day cycles  basing ourself at Saint Malo for the 3 nights.

As of writing this in 2023 the return ferry leaves St. Malo at 10.30am on Thursday and arrives back at Portsmouth 18:20pm

Day time cabins are available at a much-reduced cost if you want to get your head down after lunch. 

On arrival either pick your car up here or arrange for your pick up. With Prior notice I can arrange for transport with your bikes back to the New Forest or Lymington if that’s where we started. 

From around mid-July to the end of August Brittany Ferries also operate a return journey on Wednesday so in effect reducing the trip by one day. Rennes is still possible in just 2 days but at a much faster pace or we can tailor the trip to the time you have available.

Accommodation in France

I look for good value accommodation, family run hotels or houses on route and try to find places that are clean and offer evening dinning and good reviews. Secure bike storage is essential.  Around 25miles per day on this trip so accommodation needs to fit with distance and the same places may not always be available. I have stayed in Saint Malo a number of times so I know where you tend to get good services and the Ibis chain of hotels usually offers consistent standards and value for money with secure bike storage. However, I have also stayed right in the old town so if you would prefer to do that just let me know, or If you would prefer, to pick your own hotels and accommodation as a group, please request that when we put the trip together?

The Cycling routes 

I use GPS and the French cycling network apps to make sure we keep to the cycle paths and stay away from busy roads as much as possible. This route is about 70% cycle paths and makes for lovely relaxing cycling. I will also be able to make sure we get the appropriate train back to Saint Marlo from Rennes, book online and lead on the agenda to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. 

Approximate Costs

Ferry crossings and overnight cabin (sharing) is approx. £350 for 2 people including IOW crossing but will vary depending on the time of the year. 

3 nights’ accommodation in France will be booked in advance and you should budget for between £50-70 per person per night (2 sharing) depending on the time of year and the quality of accommodation you are expecting. If you would prefer to pitch a tent and have your own stuff then that’s fine I can find suitable camp sites.

My charges are £60 per person per cycling day for a party of 4 people. Or £50 for 6 persons. Only 2 people would mean £120 per day. 

On agreeing your dates and requirements I will provide an approximate quote for the ferry crossings cabins etc and the cost and details of your accommodation in France that I have found. If you can then review this quickly and upon your agreement pay this initial cost. This cost will be your deposit and after receiving your payment I will then book the crossings and accommodation as a group and confirm your details by email. I do not add any charges onto this and I will share the booking details with you so you can see exactly what has been paid on your behalf. 

All other costs food drinks etc will be at your own expense. 

The small ferry crossing from St Malo to Dinard is approx. 5 euros and the train back from   Rennes (if we go on that route) is approx. 16 euros.

My guide fee will be requested one month before our departure.

After your booking is confirmed we will set up a  zoom / teams meetings so we are all ready and prepared for your trip.

Example: approximate costs per person leaving from Portsmouth

· Return Ferry crossings standard 2 persons (cabin on outbound).  £160

· 3 nights’ accommodation in France.  £180

· My guide fees 60 x 3 days Mon, Tue, Wed. £180 (£150 for 6 people)

Approximate total cost per person  £520

Example: approximate costs per person leaving from Lymington or New Forest

Including IOW ferry and passenger ferry from Ryde 

· Return Ferry crossings incl. standard 2 persons cabin on outbound.  £180

· 3 nights’ accommodation in France.  £180

· My guide fees 60 x 3.5 days Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed. £210 (£175 for 6 people)

Approximate total cost per person   £570

Please give me a call or email me if you would like to make a booking and discuss your ideas in more detail. +44 (0) 7887744767. bookwithandy@biketournewforest.com

Important information

• Bikes will need to be in full working order and serviced
• Ideally bikes should have carrier and panniers. (No large back packs)
• Mountain bike, hybrid touring or commuter bikes or gravel bikes are suitable as long as you have some where to pack / carry your stuff. 
• I have an e-bike with a pannier rack & panniers and a handle bar bag for carry day time essentials / valuables that can also come off my bike and be carried over the shoulder. If your unsure about your ability to cycle 25miles a day an e-bike is a very good option and will make the trip so much more enjoyable but choose a touring bike with a rear rack rather than a mountain bike if you want to fit panniers....but, you do not need an e-bike to do this trip. 
• You can hire bikes and panniers for this trip including e-bikes from Lymington, Burley, Brockenhurst and Lymington. Please ask for details.
• Spare inner tube x 2 and basic tools & pump
• Cycle helmets and locks compulsory
• Appropriate clothing and water proofs
• Cycling shoes and gloves recommended
• Documents, Passports, insurance (check the expiry date) 
• First aid kit, essential medicines and personal items.