La Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4

Description All stages Reviews and personal stories

Seaside

Roscoff

Dunkerque

La Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4 offers a unique maritime perspective over 1200 km of varied landscapes either side of the English Channel. Going at your own pace, you have the chance to take the time to discover natural locations of exceptional beauty and interest including Corfe Castle, Dorset and East Devon’s Jurassic Coast, Dartmoor National Park, the Pink Granite Coast and the Bay of Mont St-Michel. This route also builds in part of the existing European cycle route EuroVelo 4 along the French coast and can be ridden in ‘bite-sized’ pieces, or for the more serious cyclist, as a complete tour.

Most of La Vélomaritime route is on quiet roads, and it has been carefully marked out. Although challenging in parts, with a selection of testing but rewarding climbs for keen cyclists, it also offers sections of much easier riding that give you time to relax and enjoy beautiful scenery, culture and art of living in each country.

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Signposting and state of the itinerary

The route La Vélomaritime, part of the EuroVelo 4 in France, follows the English Channel. It is signposted on 83% of the itinerary.

The itinerary is mainly set on shared roads with few traffic. 1/3 of the itinerary is rideable on designated lanes for non-motorized vehicles only.

Services and accomodations "Accueil Vélo" ("Cyclists Welcome") on La Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4

Nearly 120 accomodations (campings, hotels, lodges, guest houses) "Accueil Vélo" ("Cyclists Welcome") are located at less than 5km away from the itinerary and they guarantee quality services for cyclists such as a closed garage for example. We strongly advise to book your accomodations in advance (including campings), especially in touristic areas.

Trains and public transports alongside La Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4

Train stations :

TER Cherbourg - Caen - Lisieux - Paris (see schedule)
TER St Brieuc - Lannion / Morlaix / Brest (see schedule)
TER Morlaix - Roscoff (see schedule)

Sea crossing :

Crossing from Cherbourg to Poole and Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries.

Long time parkings on the itinerary

Official site

The best cycling holiday breaks

to make the most of this

From 385€

Short trip

The Pink Granite Coast by bike with Abicyclette

From Perros-Guirec to Bréhat Island by bike

From 350€

Short trip

Tours in Brittany and Normandy - Rando Vélo

8 tourss to discover its two cycling destinations

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Brittany by bike

Bords de mer

Week-End (2-3 jours)

The pink granite coast by bike

Bords de mer

Week-End (2-3 jours)

Cycling the Manche coast from North to South

Bords de mer

Week-End (2-3 jours)

Saint-Brieuc bay by bike

Bords de mer

1 semaine et plus

The North coast of Brittany by bike

32,33 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Le Tréport / Dieppe

Arriving in Normandy, the cycle route becomes quite challenging as you take on the highest chalk cliffs in Europe! This [...]

45,71 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Dieppe / Saint-Valery-en-Caux

Leave Dieppe in search of some of the most beautiful little treasures along the Côte d'Albâtre à Vélo stretch. At [...]

41,61 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Saint-Valery-en-Caux / Fécamp

This stage of the Eurovélo 4 route is steeped in history. Along this stretch of coast, follow in the footsteps of [...]

20,16 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Fécamp / Étretat

This 20km-long EuroVelo 4 stage leads you to the pearl on Normandy’s Côte d'Albâtre, Etretat. The excitement mounts [...]

39,27 Km

I cycle a lot

Étretat / Le Havre

This EuroVelo 4 stage takes you from Etretat, one gem on Normandy’s Côte d’Albâtre, to another, more startling [...]

45,59 Km

Seaside

I cycle often

Honfleur / Deauville

Leaving the glorious historic harbour of Honfleur so beloved of the Impressionists, this EuroVelo 4 stage allows you to [...]

22,37 Km

Seaside

I cycle often

Cabourg / Ouistreham

After Cabourg, an iconic resort on Normandy’s Côte Fleurie closely linked to the great writer Marcel Proust, the [...]

