St Malo to Nice 1065 miles
In September 2015 I cycled France’s ‘End to End’, from St Malo to Nice: the route suggested in the 2014 guidebook France en vélo, by Hannah Reynolds and John Walsh.
It’s a journey of ‘subtle and striking changes in terrain and landscape’. Indeed; the experience is quintessentially French. Especially the bit about striking.
The total End to End distance was 1065 miles, and took around three weeks to ride at my usual leisurely pace. I was camping and – after forgetting half of my tent during one hasty morning pack – staying in inexpensive hotels.
It was the first trip for my custom-built tourer from Spa Cycles of Harrogate.
Day 0: Ferry from Portsmouth
Day 1: St Malo to Pontorson
Day 2: Pontorson to Vitré
Day 3: Vitré to Chalonnes-sur-Loire
Day 4: Chalonnes-sur-Loire to Montsoreau
Day 5: Montsoreau to Parthenay
Day 6: Parthenay to L’Isle-Jourdain
Day 7: L’Isle-Jourdain to Rochechouart
Day 8: Rochechouart to Périgueux
Day 9: Périgueux to Sarlat
Day 10: Sarlat to Gramat
Day 11: Gramat to Entraygues-sur-Truyère
Day 12: Entraygues-sur-Truyère to Mende
Day 13: Mende to Villefort
Day 14: Villefort to St Martin d’Ardèche
Day 15: St Martin d’Ardèche to Le Pontet
Day 16: Le Pontet to Sault
Day 17: Mont Ventoux
Day 18: Sault to Forcalquier
Day 19: Forcalquier to Les Salles-sur-Verdon
Day 20: Les Salles-du-Verdon to Castellane
Day 21: Castellane to Nice