Cycling the River Loire

The 1370km route is divided into twenty-three comfortable stages, and includes a dramatic approach from Orange in Provence to the source of the River Loire at Le Gerbier de Jonc, then a route alongside the whole of the river with its vineyards and castles to the Atlantic at St Nazaire.

Cycling the River Loire

The Way of St. Martin

Author

John Higginson

Cover

Paperback - Laminated

Edition

First

ISBN_13

9781852843830

Availability

Published

Price

£10.00

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Front Cover (1)
Location Map (1)
Overview Maps (1)
Sample Routes (2)
Sample Photos (2)

Seasons

Best in the late spring and late summer.Severe weather conditions in winter, especially in the Massif Central. High summer can be very busy and hot, with flies and midgies.

Centres

Orange, Chateauneuf du Pape, Aubenas, Vals les Bains, Goudet, Le Puy en Velay, Roanne, Marcigny, Nevers, Sancerre, Briare, Orleans, Tours, Angers, Nantes, St Nazaire are all passed on the route.

Difficulty

A long but rewarding route. The first section of the route entails some serious hill climbing, the central section is mainly easy and flat, while the last section is surprisingly hilly.

Must See

Dramatic vistas from high above the Ardeche Gorge, lazy days of flat riding, the chance to explore vineyards producing some or the world’s finest vintages and the great collection of castles and palaces which line the river’s banks.

Introduction
Background
Preparation
    Cycles
    Equipment
    Maps
    Fitness
    Accommodation
How to Get There and Back
What to Expect on the Journey
    Roads
    Food and Drink
    Language
    Money
Topography
How to Use this Guide

Stage 1    Orange to Châteauneuf du Pape    28km
Stage 2    Châteauneuf du Pape to St. Martin d’Ardèche     54km
Stage 3    St. Martin d’Ardèche to Les Mazes     44km
Stage 4    Les Mazes to Vals les Bains    44km
Stage 5    Vals les Bains to Le Gerbier de Jonc    39km
Stage 6    Le Gerbier de Jonc to Goudet    54km
Stage 7    Goudet to Le Puy en Velay    33km
Stage 8    Le Puy en Velay to Le Pertuiset    79km
Stage 9    Le Pertuiset to Neulise    77km
Stage 10    Neulise to Marcigny    74km
Stage 11    Marcigny to Gannay sur Loire    82km
Stage 12    Gannay sur Loire to Nevers    57km
Stage 13    Nevers to Sancerre    67km
Stage 14    Sancerre to Briare le Canal    50km
Stage 15    Briare le Canal to St. Benoît sur Loire     51km
Stage 16    St. Benoît sur Loire to St. Ay sur Loire     59km
Stage 17    St. Ay sur Loire to Blois     65km
Stage 18    Blois to Montlouis sur Loire     68km
Stage 19    Montlouis sur Loire to Montsoreau     86km
Stage 20    Montsoreau to Angers    71km
Stage 21    Angers to Drain     78km
Stage 22    Drain to Savenay    81km
Stage 23    Savenay to St. Nazaire    30km

Bibliography

Appendix A: Accommodation and Information
Appendix B: Full Kit List
Appendix C: Useful Addresses
Appendix D: Glossary of Terms (English–French)