Who knows the north coast of France?

Jamie · 21st June 2009, 17:32

Off to france in three weeks aboard the motorbike, me and a Pal are crossing at dover early saturday morning and travelling the full north coast towards Brest and then catching the return sleeper ferry at Roscoff on Tuesday night.

We intend visiting the beach where Dad had his D-day landing along the way, and sticking to the coast as much as possible.

Can I ask for suggections for locations that are a 'must see' whilst we are touring along that coast?

Also can anyone suggest what a B&B is called in france?!
Any suggestions of particularly biker friendly stop-overs?...we are going to take the tents too but we thought just in case it rains...we'd have some accomodation in reserve.

majedm75 · 22nd June 2009, 12:10

Hi Jamie,

About the B&B, they are called "Chambre d'Hôtes" (do not pronounce the H and the S in Hôtes). I'm not much into camping and biking, so I'm sorry I can't help on this part

.
From the looks of your post, you are more in the West than the north of France. In this case, the following locations might be interesting (in addition to Brest):
-Saint Malo
-Mont Saint Michel
By the way, our club fellow Geoffrey is in Rennes, which is not that far by the above :lol:
You could also visit Caen and the surrounding D-Day beaches, Deauville, Trouville, Fécamps, Etretat, Dieppe, Le Havre as well as Saint Malo and Mont Saint Michel as mentioned above... (check the map to plot your way through these locations as I wrote them in no particular order...)
Don't forget that Paris is a 3-hour drive from the above as well :lol:
If you need more info, please ask

Bernard LPG · 22nd June 2009, 18:48

Can't help with the bike friendly bit but if you are at all interested in the WW2 history then Pegasus bridge and cafe is a 'must see'. if you are following the coast you will go over the new bridge anyway.
The remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanche are worth seeing but I find the whole area fascinating and have returned to it many times now.
Worth going inland a bit to go back further in time to see the Bayeux Tapestry.

Jamie · 22nd June 2009, 22:31

Thanks Majed and Bernard...I have cut and pasted you suggestions into a word doocument to print off.

Thanks again. j

Neil Coupland · 23rd June 2009, 16:57

Hi Jamie

I can echo the comments above, we were in Normandy last year. Hornfleur is very pretty and plenty of cafes along the harbour. Trouville has a "faded glory" as a seaside resort, but still nice to enjoy your ice craem along the boardwalk.
The D Day sites are numerous and well signed. We went over Pegasus Bridge but didn't have time to visit the museum. Arromanche was busy but the whole stretch of that coast is littered with reminders of WW11.
Spend a day in Bayeux, it was spared the fighting so a lot of the old town still exists. The tapestry is worth seeing together with the exhibition that accompanies it. The tapestry is very long, but the narrative that you listen to moves a steady pace so you don't have time to linger.
We crossed to Calais then took the motorway south. If you follow the coast you will need to cross the Siene at Le Harve over the Pont de Normandie (The Normandy Bridge), its about 2 km across.
Enjoy the trip, its a pleasant part of the world.

Geoffrey · 23rd June 2009, 21:03

Your very tight schedule seems to have been filled three or four times over already by some very good suggestions. A pity you don't have more time to explore some of the Normandy countryside, but the D-day beaches obviously come high up on the list. If on your way back to Roscoff / Brest, there is not time to linger in Dinan or Morlaix, perhaps you might think of seeing at least one of the Breton 'enclos paroissiaux', for example Saint Thegonnec or Guimiliau, with their unique architecture and setting. The gigantic aquarium complex in Brest called 'Oceanopolis' is also something of a must, not only for children (and grown-up children) but also for scientists. It has to be seen to be believed, but you really need a couple of days to do it justice, and you're leaving on Tuesday ?

I do hope you manage to fit in some of the places members have suggested but be warned, Normandy and Brittany are both fascinating places, and provided the weather is kind, you will probably want to return!
Geoffrey.

majedm75 · 23rd June 2009, 21:47

Now you all got me wanting to visit the great west of France :lol:

Jamie · 24th June 2009, 23:51

Brilliant suggestions there...I have been putting little red dots on the map ready for the final itenery...but as you say...time is tight! unfortunately the wives will only allow us a few days away each year to explore on the bikes...the intention is to return with the family at a later stage.

I have to say...we go away on the bikes every year now...but this trip to france really has got me going...Im so excited about the adventure but trying not to let the good lady know! dont want her thinking Ive had too much of a good time!!

anyways...3 weeks and counting!

majedm75 · 16th July 2009, 16:38

Any updates Jamie :lol:

Jamie · 19th July 2009, 18:20

Hi Yes...off on Thursday night and crossing into Calais first thing friday, then we head west along the coast. cant wait!

