La Manche Vintage
Traversing the Normandy Peninsula and back again
Caen-Hebecrevon-Mont St. Michel-Dangy-Caen
Maximum distance: 260 miles
Difficulty level:
Moderate (50-70 miles per day)
2022 Dates:
28th May-31st May
18th June-21st June
16th July-19th July
3rd Sept.-6th Sept.
£750 per person (based on two people sharing a room)
Single person supplement available.
- all tours are guided and supported
What's included:
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All hotels
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Ferries & cabins
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Breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Support vehicle
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Met from ferry/airport
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Guide (optional)
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Gourmet dinner (last night)​
What's not included:​​​
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Bikes (hiring option available)
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Helmets & cycle wear
About:
Normandy is a wonderful region of Northern France and we will be cycling across the peninsula taking in the many sights and sounds of the coast and inland rurality. Our journey will take us through the D-day beaches, medieval Bayeux and down to Mont Saint-Michel over four days sightseeing and sampling plenty of local food and wine 'en-route'. The party will leave Portsmouth on Thursday night to disembark at Ouistreham at 6.00 am the following morning.
Day 1: The tour will officially commence start from Pegasus Bridge, which was a major objective of the British Airborne force in the last war. We will cycle along the coast toward Arromanche for breakfast, which is significant for being the destination of the floating Mulberry Harbour. From there we travel inland to Bayeux, the home of the tapestry commemorating the English demise at the hand Guillaume le Conquérant and then onto the exquisite Hebecrevon Chateaux where we will be staying for the night.
Distance: 65 miles
Day 2: The party will head towards the magical island of Mont-Saint-Michel topped by a gravity-defying medieval monastery - one of France's most stunning sights and for centuries one of Europe's major pilgrimages. We will be able to cycle across the causeway for a little local refreshment and exploring and for those with the energy - the summit beckons. Our own particular pilgrimage will stop at a local auberge to rest, relax and sample more regional specialities
Distance: 60 miles
Day 3: The peloton will be making the return back to the beaches by a slightly different route. We will be stopping at the small hamlet of Dangy where we have hired a house for our final stopover before making for the D-day beaches. We will be dining on-site with some wonderful local food and drink provided by out-side caterers. It will have a very seasonal feel about it but resting riders should prepare themselves for some spectacular feasting on local produce.
Distance: 60 miles
Day 4: Our final day will see the group leave the comfort of the house and head toward the historic beaches of Omaha, Gold and Sword where we will take a leisurely ride back down the coast taking in some of the relatively recent turbulent history and the sacrifice that a previous generation made for the rest of us. A few miles down the road we'll say goodbye to this part of the world with a fond farewell over a last 'moules-frites' as we disembark for Blighty on the 4.30 am ferry from Ouistreham.
Distance: 65 miles
Our Accommodation:
After a hard day in the saddle, we like to try to stay in the best available places. In France, and in particular the rural parts, accommodation tends to vary quite a lot between chateaux (stately homes/castles), auberges (country houses), hotels and gites. Wherever possible we try not to skimp on the quality so riders get the best eating, sleeping and drinking experience before moving on to the next destination.
General Stuff: When we embark in Normandy the 'rescue van' will take your non-cycling kit and transport it onto the next destination. Just make sure you keep all your cycling essentials in your rucksack. There will be a spare bike in the van should anyone need it. The speed will be 'medium' pace (around 14 mph) and we will definitely not be in 'race mode'. Anyone wanting to skip a day's cycling can get a lift to the next destination. The overall objective is to breathe in the Norman country-side over 250 miles and four days but if you feel the need to increase the pace the peloton will meet you at the next pit-stop.
If you would like more information, please get in touch by phone, contact form or IM.
£750 per person (based on two people sharing a room)
Single person supplement available.
