The Danube Cycleway Volume 1

From the source in the Black Forest to Budapest

By Mike Wells

ISBN

9781852847227

Availability

Published

28 Jan 2015

Reprinted

22 Feb 2019

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

300g

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The first in a two-volume set, this guidebook describes cycling the first 1269km of the Danube river from its source in the Black Forest to Budapest, passing through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Suitable for all levels of cyclist, the route visits the great cities of Vienna and Bratislava before arriving in the Hungarian capital.

Seasons

Apart from the upper part of Stage 1 in the Black Forest, where snow may lie until April, the route can be cycled at any time of year, but is best between April and October.

Centres

A point-to-point route with no particular bases.

Difficulty

A straightforward cycle ride, mostly off-road on well-surfaced (mainly asphalt) cycle tracks with virtually no gradients, except for a steady 500m ascent to reach the start. Suitable for all levels of cyclist, on all types of cycle, though racing cyclists may wish to use alternative routes to avoid a few short sections of gravel surface.

Must See

Black Forest, Danube sinkholes, Blue lagoon, Ulm cathedral spire (world's highest), Donaudurchbruch gorge, Regensburg medieval altstadt, King Ludwig's Walhalla, Passau, Melk and Klosterneuburg abbeys, Wachau vineyards, Wien (Hofburg, Schönbrunn and Belvedere Palaces, cathedral, Spanish Riding School), Prater Ferris wheel, Bratislava, Esztergom basilica, Danube bend, Budapest (Fishermen's bastion, St Mathias church, Europe's largest synagogue)

ISBN

9781852847227

Availability

Published

28 Jan 2015

Reprinted

22 Feb 2019

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

300g

Overview

This guide describes the first 1269km of the cycle route that follows the Danube river from its source in the Black Forest to Budapest. Leading through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, the route visits spectacular gorges, hilltop castles, vineyard-clad hillsides and medieval towns.

The route mostly follows part of the EuroVelo route 6 (EV6). This guide breaks the route into 29 stages, averaging under 44km per stage. A fit cyclist, cycling an average of 90km per day should be able to complete the route in a fortnight.

Suitable for all levels of cyclist, on all types of bike, the route is on a gentle downhill gradient, is mostly off-road and uses well-surfaced and dedicated cycle tracks or quiet country roads. You can break the journey at almost any point as there are many places to stay along the way, varying from youth hostels through to B&B's, guest houses and hotels.

The route's highlights include the great imperial cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, with their palaces, cathedrals, museums and galleries.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Background

Natural environment

The route

Preparation

Getting there and back

Navigation

Accommodation

Food and drink

Amenities and services

What to take

Safety and emergencies

About this guide

The route

Germany

Stage 1 Martinskapelle to Donaueschingen

Stage 2 Donaueschingen to Tuttlingen

Stage 3 Tuttlingen to Sigmaringen

Stage 4 Sigmaringen to Riedlingen

Stage 5 Riedlingen to Ehingen

Stage 6 Ehingen to Ulm

Stage 7 Ulm to Lauingen

Stage 8 Lauingen to Donauwörth

Stage 9 Donauwörth to Ingolstadt

Stage 10 Ingolstadt to Kelheim

Stage 11 Kelheim to Regensburg

Stage 12 Regensburg to Straubing

Stage 13 Straubing to Deggendorf

Stage 14 Deggendorf to Passau

Austria

Stage 15 Passau to Aschach

Stage 16 Aschach to Linz

Stage 17 Linz to Mauthausen

Stage 18 Mauthausen to Grein

Stage 19 Grein to Melk

Stage 20 Melk to Krems

Stage 21 Krems to Tulln

Stage 22 Tulln to Vienna

Stage 23 Vienna to Bratislava (Slovakia)

Hungary

Stage 24 Bratislava to Mosonmagyaróvár

Stage 25 Mosonmagyaróvár to Győr

Stage 26 Győr to Komárom

Stage 27 Komárom to Esztergom

Stage 28 Esztergom to Szentendre

Stage 29 Szentendre to Budapest

Appendix A Stage summary table

Appendix B Facilities summary table

Appendix C Language glossary

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Tourist information offices

Appendix F Youth hostels

Updates

November 2022

Travelling with a cycle on Eurostar

After 3 years since they ‘temporarily’ ceased carrying cycles because of covid, Eurostar have begun carrying them again, but with a very limited service and with conditions of carriage that are not attractive to touring cyclists. Before covid, all trains to Paris and Brussels carried up to six cycles, two fully assembled and four dismantled, in specially designed fibreglass bike cases. Eurostar provided the cases and tools to dismantle/reassemble bikes in an area dedicated to this procedure.

