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.

View Sample Route Map

Stage 6 - Le Gerbier de Jonc to

Goudet (54km) – Total 263km

Route: A very hilly ride with some breathtaking descents
Surfaces: Generally good – some tarmac break-up in places
See: Crater lake of Lac d’Issarlès, typical Auvergnat village of Issarlès and ruined castle at Goudet
Warning: Allow brakes to cool on long descents

Do not continue on the road past the souvenir stalls but return to the point at which most of them begin (where most cars are parked). From there the D116 begins a thrilling descent. Within a few minutes you are treated to your first sight of the infant Loire as it cascades down the mountainside. Do not take the first road to the left (the D122) but fork left at the following junction, which may be unsigned and leads in 0.5km into the centre of the village of

Ste. Eulalie 1199m (214/1157)
Post office; hotel and bar may be closed.

Continue straight through the village keeping close to the river as the road descends steadily through the ever-widening Loire valley. At a T-junction with the D536, turn right, away from the river, climbing steeply towards trees. This is a very long, arduous climb, quite steep in places, before the road eventually twists and turns into the hilltop village of

Usclades et Rieutord 1298m (224/1147)
Gîte d’étape and bar, both of which may be closed in this isolated community.

Leave the village by turning left (west) opposite the church on the D302. The road descends through magnificent scenery with a T-junction appearing ahead and below. When this junction is reached, turn left onto the D160 and follow it as far as the hamlet of La Palisse at a bridge over the river. Before crossing the bridge, turn right onto the D116, once more riding parallel to the Loire, which is sometimes hidden from view by huge piles of timber seasoning beside the road. The route undulates regularly with tremendous panoramic views of the Loire gorge from the highest points.

After a lengthy, steep descent, the road swings sharply to the right and begins a muscle-searing ascent to attain a col, beyond which a short, steep descent leads into the tourist haven of

Lac d’Issarlès 1004m (238/1133)
Hotels, bars, restaurants, shops.
The azure blue lake situated in the crater of an extinct volcano is where most people head for, but the old village, just to the left of the main road at the far end of the line of restaurants, is much more attractive.

Ride straight on out of the town until the D16 is reached. Turn left onto this wide, busy road, but in less than 1km swing right onto the D116 and follow this well-surfaced undulating road into the township of

Issarlès 1042m (244/1127)
Bar (could be closed).
This is a typical Auvergnat village with dark stone houses and a wide central square, through which the road runs.

At the far end of Issarlès, take the D116, left, signed to Le Monastier. In a short while this road becomes the D37. Stay on it until the road is joined from the left by the D500. Bear right onto it as it leads into the tiny farming hamlet of

Salettes 1165m (252/1119)
No facilities.
On the other side of the Loire, the fortress and village of Arlempdes may be glimpsed.

On the exit from Salettes, the D500 leaves to the right (signed to Le Monastier). Do not take this but follow the left turn into another farming village,

Espinasse 1084m (256/1115)
No facilities.

From here there is a very long, steep descent with fine views of Goudet Castle to the left. Finally, the road levels out in the picturesque riverside village of

Goudet 730m (263/1108)
Hotel, gîte d’étape, restaurants, bars, campsites.
An idyllic spot nestling beneath the mighty Beaufort Castle, cradled by the serpentine Loire, Goudet can be very busy in summer, but out of season it must rank as one of the most picturesque villages in France. The church with its multi-coloured pepper-pot roofs standing in a tiny square above the town should not be missed.