You start off along the Vélomaritime from Carentan taking a rather unusual bridge-canal, on which boats and cyclists cross at a higher level than the cars! The route then takes you around the Baie des Veys, an estuary where four rivers converge, offering a peaceful haven for birds and common seals who appreciate the plentiful food supply. You then reach Isigny-sur-Mer, synonymous for human gastronomes with fine butter, cream and cheese! After enjoying a wander through the marshes and alongside the Aure River, you arrive back at the coast at Grandcamp-Maisy.

Here, you cycle in the tracks of the Allies' D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. Shortly after Grandcamp-Maisy, stop at the Pointe du Hoc, the German artillery battery on this steep headland fiercely fought over, as is movingly recalled. Then this stage, still being laid out at time of writing, leads you via a provisional route behind the coast. Midway along, a link takes you to Omaha Beach, where the majority of American troops landed on D-Day, under terrible enemy fire. Finally, at Port-en-Bessin, reward yourself with a fine seafood platter at a quay-side restaurant.

At the start of this stage stands Port-en-Bessin, its port always lively when the fishing boats return, particularly during the scallop season. Head on to discover pretty villages, their lanes lined with long stone walls, and manor-style farms dotted along narrow country lanes. You then reach Arromanches and its famed artificial Mulberry Harbour, towed over from England following the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 as part of the greater Operation Overlord to win back Normandy.

Cycling beside the beaches along this stage, you can't help but think of the soldiers who landed in these parts during D-Day and beyond in summer 1944. British and French soldiers came ashore at Sword Beach, Canadians at Juno Beach. The Vélomaritime leaves Arromanches via minor roads that offer 360° views of the sea and the oyster parks below. Take a break at the fishing port of Courseulles-sur-Mer, where a daily fish market takes place on the quays. This stage also allows you to admire Normandy's Côte de Nacre seaside villas, recalling the earliest days of tourist sea-bathing, along with the iconic beach huts.

After enjoying a well-deserved swim from one of Ouistreham's beaches, time to continue your Vélomaritime trip. The cycle route takes you down beside the Orne River, which you cross via the famed Pegasus Bridge, at the most iconic spot secured by the Allies at the start of D-Day 1944, then you carry on back north beside the Bay of the Orne. A paradise for birds and people who love unspoilt nature, this enchanting area is well explained at the Maison de la Nature in Sallenelles. Once back at the coast, an iconic resort along Normandy's Côte Fleurie comes into view, Cabourg, where great Belle Epoque writer Marcel Proust left an indelible mark.

The stretch of Normandy coast known as the Côte Fleurie bears its name well, as you'll see, following this Vélomaritime stage. Note too the great many beach huts that line the way, fiercely competing in designs and colours! Do pause to explore the resort of Houlgate with its Belle Époque villas and admire the first limestone cliffs of eastern Normandy, Les Vaches Noires, at Villers-sur-Mer. There follows a more demanding stretch, your reward coming in the shape of Mont Canisy, a hill providing 360° views over the sea and the Normandy countryside.

You may feel a twinge of regret having to leave the chic resort of Deauville, with its wide beach backed by its famed Planches boardwalk. The Vélomaritime route then takes you via a way lined with apple trees on to Pont-l'Évêque, a great stop for those who love their food, as well as Calvados apple brandy! Enjoy the beautiful ride through the green meadows of the Pays d’Auge area, where the finest thoroughbreds are trained for horseracing and where the cows produce milk to make the finest Normandy cheeses. At the end of this stage, you arrive at the historic port of Honfleur, one of the first spots to inspire the Impressionists.

At time of writing, this stretch has not yet been laid out for cyclists, so it isn't possible to propose a safe or satisfactory route for cyclists along this stretch for the time being. However, the councils involved along the way are working to create a suitable path for cyclists to follow through these parts in the course of 2021. Consult the suggested alternative below ▼