Caen to Cantabria

Day 1

Many people come over the day before (on the Friday) so that they can get a good night's sleep in Ouistreham before setting off the next day (riding starts on the Saturday). Alternatively you can come over on the overnight ferry and start immediately you set foot in France. (Friday).

After breakfast and briefing, we take the obligotary departure photograph in Ouistreham and set of on our journey south! Skirting east of Caen, we stop for coffee in a wonderful old village full of half-timbered houses and this is the first chance you will get to experience of our famous coffee stops. Ground coffee, loose-leaf tea and home made cakes will be produced for your enjoyment and consumption, before setting you on your way again through wonderful verdant and lush Normandy. Apples, cider and cream are everywhere in this landscape which is wonderfully rural and very pretty. The second half of the day is hillier as we enter the Suisse Normande but it is incredibly beautiful. The small, family-run hotel is comfortable and newly renovated and sits in a small market town on the banks of the river Orne. (100 km / 62 miles / 857m). (Saturday)

Day 3

Two famous rivers are crossed today - the Loir and the Loire - the latter being known the world over for its famous chateaux. The riding is benign and you will not find it difficult, arriving in plenty of time to explore the wonderful abbey at Fontevraud where we spend the night in a nice hotel with a great restaurant. With luck we can eat outside as the warmer climate begins to manifest itself - they always say that it is when you get south of the Loire that you notice that it is noticeably warmer. (100 km / 63 miles / 568m). (Monday).

Day 5

Apart from the Loire where we saw a small area of vineyards, we have not yet seen much evidence of France's most famous product. That will change over the next few days, but first, another by-product of the vine, brandy, is the order of the day. We are riding to Cognac where the famous producers' warehouses still line the river and where, if in time, you can take a tour; in any case, tonight there will be the opportunity to try the delicious drink. It is a little hillier today as although the elevation figure is less than yesterday, the height is gained in small climbs rather than very gentle long sections. Our hotel tonight is one of our favourites, in the heart of the town and extremely comfortable. (114 km / 72 miles / 997m). (Wednesday).

Day 7

The Dordogne needs no introduction and we cross the famous river today; another landmark checked off on our way south. We only really skirt the Dordogne region, however, as we are heading into Gascony, an old and proud region and home of d'Artagnan. There are vineyards galore today and some really lovely countryside; the views are truly exceptional on a clear day. It is little hiller so sensible pacing is required, but by now you will have found your rythm. Tonight's hotel is simpler; modern and spotlessly clean and they are used to welcoming cyclists. There is a good breakfast to look forward to and the evening meal in the past has always been well-received. (104 km / 65 miles / 1389m). (Friday).

Day 9

Today we cycle to glorious Pau. It is a short day, allowing you time to relax and enjoy this civilized town at the foot of the mountains which has been a favourite with the British for many centuries. With its old chateau, charming streets and abundance of cafes and bars, there is plenty to do whilst passing the afternoon, or you could simply sit on a bench on the Boulevard des Pyrenees looking at the glorious mountains. (80 km / 50 miles / 961m). (Sunday).

Day 11

A fast descent from the hotel leads to the first proper test of the ride with the climb up the Col de Bagargui. At the top we pause for coffee and refreshments and wonder how Tyler Hamilton managed it with a broken collarbone. The col has a rude nickname given by Tour riders which is not suitable for a family website. The payoff is a great descent and then another simply stunning climb showing the best of the French section of the Basque country. Massive rock formations and long views will take your mind off this not inconsiderable climb, before you plunge down to St Jean Pied de Port for lunch, a town which for centuries has been the crossing place for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. It is then an easy ten miles or so to our overnight stop, where you can relax and anticipate the entry into Spain early tomorrow morning. (80 km / 50 miles / 1200m) (Tuesday).

Day 13

We are still in the Basque country and the ride continues to inspire with great views and pretty villages. The roads in this part of Spain are a little perplexing to begin with: when you first see them you imagine they will be busy because they are wide, well surfaced and modern. But no one lives here and the major routes run north-south which is not our direction of travel, with all of the east-west traffic on the shiny new motorway. Once out of town there is a long climb and fantastic associated descent, and then a wooded climb to our coffee spot with superb views and where, on a clear day, you should see the Bay of Biscay laid out before you. After exiting the next valley there is a very steep section but keep going and it levels out soon enough. The remainder of the day stays like this with ups and downs, and it may be that you find this the hardest day of the tour. We have altered the route for 2020 to avoid the last hill and enjoy the coastal road to the wonderful fishing village where we stay the night. The hotel is great, and is another rider favourite, with another good breakfast overlooking the bay.  (85 km / 54 miles / 3382m). (Thursday). 

Day 15

The final day! Caen will seem a long way away and indeed it as you have ridden 875 miles to get to this point. The last day always seems easier and as you head to the coast the hills ease off. You will arrive in Santander at about 3pm judging from previous experience, ready to relax with a swim on one of the sandy beaches before celebrating your achievement that night. (75 km / 47 miles / 990m). (Saturday).

Travel Information

The best way to travel on this trip is by ferry, which is round-trip from Portsmouth so you can either catch a train to Portsmouth or park a car at the port or in various other locations nearby. The return ferry gets in during the afternoon so you may wish to book accommodation in Portsmouth that night. Alternatively book an extra night in Santander and return to Plymouth. (Ferry not included).

Click here for our Travel Information page.