43,62 Km

I cycle often

Ouistreham / Arromanches-les-Bains

Cycling beside the famous beaches along this stage, you can’t help but think of all the Allied soldiers who landed [...]

26,85 Km

Arromanches-les-Bains / Port-en-Bessin-Huppain

Seaside

I cycle often

Arromanches-les-Bains / Port-en-Bessin-Huppain

Relive something of D-Day and the famous Battle of Normandy. Discover the legendary D-Day landing beaches, where the [...]

27,22 Km

Seaside

Port-en-Bessin / Grandcamp-Maisy

Once you’ve enjoyed a fine seafood platter at Port-en-Bessin, the EuroVelo 4 route takes you ‘surfing’ among the [...]

18,10 Km

Seaside

I begin / Family

Cherbourg / Brix

A short section of the route then takes you from the biggest artificial harbour in the world (dating from 1783) to [...]

12,11 Km

Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Brix / Bricquebec

Leaving behind the pleasant town of Brix, the going is easy along quiet lanes past farms and villages: watch out for [...]

13,60 Km

Castles & Monuments, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Bricquebec / St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte

Dating back to the Vikings, Bricquebec’s history is matched by its monuments: the Abbey Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and the [...]

15,30 Km

St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte / La Haye-du-Puits

Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte / La Haye-du-Puits

The 15km stretch to the pretty, medieval cobbled town of La Haye-du-Puits finds you cycling along the disused railway [...]

13,21 Km

Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

La Haye-du-Puits / Baupte

You’re now cycling through some very pretty parts of the flat, low lying marshlands of the National Park – keep [...]

8,58 Km

Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Baupte / Carentan

This marshland is a managed wetland park set up to conserve biodiversity – but it’s a working landscape too, its [...]

19,09 Km

Canals & intimate rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Carentan / St-Jean-de-Daye

During this stretch of your journey you move from the lower lying wetlands, with their characteristic network of [...]

22,72 Km

Canals & intimate rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

St-Jean-de-Daye / St-Lô

Follow the pretty, winding Vire Canal through lush countryside all the way to St Lo. Heavily destroyed in 1944, “The [...]

12,04 Km

French rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

St-Lô / Condé-sur-Vire

The short distance to Conde-sur-Vire takes you through some of the most picturesque parts of the valley - with [...]

19,51 Km

French rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Condé-sur-Vire / Pont-Farcy

Following the Vire Valley your route then winds through rural villages and pretty hamlets to the mediaeval town of [...]

15,08 Km

Pont-Farcy / La Ferrière-Harang (viaduc de la Souleuvre)

Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle a lot

Pont-Farcy / La Ferrière-Harang (viaduc de la Souleuvre)

Pont Farcy, now bypassed from the main road, is a modestly built village but one with a long and proud history: it has [...]

18,53 Km

La Ferrière-Harang (viaduc de la Souleuvre) / Vire

French rivers

I cycle often

La Ferrière-Harang (viaduc de la Souleuvre) / Vire

This part of the route takes you past one of the most spectacular edifices along the Vire: the Viaduc de la Souleuvre. [...]

24,36 Km

In the vineyards, French rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Vire / Sourdeval

The busy market town of Vire has ancient roots, but it was heavily reconstructed after Allied bombing in 1944. Look [...]

18,38 Km

Canals & intimate rivers, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Sourdeval / Mortain

Leaving Sourdeval you enter very pretty country: the area around Mortain is surrounded by woods and here, amidst [...]

10,97 Km

Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Mortain / St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët

The enchanting Cance waterfalls are a focal point of the powerful local terrain, carving between steep hills, an [...]

18,92 Km

Nature & small heritage

I cycle often

St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët / Ducey

Stronghold between Brittany, Cotentin and the Loire country, St Hilaire du Harcouët offers many activities during the [...]

30,76 Km

Seaside, Castles & Monuments, Panoramas

I cycle often

Ducey / Mont-Saint-Michel

The final stage of la Véloscénie and a spectacular resting point on the Tour de Manche, where the greenway rolls all [...]