21st June 2009, 17:32	#1
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Who knows the north coast of France? Off to france in three weeks aboard the motorbike, me and a Pal are crossing at dover early saturday morning and travelling the full north coast towards Brest and then catching the return sleeper ferry at Roscoff on Tuesday night. We intend visiting the beach where Dad had his D-day landing along the way, and sticking to the coast as much as possible. Can I ask for suggections for locations that are a 'must see' whilst we are touring along that coast? Also can anyone suggest what a B&B is called in france?! Any suggestions of particularly biker friendly stop-overs?...we are going to take the tents too but we thought just in case it rains...we'd have some accomodation in reserve. __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

22nd June 2009, 12:10	#2
majedm75 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon 2.5V6+Auto - Pack Luxe & Sterling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris-France & Cairo-Egypt Posts: 2,122 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi Jamie, About the B&B, they are called "Chambre d'Hôtes" (do not pronounce the H and the S in Hôtes). I'm not much into camping and biking, so I'm sorry I can't help on this part . From the looks of your post, you are more in the West than the north of France. In this case, the following locations might be interesting (in addition to Brest): -Saint Malo -Mont Saint Michel By the way, our club fellow Geoffrey is in Rennes, which is not that far by the above :lol: You could also visit Caen and the surrounding D-Day beaches, Deauville, Trouville, Fécamps, Etretat, Dieppe, Le Havre as well as Saint Malo and Mont Saint Michel as mentioned above... (check the map to plot your way through these locations as I wrote them in no particular order...) Don't forget that Paris is a 3-hour drive from the above as well :lol: If you need more info, please ask __________________ Majed [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Member no. 36 - Samarkand, I miss you so much "Miss April 2010"!

22nd June 2009, 22:31	#4
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Thanks Majed and Bernard...I have cut and pasted you suggestions into a word doocument to print off. Thanks again. j __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

23rd June 2009, 21:03	#6
Geoffrey Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon cdti + 214 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rennes. Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Visiting the north coast of France Your very tight schedule seems to have been filled three or four times over already by some very good suggestions. A pity you don't have more time to explore some of the Normandy countryside, but the D-day beaches obviously come high up on the list. If on your way back to Roscoff / Brest, there is not time to linger in Dinan or Morlaix, perhaps you might think of seeing at least one of the Breton 'enclos paroissiaux', for example Saint Thegonnec or Guimiliau, with their unique architecture and setting. The gigantic aquarium complex in Brest called 'Oceanopolis' is also something of a must, not only for children (and grown-up children) but also for scientists. It has to be seen to be believed, but you really need a couple of days to do it justice, and you're leaving on Tuesday ? I do hope you manage to fit in some of the places members have suggested but be warned, Normandy and Brittany are both fascinating places, and provided the weather is kind, you will probably want to return! Geoffrey.

23rd June 2009, 21:47	#7
majedm75 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon 2.5V6+Auto - Pack Luxe & Sterling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris-France & Cairo-Egypt Posts: 2,122 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Now you all got me wanting to visit the great west of France :lol: __________________ Majed [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Member no. 36 - Samarkand, I miss you so much "Miss April 2010"!

22nd June 2009, 18:48	#3
Bernard LPG I really should get out more....... 75 V6 Saloon 2003 LPG MGZT V8 260 LPG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Evesham Posts: 2,134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Can't help with the bike friendly bit but if you are at all interested in the WW2 history then Pegasus bridge and cafe is a 'must see'. if you are following the coast you will go over the new bridge anyway. The remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanche are worth seeing but I find the whole area fascinating and have returned to it many times now. Worth going inland a bit to go back further in time to see the Bayeux Tapestry.

23rd June 2009, 16:57	#5
Neil Coupland Gets stuck in Range Rover Sport, MG TF 160 Aubergine Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nottingham Posts: 693 Thanks: 21 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Hi Jamie I can echo the comments above, we were in Normandy last year. Hornfleur is very pretty and plenty of cafes along the harbour. Trouville has a "faded glory" as a seaside resort, but still nice to enjoy your ice craem along the boardwalk. The D Day sites are numerous and well signed. We went over Pegasus Bridge but didn't have time to visit the museum. Arromanche was busy but the whole stretch of that coast is littered with reminders of WW11. Spend a day in Bayeux, it was spared the fighting so a lot of the old town still exists. The tapestry is worth seeing together with the exhibition that accompanies it. The tapestry is very long, but the narrative that you listen to moves a steady pace so you don't have time to linger. We crossed to Calais then took the motorway south. If you follow the coast you will need to cross the Siene at Le Harve over the Pont de Normandie (The Normandy Bridge), its about 2 km across. Enjoy the trip, its a pleasant part of the world.

24th June 2009, 23:51	#8
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Brilliant suggestions there...I have been putting little red dots on the map ready for the final itenery...but as you say...time is tight! unfortunately the wives will only allow us a few days away each year to explore on the bikes...the intention is to return with the family at a later stage. I have to say...we go away on the bikes every year now...but this trip to france really has got me going...Im so excited about the adventure but trying not to let the good lady know! dont want her thinking Ive had too much of a good time!! anyways...3 weeks and counting! __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

16th July 2009, 16:38	#9
majedm75 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon 2.5V6+Auto - Pack Luxe & Sterling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris-France & Cairo-Egypt Posts: 2,122 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Any updates Jamie :lol: __________________ Majed [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Member no. 36 - Samarkand, I miss you so much "Miss April 2010"!

19th July 2009, 18:20	#10
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Hi Yes...off on Thursday night and crossing into Calais first thing friday, then we head west along the coast. cant wait! __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!