France - first 2 weeks April

[Grianan]

We’re hoping - assuming my mum keeps improving - to head over to France for my Easter school holidays - first half of April.

My initial thoughts had been a tentative plan to head down to the Med as there’s nothing we’d like better than some spring sunshine where we can sit near water, chill with a book and go for a nice wee cycle ride. For us hardy Scots a daytime temp of 16 degrees is pure bliss …. unless there’s a cold wind blowing.

The alternative is to head wherever it’s dry and site see/bike ride.

Interested to hear from anyone who’s headed over at a similar times and what sort of areas most likely to be dry / warmish.

Are there still strong cold winds heading down Rhone valley and in Languedoc in April?

 

[urban_biker]

A few years back we were in the Bergerac area and it was 24C or more in very early April. Frost in the morning though! I think you are very likely to get 16C or above quite easily anywhere South of Paris, if the sun is out in April.

 

[suavecarve]

We’re hoping - assuming my mum keeps improving - to head over to France for my Easter school holidays - first half of April.

My initial thoughts had been a tentative plan to head down to the Med as there’s nothing we’d like better than some spring sunshine where we can sit near water, chill with a book and go for a nice wee cycle ride. For us hardy Scots a daytime temp of 16 degrees is pure bliss …. unless there’s a cold wind blowing.

The alternative is to head wherever it’s dry and site see/bike ride.

Interested to hear from anyone who’s headed over at a similar times and what sort of areas most likely to be dry / warmish.

Are there still strong cold winds heading down Rhone valley and in Languedoc in April?

Winds are hit and miss and ventusky is your friend

You probably know about the disused railway line thread which covers a few in the Ardeche and Provence, but if heading to the Med on the West side then Mazamet to Bedarieux disused railway cycle route is highly likely to feature its own thread towards the end of April when we get down there

The disused railway line and voie vert thread

As will be seen below we have found a number of Disused railway lines and voie verts (traffic free cycling routes) in France and the links are all below so you can go directly to one which fancy having a look at. It would be great if others added their routes and a link so there was just a one...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[YukonJac]

We’re hoping - assuming my mum keeps improving - to head over to France for my Easter school holidays - first half of April.

My initial thoughts had been a tentative plan to head down to the Med as there’s nothing we’d like better than some spring sunshine where we can sit near water, chill with a book and go for a nice wee cycle ride. For us hardy Scots a daytime temp of 16 degrees is pure bliss …. unless there’s a cold wind blowing.

The alternative is to head wherever it’s dry and site see/bike ride.

Interested to hear from anyone who’s headed over at a similar times and what sort of areas most likely to be dry / warmish.

Are there still strong cold winds heading down Rhone valley and in Languedoc in April?

We’re hoping - assuming my mum keeps improving - to head over to France for my Easter school holidays - first half of April.

My initial thoughts had been a tentative plan to head down to the Med as there’s nothing we’d like better than some spring sunshine where we can sit near water, chill with a book and go for a nice wee cycle ride. For us hardy Scots a daytime temp of 16 degrees is pure bliss …. unless there’s a cold wind blowing.

The alternative is to head wherever it’s dry and site see/bike ride.

Interested to hear from anyone who’s headed over at a similar times and what sort of areas most likely to be dry / warmish.

Are there still strong cold winds heading down Rhone valley and in Languedoc in April?

I'm near Marseilles at the moment and have been for the last couple of weeks. Temps have ranged from -6 at night to +17 during the day. I've lived down here on and off for years, but the weather is more a roll of the dice these days. If the Mistral or Tramontagne is blowing, things can get a bit rough for days on end at any time of year. By April, the longer days should mean warmer nights. Usually plenty of good sunshine unless you're unlucky. Great cycling, but my preference in the area for good easy-ish cycling is in the Vaucluse and the Luberon. Much prefer it the the Med coast for most things, but it's a matter of taste, of course!!

 

[Grianan]

Sounding hopeful then!

Thanks suavecarve I had these in back of my mind and I’ve book marked them now!

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[Googlebot]

We went down the Med coast by Beziers last Easter. It was a bit cool by the coast, think of jumper weather and a bit windy. We headed inland however and it was a very nice 24 degrees with no wind.

Stayed here for a few days, loads of things to see and do.

