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Avenue Verte; London To Paris

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Avenue verte Paris

Avenue Verte London to Paris

We recently cycled the Avenue Verte London to Paris cycle route…why? I’m still trying to work that out!  There was 7 of us in our party; 1 almost pro cyclist, 1 JOGLE veteran, 1 cyclist with balance issues (the last time I rode I ended up in an ambulance) & 3 children of varying abilities.

You can follow our experiences that includes a wealth of practical information and handy hints and tips for those considering a journey along Avenue Verte.

 

London Eye at dusk

Photo; Phil Loach

 

Our Avenue Verte; Accommodation & Route

The Avenue Verte runs from the London Eye to Notre Dame in Paris over 250 mile route using the Newhaven/Dieppe crossing.  We averaged 30 miles a day over 8 days and completed a self guided Avenue Verte route.

For those that wish to follow our Avenue Verte itinerary I’ve put together a list of accommodation that we used during our journey complete with a route planner.

Top Tips for the Avenue Verte

Signage;  Avenue Verte signage comes & goes throughout the route and, at best, can only be described as sporadic. Without a doubt, you will need to draw the route before you leave.

Factor In Delays; factor in time for punctures, maintenance issues, food stops, toilet breaks, changes of clothing due to the weather, children stopping & going off course!

Select Carefully; this route is not advisable for a road bike although there are road based alternatives to some of the tracks.

Shops Are Shut; remember rural supermarkets & shops are shut for lunch in France between around 12 & 3pm. For those on a complete budget break, plan ahead & carry lunch with you.

Pack Your Tools; at the very least you will need to carry puncture repair kits, inner tubes, allen keys, chain key, chain link and a list of bike shops along the full length of the route, (there is a great one in Forges-Les-Eaux). The majority of the Avenue Verte route is located in rural areas so it is vital that you are prepared for all eventualities.

Be Prepared; unfortunately you can never depend upon the weather in England or France so prepare for a full day in the rain or the hot sunshine. Always carry snacks & liquids with you as there are large chunks of the route without sight on a single shop, vehicle or even another person!

Children; whilst the bulk of the Avenue Verte is on country lanes, cycle paths & rural routes, getting in & out of London & Paris is particularly difficult. You will need to consider quite how cycle savvy your children are before considering a family trip. The route does take you on main London & Paris roads in & out of the cities.

Belongings; we opted for a trailer attached to 2 of the bikes to carry all our belongings along the route. This gave us more space than panniers could provide but offered us a budget solution away from courier options.

 

London Zoo entrance

Photo; Phil Loach

 

Avenue Verte; Worth The Ride?

Absolutely!  Whilst I’ve certainly had easier holidays, we all felt a great sense of achievement by the end & something we will all remember for the rest of our lives.

Our Avenue Verte Journey

You can follow us on our daily journey & pick up a few handy hints along the way;

Avenue Verte; From The Beginning

Avenue Verte; Rather Your Bottom Than Mine!

Avenue Verte; Off Piste? I Wouldn’t Bother

Avenue Verte; Day 3

Avenue Verte; La Pluie!

Avenue Verte; Vive La France

Avenue Verte; Through The Mud

Avenue Verte; 7 Punctures, 3 Falls & 1 Broken Trailer

Avenue Verte; Completed!

 

Cycling_budget_day_out

Green Discounts at Visitor Attractions

 

 

By Liz Walsh

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