28,56 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage

I begin / Family

Mont-Saint-Michel / Le Vivier-sur-Mer

There’s so much to look for and appreciate as you cycle along this section – the Couesnon River, the Mont itself, [...]

20,35 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Le Vivier-sur-Mer / Cancale

This part of the route, which has the beautiful bay as a backdrop, takes you from one shellfish haven to another: [...]

19,14 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

Cancale / St-Malo

You pass through the peaceful village of St. Coulomb and along charming narrow lanes through farmland with distinctive, [...]

26,57 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

St-Malo / Pleslin-Trigavou

With its enchanting string of seaside resorts, this Tour de Manche stage exudes a feeling of classic seaside holidays, [...]

25,52 Km

Seaside

I cycle often

Pleslin-Trigavou / Matignon

From Summer 2017 : In order to avoid the Dam of the Rance, a modification of the track by the Rance valley and the [...]

29,02 Km

Seaside, Panoramas

I cycle often

Matignon / Erquy

Here, you leave the sea behind, the route taking you through typical Breton countryside and hamlets. Sea views are few, [...]

30,60 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle a lot

Erquy / Yffiniac

On this stage of the Tour de Manche, relish splendid sea views, plus the odd creek accessible to cyclists. After [...]

8,25 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage

I cycle often

Yffiniac / St-Brieuc

On this, the shortest stage of the Tour de Manche, make for Le Gouët’s estuary. The route sticks to the Bay of [...]

18,04 Km

Seaside

I cycle a lot

St-Brieuc / Binic

This stage of the Tour de Manche takes you up to the seaside resort of Binic, where the marina has been charmingly [...]

17,69 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle a lot

Binic / Plouha

This is a Tour de Manche stage that gives a typical flavour of the north Breton coast, with some tough slopes thrown [...]

27,88 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle often

Plouha / Paimpol

This stage of the Tour de Manche is very scenic, taking you along the cliff route above Bréhec Cove, affording some [...]

20,61 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle often

Paimpol / Tréguier

The atmosphere is deeply rural on this stage of the Tour de Manche. You only see the sea at Paimpol, but enjoy splendid [...]

23,76 Km

Seaside, Panoramas

I cycle often

Tréguier / Perros-Guirec

Rural life dominates on this stage of the Tour de Manche, lined by farms and cabbage fields. To take in the sea, you [...]

24,62 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle a lot

Perros-Guirec / Trébeurden

This splendid stage of the Tour de Manche takes you along the ‘pink corniche’, a route providing magical sea views [...]

13,30 Km

Seaside, Panoramas

I begin / Family

Trébeurden / Lannion

You head for the flowery banks of the Léguer Valley on this penultimate stage of the Tour de Manche in the [...]

24,77 Km

Seaside

I cycle often

Lannion / Plestin-les-Grèves

After Lannion, this final Tour de Manche stage in Côtes d’Armor provides plunging views from the cliff above [...]

18,97 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage, Panoramas

I cycle a lot

Plestin-les-Grèves / Plougasnou

You enter the county of Finistère via the beautiful seaside resort of Locquirec. Take in the great beach at the back [...]

26,04 Km

Seaside, Nature & small heritage

I cycle often

Plougasnou > Morlaix

From the small town of Plougasnou, continuing along the coast, the magnificent Bay of Morlaix comes into view, with its [...]

29,52 Km

In the vineyards, Seaside

I cycle often

Morlaix > Roscoff

In season, this stage awakens your sense of smell as you pass by the large vegetable fields around St-Pol-de-Léon, [...]

They did it!

Une aventure en solo sur la Véloscénie

Témoignage de Rachel : la Véloscénie en solitaire jusqu'au Mont St Michel.

La Vélomaritime en famille : ils racontent !

4 enfants et leurs parents en échappée sur une partie de la Vélomaritime - EuroVelo 4