TO THE BAY OF MORLAIX hotel based tour
(Average 23, longest 34 miles - but can be shortened to 30 - just ask for the short version) Gorgeous, moderate cycling to the bustling port of Morlaix
This is a really lovely ride through the unspoilt heartland of Brittany, immune to the vaguaries of the French tourist season and always beautiful - it also features some of the most varied and delicious restaurant choices of any or our cycle tours. Much of the route is on quiet country lanes and you get the chance to hit the coast at Morlaix and sample the finest seafood in France direct from the Bay. The distances are pretty moderate although the route has some well graded hills, but don't let that put you off as you will surely need to burn off calories...
Route plan.
First night (Saturday) 16 kms
And easy first ride and an evening spent at the tiny B&B/creperie set right on the canal at Glomel - a very special place where you can sit by the picture window and look at the wildlife using the binoculars provided. This is a two-hour ride all along the flat cyclepath.
Day 2 (Sunday)to Huelgoat - 40 kms
A beautiful day combining cyclepath with quiet roads, but with a very easy last 20 kms with just enough climbing inbetween to make dinner worthwhile as you cycle into the Parc de L'Armorique where you'll stay overlooking the lake at Huelgoat (and the Hotel du Lac).
Day 3 - Huelgoat to Morlaix - 35 kms
A relatively easy ride as you track down the river to Morlaix, this can be done mostly on cyclepath if you prefer - Morlaix is a gorgeous little French port dominated by a massive viaduct - which you can (and should) walk over to look down on the town. Your hotel is the delightfull 'Hotel du Port'. A huge range of excellent restaurants and of course the seafood will be very good...
Day 4
A spare day for you to explore Morlaix off the bike, or cycle along the coast and generally get lost in the French countryside.
Day 5 Morlaix to Belle-Isle-en-Terre - 50 kms
This day takes you through several little villages (one with the best lunchtime menu we know - 5 tasty courses + wine and coffee for 12 Euro...) and all the way to to Belle-isle-en-Terre, a village set on the river and who's hotel does wonderful meals especially the 'amuse gueule' prior to the meal! The snag is that you will gain a stone this day...
Day 6 Belle-Isle to Quintin- 45 kms
Quite long and a climb up from Belle-Isle but gorgeous ride once again. The B&B at Quintin is very, very special - the walled, cobbled town pretty to walk round and a choice of places to eat.
Day 7 - 31 kms
More lovely countryside (you'll be longing to see a power station by now) and back down to Caurel just above the Lac de Guerledan (great place for an evening swim) with time to explore the lac/beach and woods around it.
Day 8 (Saturday) - 10kms
A quick dash down the cyclepath to the Abbey at Bon Repos then canal tow-path for about 20 minutes or so to bring you back to base.