Les Gorges de l'Hérault ***

Details for Les Gorges de l'Hérault *** a Small and Friendly style campsite Sumène, Gard, Occitanie, France, 30440

www.searchforsites.co.uk

We stayed in this car park nearby for one night and planned to do 2, it was too hot though with no shade so we moved to the campsite.

 

[lorger]

We’ll be a couple of weeks behind you as we’re heading over end of April, I know it was September but have a look at the thread I did on Avignon. We loved the area and found some great cycling routes.

 

[lorger]

Our wee trip to Avignon area

Thought I’d start a post about our trip in the hope it helps others visiting the area, also feel free to give tips and must do’s or see’s. Left Dumfries Friday mid morning and stopped off to pick up our EBike at Carlisle as they where in for their 6 weeks service, then off to Hull for the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Reallyretired]

We will be down there around Easter but going over mid March. We will be at Camping La Motte near Bordeaux the week before Easter, no idea whats it like as it was chosen by stepsons family who are tent camping there. Hoping for good weather or viva espana.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Lake Annecy

Hit and miss with the weather. But once we were there in February and the weather was amazing. As was the few previous March and April Trips


Amazing cycle track (former railway)

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[Lenny HB]

Last April we camback from Spain to France as it was too cold in Spain. Had 30° some days in South West France

 

[Grianan]

We’ll be a couple of weeks behind you as we’re heading over end of April, I know it was September but have a look at the thread I did on Avignon. We loved the area and found some great cycling routes.

Thanks lorger - your fabulous trip was one of the first threads I re-read when starting planning . My only worry in April would be the infamous winds. As suavecarve says Ventusky may determine the final route.

 

[Grianan]

We went down the Med coast by Beziers last Easter. It was a bit cool by the coast, think of jumper weather and a bit windy. We headed inland however and it was a very nice 24 degrees with no wind.

Stayed here for a few days, loads of things to see and do.

Les Gorges de l'Hérault ***

Details for Les Gorges de l'Hérault *** a Small and Friendly style campsite Sumène, Gard, Occitanie, France, 30440

www.searchforsites.co.uk

We stayed in this car park nearby for one night and planned to do 2, it was too hot though with no shade so we moved to the campsite.

View attachment 716677

That’s a good point. The coast is normally windier - I’ll look around this area too. Thanks.

 

[suavecarve]

That’s a good point. The coast is normally windier - I’ll look around this area too. Thanks.

We are heading inland (and beach) so have done a fair to reasonable amount of research around this area for a 28 dayer but going after you.

Its mostly in my head at the moment, but I may well make a map of the area when I get chance. This is our intended touring patch

 

[yodeli]

We are heading inland (and beach) so have done a fair to reasonable amount of research around this area for a 28 dayer but going after you.

Its mostly in my head at the moment, but I may well make a map of the area when I get chance. This is our intended touring patch

View attachment 716856

Grianan and @ XXXX

Ohoooo What do I see on the left side of the map??.... ulouse?? Isn't it the end of Toulouse by any chance? . Ok .... I'm not going to say it each time! Who ever is going this way, I'm about 10kms from Labège , town you can see right underneath the OUSE bit on the map. You are most welcome and yes, you will probably disturb... my work, and also put a smile on my face, distract me from ... whatever prob on the stadium or with the toddlers I childmind during the working days, and you know what... It's the best thing you can do for me! You will just make me have a break, otherwise I don't stop, and it's killing me!

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[suavecarve]

Grianan and @ XXXX

Ohoooo What do I see on the left side of the map??.... ulouse?? Isn't it the end of Toulouse by any chance? . Ok .... I'm not going to say it each time! Who ever is going this way, I'm about 10kms from Labège , town you can see right underneath the OUSE bit on the map. You are most welcome and yes, you will probably disturb... my work, and also put a smile on my face, distract me from ... whatever prob on the stadium or with the toddlers I childmind during the working days, and you know what... It's the best thing you can do for me! You will just make me have a break, otherwise I don't stop, and it's killing me!

We havent been to Toulouse ..... yet.
We will be desperately trying to keep to our allotted plan of "Just this area", however our Plan B includes the Canal du midi and we may start our tour coming down the Limoges road and hitting the cycling on the western side of Toulouse, so you yet may see us, but it is a Plan B.
Good for you to know that Toulouse is also Plan B for June/July holiday, which means you move to Plan A for next year.

