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Normandy Discovery

There are no available dates at this moment, please check back soon.

What you can expect

Cider apple orchards with cows grazing under the trees. Historic castles and towns. Lush countryside. Quiet lanes. Rich food from local producers. It is impossible to do justice to Normandy in a mere 4 days but this tour gives a taste of what the region has to offer, from the world famous Mont St Michel to the pretty hills of the Suisse Normande. Above all, it is a ride through beautiful countryside, with the evenings spent sampling the fruits of the labour of the region. The daily distances and terrain are not overly strenuous and are within the capability of most leisure cyclists. 4 days cycling; 3 nights half board; luggage transport, full back-up and assistance throughout the day.

More detail

Fully Supported and Self Guided options

If travelling from the UK we recommend taking the evening ferry from Portsmouth to St. Malo. Portsmouth is easily accessible by road and rail and there is parking at the ferry port. The ferry from Ouistreham on the way back comes into Portsmouth so it is easy to leave a car there. There is time for a meal on board (not included in price) and a drink in the bar before turning in ready for the morning arrival in France. We meet the ferry on arrival. This tour can be combined with our 5 day Brittany Explorer tour to make Brittany and Normandy Combined.

Transfers from: St Malo, Dinard

Transfers to: Caen, Ouistreham

Requested Single Supplement (see our FAQ page): £155

Your Next Adventure Awaits

What you need to know...

Start Location
St Malo

Finish Location
Ouistreham

Country/Region
North West France

Grading
Moderate

Shortest Day
53 km / 33 miles

Longest Day
97 km / 60 miles

Total Days
4 Days

Total Miles
325 km / 203 miles

Departure Dates & Prices

There are no available dates at this moment.
Please choose an alternative Tour or check back soon.

Itinerary

Day 1

We join up with other guests and have a quick meeting and issue you with your tour notes. Whilst St Malo is in the region of Brittany, it is a short ride into Normandy and not long before we are crossing the salt marshes with the evocative sight of Mont St Michel in the distance. Our tour guide will look after your bikes as you take time for lunch here and have a wander around this incredible place. Our evening destination is a little further on in a small village outside Avranches where the hosts are very welcoming and attentive. (82.7 km / 52 miles; 532m ascent).

Day 2

Continue inland into the heart of Normandy and everywhere it becomes apparent that apples and cows play an important part in the life of this region. More quiet roads today with scarcely any traffic as we ride east to Domfront and the spa town of Bagnoles de l’Orne. This is unspoilt countryside and for much of the day we follow a pretty river along its gorge, with old bridges and fine views as we meander across the landscape. There is a stop in Domfront at the mediaeval city with its cobbled streets and alleyways and the ruins of an ancient castle from where there are magnificent views over the ‘bocage’ of small fields. Cycling through the network of small fields and shady forests is a pleasure. (93 km / 58 miles; 1213m ascent).

Day 3

From Bagnoles we start off through a forest and then head north to Falaise, with its ancient castle which was reputedly where William the Conqueror was born. The run up to here is beautiful, along quiet roads and through pretty villages. Falaise is a pleasant town in which to lunch, before turning west into the ‘Suisse Normande’ a hillier region of river valleys and pretty lanes, some of which go over the hills and some of which go round them. On the approach to the Suisse Normande is perhaps the finest view of the whole tour, as you have reached a point where the whole of the region is spread out before you. We stop for the night in Clecy and there is an optional visit to a local cider and calvados producer. (97.2 km / 60 miles; 1200m ascent).

Day 4

From Clecy there are a few more hills before the landscape gets gentler as we approach Caen. This ancient city was all but destroyed during the second world war yet miraculously the cathedral survived almost unscathed. There is a pretty port in the centre of the city from which we take the bike path back to Ouistreham, passing Pegasus Bridge on the way. Depending which ferry you have booked for the return (afternoon or overnight) we can easily advise on a further loop or point you in the direction of some of the museums relating to D-Day. If not returning back to the UK via the ferry from Ouistreham we recommend a circuit up to Pegasus Bridge and back. (53 km / 33 miles; 583m ascent).

Some Tour Photos...

