Traffic free cycle routes in France.

In my experience, cycling on normal roads in France is far safer than it is here so much less need for dedicated cycle routes. French drivers seem so much more considerate than they are in the UK.

Still not convincing me, but I thank you for replying.

When we have stayed at Marseillan Plage there are some good traffic free cycle routes along the coast towards Sete and inland. Sometimes they are dedicated cycleways and sometimes widened pavements alongside the road. In the towns and villages you often have to share the roads simply because they is no room for cycleways.

David

Greylag, there are traffic free cycle routes all along the river Loire - almost from source to the sea - so any site by that river as you cross it going south will have access to them.  Maps of those cycle routes are on line.

Hi Greylag

The Camargue is one of our favourite places for birdwatching and you should include Le Petit Camargue along with the main area. I did a fact sheet of where to go for Pliers some years ago but unfortunately it's been wiped from my computer. If she see this post/thread then she may still have it and we can arrange something between us. If not I'll try to reconstruct something for you if you want.

With regard to cycling please note that in the UK we are likel yourself, very wary of anything that isn't off road and on cycle tracks. However in rural France we feel more liberated and less threatened, strange really bearing in mind the driving habits of the French.

Off the main routes through the Camargue you will find no problem cycling on the back roads. In fact your birdwatching experience will be enhanced. Honestly. We must have been half a dozen times, late April/early May and survived easily. Get yourself the IGN maps of the local areas.

With regard to stopping en route you might want to give Le Brenne a stopover. Excellent birding and again relatively traffic free routes to cycle. Campsite at Le Cormier run by British and sits near to Le Brenne.

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=7766

If you want more info let me know.

Thanks to all for the replies.

Wherenext....Just the info I wanted.

We went to the Camargue for around two hours on a birding holiday.....not enough.

I will take a look at your suggestions...La Brenne has always been on my radar.

Mid April/May was the time I was thinking of.

Regards.

Hello Greylag,  Without knowing which ferry crossing, and which route(s) you are planning to use,  it's difficult to recommend sites, but there are cycle routes in most areas of France.  Get the official IGN map of Voie Vertes et Veloroutes (green routes, mostly disused railway lines) for all cycle routes throughout France.  

The site Les Cerisiers du Jaur at St Pons de Thomierers is almost directly on to a cycle route - which goes from Mazamet up to the very lovely Gorges du Heric, Olargues, and onwards to Bedarieux.  It's an old railway track, so easy even for unfit (more elderly) cyclists!  

Mazamet to Bedarieux cycle route

Camping Le Chassezac at Sampzon in the Ardeche is also almost directly adjacent to the cycle route (again on an old railway line) which goes between Grospierres le Gare, and Vogue, though the lovely Ardeche area, and directly to two very picturesque villages.  Both are worth spending time at, outside of them being near to a cycle route.  The front picture on the website below is very near to Camping Le Chassezac.  We may be there too! 

Grospierres to Vogue cycle route

But (being birdwatchers too), I can also recommend the Gorges du Tarn/Jonte/Dourbie for the variety of wildlife and birds, including the three types of vulture now nesting in the Tarn valley, particularly on the cliffs of the Belvedere de Truel.  Not the best place for cycling, but excellent for birding.  

We may see you down in the Camargue - we now have a house in France and the Camargue is still one of our favourite places to visit for a 'birding hit'! (As are the etangs around Gruissan in the Aude near to Narbonne.)

Valda....Excellent info....Thank you.

We will be going through Channel tunnel and I want to include a visit to Remuzat for the vultures.

Regards.

Valda

I have searched google maps for Belvedere de Truel and have failed to find it, any chance you could point me in to its location....please.

Some of your suggestions re the gorges, sounds very interesting.

Kind regards.

We watched vultures from the campsite at St Rome de Dolan - Camping les Portes de Sauveterre  - a simple but well equipped site perched on the high rim  of the Tarn gorge. The birds were flying from the cliffs on the opposite side of the gorge - Griffon vultures I suppose but we had no binoculars and no expertise.  But note that campsite does not open until 1 May 2024.