Thanking you for your ongoing offer

 

[Grianan]

yodeli suavecarve we normally avoid cities but as you’re not in the city but out of it I will pinpoint you on my map in case we are nearby. It would be lovely to meet in person our ultra-helpful French member!!

We cycled from Bordeaux to Port-la-Nouvelle with tents on the bikes a good few years ago, it is beautiful!! There are some wonderful parts and other parts which are more difficult to navigate. Do you have the books? They’re in French and really useful as they tell you when you need to cross sides and where the path disappears. I can send you details next week if you like (heading north just now).

 

[suavecarve]

yodeli suavecarve we normally avoid cities but as you’re not in the city but out of it I will pinpoint you on my map in case we are nearby. It would be lovely to meet in person our ultra-helpful French member!!

We cycled from Bordeaux to Port-la-Nouvelle with tents on the bikes a good few years ago, it is beautiful!! There are some wonderful parts and other parts which are more difficult to navigate. Do you have the books? They’re in French and really useful as they tell you when you need to cross sides and where the path disappears. I can send you details next week if you like (heading north just now).

I use mapy.cz app which has more or less everything cycling covered and works offline (and is free to download) but also use a map of the voie verts and long cycle routes (IGN 924) and can be seen here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...che-disused-railway-line.265449/#post-5109640 and also use google maps in "cycle" mode as well as local TOs.
I have yodeli s gaffe imprinted on my mind and has been for a number of years and for various different reasons of changed plans havent had the opportunity of giving her a shout ............... yet

 

[suavecarve]

Grianan

With the possibility of us both going to the same place, I can create a map on google and share it with you as an aide memoire. I have access to around 70-80 aires around there (from memory) and I ve got my hit list in my head of places to see and the cycle routes I am interested in.
If I share it with you as a person who can add items it may be useful to both of us.

I did this a couple of years ago and shared the map of Germany with numerous people, one of whom destroyed a great wealth of information, so will only share with people now on a read only basis, normally.

Interested ? I could start it tomorrow

 

[Grianan]

Grianan

With the possibility of us both going to the same place, I can create a map on google and share it with you as an aide memoire. I have access to around 70-80 aires around there (from memory) and I ve got my hit list in my head of places to see and the cycle routes I am interested in.
If I share it with you as a person who can add items it may be useful to both of us.

I did this a couple of years ago and shared the map of Germany with numerous people, one of whom destroyed a great wealth of information, so will only share with people now on a read only basis, normally.

Interested ? I could start it tomorrow

Would love to have access to the map. Thank you!! I’m not tech savvy though so maybe safer to make it read only and I can message you any additions?

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[suavecarve]

Would love to have access to the map. Thank you!! I’m not tech savvy though so maybe safer to make it read only and I can message you any additions?

No worries, I should get time to start it tomorrow

 

[Claire Ambler]

We’re hoping - assuming my mum keeps improving - to head over to France for my Easter school holidays - first half of April.

My initial thoughts had been a tentative plan to head down to the Med as there’s nothing we’d like better than some spring sunshine where we can sit near water, chill with a book and go for a nice wee cycle ride. For us hardy Scots a daytime temp of 16 degrees is pure bliss …. unless there’s a cold wind blowing.

The alternative is to head wherever it’s dry and site see/bike ride.

Interested to hear from anyone who’s headed over at a similar times and what sort of areas most likely to be dry / warmish.

Are there still strong cold winds heading down Rhone valley and in Languedoc in April?

 

[Claire Ambler]

You are really lucky, France will still be there in April and if the wind isn’t from the north it will be pleasantly warm, unless it’s snowing. Hmmmm I’m not being serious enough am I?

 

[SmithsInFrance]

You are really lucky, France will still be there in April and if the wind isn’t from the north it will be pleasantly warm, unless it’s snowing. Hmmmm I’m not being serious enough am I?

We live about an hour west of Poitiers and by coincidence saw this when perusing my photos for something else. View from kitchen windows on 1 April 2022 ( not an April fool honest).
Having said that, the snow only lasted a day or so and April is very often very hot and sunny, though in our area it can be cold and wet for periods.
For France I think the most important is to follow the weather at that time of year. It’s a vast country and the weather is usually good somewhere
Enjoy
MrsS