Normandy Discovery

St Malo, walled seafaring city

Normandy Discovery

St Malo, walled seafaring city

Normandy Discovery

St Malo, walled seafaring city

Normandy Discovery

Pretty beaches and rocky coves as we follow the coast road to Cancale

Normandy Discovery

Pretty beaches and rocky coves as we follow the coast road to Cancale

Normandy Discovery

Pretty beaches and rocky coves as we follow the coast road to Cancale

Normandy Discovery

Enjoying a cup of tea at the van, always on hand to administer refreshments

Normandy Discovery

Enjoying a cup of tea at the van, always on hand to administer refreshments

Normandy Discovery

Enjoying a cup of tea at the van, always on hand to administer refreshments

Normandy Discovery

The magnificent Mont St Michel

Normandy Discovery

The magnificent Mont St Michel

Normandy Discovery

The magnificent Mont St Michel

Normandy Discovery

Typical Noram hamlet

Normandy Discovery

Typical Noram hamlet

Normandy Discovery

Typical Noram hamlet

Normandy Discovery

Domfront castle ruins

Normandy Discovery

Domfront castle ruins

Normandy Discovery

Domfront castle ruins

Normandy Discovery

Domfront, an historic hilltop town in the heart of Normandy

Normandy Discovery

Domfront, an historic hilltop town in the heart of Normandy

Normandy Discovery

Domfront, an historic hilltop town in the heart of Normandy

Normandy Discovery

The early morning spring sun comes out to lift the spirits after winter

Normandy Discovery

The early morning spring sun comes out to lift the spirits after winter

Normandy Discovery

The early morning spring sun comes out to lift the spirits after winter

Normandy Discovery

Historic Domfront has cobbled streets and tiny courtyards in its old district

Normandy Discovery

Historic Domfront has cobbled streets and tiny courtyards in its old district

Normandy Discovery

Historic Domfront has cobbled streets and tiny courtyards in its old district

Normandy Discovery

Local produce available to taste and purchase

Normandy Discovery

Local produce available to taste and purchase

Normandy Discovery

Local produce available to taste and purchase

Normandy Discovery

Bikers lined up to enjoy the view of the pretty Tour de Bonvouloir

Normandy Discovery

Bikers lined up to enjoy the view of the pretty Tour de Bonvouloir

Normandy Discovery

Bikers lined up to enjoy the view of the pretty Tour de Bonvouloir

Normandy Discovery

Bagnoles de l'Orne, a Belle Epoque town between lake and forest

Normandy Discovery

Bagnoles de l'Orne, a Belle Epoque town between lake and forest

Normandy Discovery

Bagnoles de l'Orne, a Belle Epoque town between lake and forest

Normandy Discovery

An ancient bridge crosses a river, miles from anywhere

Normandy Discovery

An ancient bridge crosses a river, miles from anywhere

Normandy Discovery

An ancient bridge crosses a river, miles from anywhere

Normandy Discovery

St George slays a French dragon

Normandy Discovery

St George slays a French dragon

Normandy Discovery

St George slays a French dragon

Normandy Discovery

Our routes take you off the beaten track

Normandy Discovery

Our routes take you off the beaten track

Normandy Discovery

Our routes take you off the beaten track

Normandy Discovery

Menil Jean lies close to the river Orne

Normandy Discovery

Menil Jean lies close to the river Orne

Normandy Discovery

Menil Jean lies close to the river Orne

Normandy Discovery

Unspoilt villages, miles off the beaten track, deep in the Norman bocage

Normandy Discovery

Unspoilt villages, miles off the beaten track, deep in the Norman bocage

Normandy Discovery

Unspoilt villages, miles off the beaten track, deep in the Norman bocage

Normandy Discovery

A well-earned coffee break

Normandy Discovery

A well-earned coffee break

Normandy Discovery

A well-earned coffee break

Normandy Discovery

Pretty cottages in the middle of nowhere see more bikes than cars on the average day

Normandy Discovery

Pretty cottages in the middle of nowhere see more bikes than cars on the average day

Normandy Discovery

Pretty cottages in the middle of nowhere see more bikes than cars on the average day

Normandy Discovery

Old fashioned road signs show that much has remained unchanged for years in this lovely rural region

Normandy Discovery

Old fashioned road signs show that much has remained unchanged for years in this lovely rural region

Normandy Discovery

Old fashioned road signs show that much has remained unchanged for years in this lovely rural region

Normandy Discovery

Historic churches and quiet villages

Normandy Discovery

Historic churches and quiet villages

Normandy Discovery

Historic churches and quiet villages

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror's castle in Falaise

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror's castle in Falaise

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror's castle in Falaise

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror

Normandy Discovery

William the Conqueror

Normandy Discovery

Oysters are a local delicacy

Normandy Discovery

Oysters are a local delicacy

Normandy Discovery

Oysters are a local delicacy

Normandy Discovery

In the Suisse Normande the early morning mist is burnt off by the sea

Normandy Discovery

In the Suisse Normande the early morning mist is burnt off by the sea

Normandy Discovery

In the Suisse Normande the early morning mist is burnt off by the sea

Normandy Discovery

River Orne

Normandy Discovery

River Orne

Normandy Discovery

River Orne

Normandy Discovery

Food and wine are an important part of our cycling tours

Normandy Discovery

Food and wine are an important part of our cycling tours

Normandy Discovery

Food and wine are an important part of our cycling tours

Normandy Discovery

Norman cows take much of the credit for the fine food of the region

Normandy Discovery

Norman cows take much of the credit for the fine food of the region

Normandy Discovery

Norman cows take much of the credit for the fine food of the region

Normandy Discovery

Caen, with its huge old castle and ancient abbeys is a pleasant city to explore

Normandy Discovery

Caen, with its huge old castle and ancient abbeys is a pleasant city to explore

Normandy Discovery

Caen, with its huge old castle and ancient abbeys is a pleasant city to explore

Normandy Discovery

Approximate route of our Normandy Discovery tour

Normandy Discovery

Approximate route of our Normandy Discovery tour

Normandy Discovery

Approximate route of our Normandy Discovery tour

Unspoilt Normandy

Normandy has lovely views everywhere. It is a rural region, with some really pretty countryside not unlike Devon or Dorset.

Unspoilt Normandy

Normandy has lovely views everywhere. It is a rural region, with some really pretty countryside not unlike Devon or Dorset.

Unspoilt Normandy

Normandy has lovely views everywhere. It is a rural region, with some really pretty countryside not unlike Devon or Dorset.

Travel Information

Start: St Malo
Finish: Ouistreham

Click here for our Travel Information page.