The reinstated service carries bikes only on trains to Paris (not Brussels) on selected departures from London between 07.55 and 15.31 or from Paris between 11.13 and 18.13. Fully assembled bikes are not being carried. Four dismantled bikes can be carried, but cyclists must deliver their bikes already boxed to the baggage counter in either London or Paris. Pre-booking is compulsory and riders must now travel on the same train as their bikes. After completing the journey, boxes must be collected directly from the train and cycles reassembled on the platform.

This is far from ideal, and until Eurostar fully reinstate their previous cycle carriage policy, cyclists are recommended to take their bikes by plane, ferry or Euroshuttle when heading to the European mainland. The situation could potentially change.

The Cycling UK website www.cyclinguk.org has a page dedicated to Eurostar cycle carriage policy, which is updated regularly to contain any new information.

December 2020

Author updates

Mike Wells has provided the following updates

Danube Cycleway volume 1 update Dec20 (155.352 KB)

June 2016

Route updates and corrections

p116 end of line 12;Follow road winding through village then turn L at T-junction (Am Krautgarten) should be ......turn R at T-junction......

p233 last line;to run between main road R and river L should be .....main road L and river R......

The phone number provided for The Map Shop in Upton upon Severn is printed incorrectly and should read 01684 593146

March 2106

The length of the Danube is given in the Introduction as 2888km. This was based on an earlier measurement of the river before 20th-century shortenings were taken into account and that the author now believes that 2772km (as stated in Vol 2) to be a better estimate of the Danube's length.

Reviews

February 2015

"mike wells, in keeping with his companion cicerone guides, provides not only exemplary pedal by pedal instructions on how you too might enjoy the danube cycleway, but impeccable advice on how to prepare prior to commencing your journey...

the detailing and directions accompanying each stage of riding, along with remarkably informative maps do not make for a book that you'd read in the bath, but this may be an intrinsic part of its strategy. these guides are for those who actively participate, rather than the armchair cyclo-tourist, and is all the better for it.

cicerone appear to have modernised the appearance of their excellent guidebooks, the covers now looking less like forgotten items from the late 19th century and now sporting a more impressive contemporary look."

Read more on thewashingmachinepost.

"These guides are fantastic and I have yet to find anything in English which does a better job. eBook versions are also available (which may be a more practical solution when you are riding the route, have a bike mount for your phone and don’t have three hands…)."

Read the full review on the Cycling Europe website.

"The usual Cicerone format is followed beginning with an introduction to the route and advice on how and when to ride it... Food, accommodation, equipment and other maps and – very generously – guides are all covered. The development of on-line mapping is reflected in the link to an Open Street Maps version of Eurovelo Route 6. Detailed route description with snippets of information and more detailed panels on the main towns, cities and places of interest, form the main part of the book. Summary charts of possible stages, accommodation, refreshments opportunities and useful sources of information follow.

Of course, when describing a route of this length, it will never be possible to cover much, other than directions, in significant detail. Cyclists will all find some excursions of their own, in any case. So, it is the task of the guide to introduce the reader to the Danube and sow the seeds of exploration and anticipation. This guide does this admirably."

See the full review here: http://sevendaycyclist.co.uk/the-danube-cycleway-volume-one/

Downloads

The Danube Cycleway Volume 1 - GPX File

Mike Wells

Mike Wells has been a keen long-distance walker and cyclist for over 25 years. He has walked all the major British trails, the GR5 through the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean and has explored the Italian Dolomites’ Alta Via routes. He has also walked in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway and Chilean Patagonia.

Mike has cycled the C2C route across northern England and Lon Las Cymru in Wales, as well as the Camino and Ruta de la Plata to Santiago de la Compostela. He has completed an end to end traverse of Cuba, a circumnavigation of Iceland and a trip across Lapland to the North Cape.

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