Tired of the crowd and looking for wild long stretches of immaculate sandy beaches ? Unless you’d rather hide in a secluded rocky cove ? Jump on your bike and head North of France. The Velomaritime route will take you on a seaside cycling trip from the easternmost point of Britain to the Belgian border. France is full of gems, and the north even more so ! Let’s go cycling France’s best northern beaches !

Cycle in Britany and see la vie en rose !

Watching the turquoise lights of the sea, you might mistake it for a tropical beach. A cycling trip in Britany will amaze you with its large spectrum of colours, rocky cliffs, winding costal paths and wildflowers. Nicknamed la côte de granite rose (pink granite coast) for obvious reasons, the area is a wonder for nature-lovers and cyclists in search of diversity. Start your journey in Lannion’s hilly streets before heading to the seaside town of Perros-Guirrec. From here, you might chose to get off your bike for a costal walk or a cruise to the Seven Islands archipelago. You can take a 8-day bike trip from Morlaix to Saint-Brieuc to fully enjoy the coast.

Of course, don’t forget to take a break and refuel with Britany’s famous crepes. The Velomaritime route then leads you through countryside towns up to Paimpol. You are now only a few pedal strokes away from secret beaches and spectacular lookouts. You may decide to end your trip in Saint-Brieuc and catch the train home with your bike or extend the journey towards Saint-Malo. Even if it will be difficult to hide from the crowd, cycling across la Cité Corsaire (Privateer city) is an experience not to be missed ! Do you have some energy left ? How about completing the journey up to the Norman border where the silouette of le Mont-Saint- Michel’s abbay awaits you. Cycling France has never been so exciting !

Ride your bike through History in Normandy

It would be impossible to talk about France’s Northern beaches without mentioning the most famous ones. Best known under their English names, the D-Day landing beaches of Omaha, Gold, Juno or Sword are easily accessible on a bike. Using the medieval town of Bayeux as a starting point (where you will admire the famous Bayeux tapestry telling the story of William the Conqueror), you will cycle straight north to the fishermen’s town of Port-en-Bessin. From here, follow the cliffs to Arromanche’s harbour and reach Courseulles-sur-Mer’s long sandy beaches.

Take a detour to cycle past Pegasus Bridge and admire Caen’s cathedral. Unless you’d rather go straight accross the canal, along the « floral coast » and head to the resort town of Cabourg. Next you will enjoy the relaxing vibes of the elegant Deauville. Park your bike a moment to take a stroll on its « planches », the famous Art Deco beach boardwalk where American stars come each year for the international film festival. Keep cycling to the charming Honfleur’s harbour, on the Seine estuary. Riding along the « vieux bassin », it’s no wonder the medieval town inspired the most prestigious Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin. However, if the road starts becoming too crowded for you, put your helmet back on and head further north, right past Normandy. We recommand a nice cycling trip from Bayeux to Trouville.

Make the most of Nature’s wonders on a bike, from the Somme bay to the Opal coast

Let’s unveil some of France’s best kept secret : its northernmost beaches. Cycling exclusively on a very-well maintained velomaritime route, you will feel immediately caught by the beauty of the Somme bay. This huge estuary labeled « Grand site de France » (Great Site of France), is home to a National Nature Reserve, a Natural Sea Park and several protected areas. Cycle from the seaside town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to La Pointe du Hourdel to meet with seals, unless you’d rather wait for your next encounter further North, in la baie d’Authie. The region being home to France’s biggest seal colony, there will be several opportunities to watch them from your bike !

If the elevation is almost non existant along the beach and makes it for a perfect first cycling trip, be prepared for a change of scenery as you ride along the Opal Coast. Climbing the capes Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez is no small task ! But you will be rewarded by breathtaking views over the Channel, as far as the white shining cliffs of Great Britain. It’s (litterally) all downhill from here ! Slowly leisure along the coast up to Dunkirk. If you can still see at low tide the ruins of its unfamous war harbour, the city is home today to several History museums and Art galleries and is best enjoyed on a sunny Sunday afternoon when families gather along the beach in Malo-les-Bains.

It’s now time to get off your bike, take a dip in the sea and maybe reward yourself with fresh beer as the sun goes down ! You can experience this itinerary with a bike trip from Saint-Valéry to Dunkirk. You now have all the information to fully enjoy France’s best northern beaches by bike !