The disused railway line and voie vert thread

[suavecarve]

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 place finds all routes.
Shouldnt be limited to just France, it just happens to be where we go on holiday.
We like the disused railway lines for scenery, generally flatter and no traffic. We are relatively fit but not cyclists and have fairly decent e bikes.

I think it would be better to not comment on this thread but to comment on the individual threads and keep this as a Gateway to finding them all nice and easily.

If you know a voie vert or disused railway line that would fit with amateur cyclists then put a link in or create a thread and put the link in here.

Bordeaux town centre from the East

Voie vert Dordogne Bordeaux to sauveterre de Guyenne. Piste Roger lapebie.

We did a few of these last year and people were interested so posting this one. We are currently on the free Aire right next to the path at its highest point of 105 m. The path is complete tarmac and off road though within 6kms of Bordeaux there are bits where you are next to it but kerbed away...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Uzes (Great aire with great wine) onto the Pont Du Gard

Uzes to pont du Gard on bike.

We found this newly built (2018) old railway line which is impeccably flat and got really good tarmac. It's 12 Kms long and you can continue to Beaucaire alongside the Gardon. The route takes you through car park where you pay 18 euros for pont du Gard but it's a voit vert so free for pushbike...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Carpentras to Jonquieres (expect it to be extended)

Another converted railway line (2017) Carpentras to Jonquieres

Following on from the Ardeche Via Dolce cycle path on an old railway line and the Uzes to Pont du Gard old railway line thread (I m sure someone can link them) We found another new old railway line conversion from 2017 which runs from near the Aire in Carpentras centre for 15 Kms to Jonquiere...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

At the top of the Gorges of Ardeche

The via ardeche disused railway line

Another day another disused railway line for cycling. It is the via ardeche and we caught it right opposite the camping car park Aire about 3 Kms from Ruoms and went 23 Kms northish to Saint Sermin then on to uzers where it stops for us on normal bikes just as you get to the viaduct. No doubt it...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Lamastre, Les Cheylards, Les Ollieres, St Agreve. 4 sections of disused railway

La Dolce Via cycle route in Ardeche

I found this 90 km disused railway line cycle track whilst researching and it appeared nobody had been here. Owing to not realising I hadn't motd the motorbike we have had to leave that behind but we were always coming here anyway. We have electric bikes. We are generally fit and we are not...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

La Via Fluvia from La Loire to La Rhone

Yet another disused railway line voie vert. La fluvia

For some reason we hadn't got all excited about this one. We have parked at the immaculate free Aire at Raucoules about 1km from the path at montfaucon and went to Yssingeaux. About 25 Kms. A little up and down but it is completely paved. Only one hard gradient and that was short. Started off...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

La Dolca de la Payee Privas to Le Poozin

Another disused railway line Ardeche

Found another disused railway line today which goes from Le Poozin to Privas called La dolce de la payee. Very new and fully tarmacced Gradient is about 180 metres over 19 Kms. Not a lot of shade in comparison to others I have found. We stayed at Beauchastel along the Rhone free to stay. 11 km...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[orridge]

suavecarve Great thread but the Carpentras link is the same as the Uzes one ?

 

[suavecarve]

suavecarve Great thread but the Carpentras link is the same as the Uzes one ?

Thank you and Edited

 

[jumartoo]

Not France, but in Spain we have Vias Verdes

Vías Verdes - Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles

Más de 3.500 km de antiguas líneas de ferrocarril en desuso recuperadas como itinerarios cicloturistas y senderistas dentro del Programa Vías Verdes

www.viasverdes.com

 

[suavecarve]

Yet another disused railway line. Ardennes

Continuing our quest to find Monsieur Beechings old railway lines for pleasant cycling we found this one which follows the Semoy river from Montherme on the Meuse up to Les haute rivieres. It follows the river the majority of the route and a very very gentle incline until after Thilay a couple...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Just smiffy]

 

[PhilMary]

Great resource. Thanks suavecarve

 

[suavecarve]

Passa Païs: The bike path from Bédarieux to Mazamet

L’itinéraire cyclable PassaPaïs, voie verte en plein cœur du Parc naturel régional du Haut-Languedoc, ondule de tout son long sur un ancien tracé de voie ferrée. Sur près de 80 km.

www.discoverfrance.com

 

[suavecarve]

VOIE VERTE PERPIGNAN THUIR

This beautiful greenway connects Perpignan to Thuir via the villages of Toulouges, Canohès, Porteilla and Llupia. It leaves from the station Perpignan by a bike path and out of the urban area to browse the vineyards. The views are so beautiful with the Aspres and the Canigou perspective. The way...

www.tourism-mediterraneanpyrenees.com

 

[suavecarve]

I just remembered we did another one/two on the Dordogne but the wife didnt tell me to do a thread but the pictures are on the photo of the day thread and it runs from Saint caprice into Bergerac and the other one goes from Sarlat to Cazoules and the pictures can be seen here on pages 802 and 803 of the photo of the day thread

A photo of the day thread

Loving everyone’s photos, thank you for posting them. 🤗🤗

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[suavecarve]

I just remembered we did another one/two on the Dordogne but the wife didnt tell me to do a thread but the pictures are on the photo of the day thread and it runs from Saint caprice into Bergerac and the other one goes from Sarlat to Cazoules and the pictures can be seen here on pages 802 and 803 of the photo of the day thread

A photo of the day thread

Loving everyone’s photos, thank you for posting them. 🤗🤗

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Mousy

 

[suavecarve]

 

[suavecarve]

Whilst I am here, we will be doing the Vennbahn which runs from Aachen to Troisverges (or something similar) in March this year, there is another one in Luxembourg and potentially following a bit of the Meuse but dont know where yet.

We should be off to the Aude and Herault region in April/May where the Passapais is very very high on the agenda as well as Perpignan Thuir, bits of the canal du Midi and one which I think is high in the Pyrenees and yet flat. We also are going to try putting the bikes on le petit jaune train and hopefully cycle back down the main road.

At the moment our June/July holiday is in the planning stages of following the Danube from Source to either Vienna or Bratislava. This is part of a huge Velo that I think runs from Nantes to Istanbul (or the Black Sea)

Always looking for anyone with previous experience of these for us to learn from.

 

[jollyrodger]

Not in France but Northern Spain. Santelices.
Old railway track.
Not to far from the ferries

Stopped over for a couple of days last year and a bit of activity from cyclists

Area de Autocaravanas de Santelices

Details for Area de Autocaravanas de Santelices a Overnight parking - with services Santelices, Burgos, Castilla y León, Spain, 09574

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[Orion]

At the moment our June/July holiday is in the planning stages of following the Danube from Source to either Vienna or Bratislava. This is part of a huge Velo that I think runs from Nantes to Istanbul (or the Black Sea)

Always looking for anyone with previous experience of these for us to learn from.

We’ve cycled La Vélodyssée pre-Covid in two parts - one year from Roscoff down to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in the Vendee, and the following year from Santander to Nantes, with bikes on the train back up to Morlaix and the short cycle to Roscoff on both occasions. We’re ‘relaxed’ cyclists, rather than ‘nose to the front wheel’ and can break a journey if a good glass of wine beckons!

The EuroVelo 6 Atlantic to Black Sea route is something that keeps nagging me to attempt, but I doubt we could devote the time to doing it in one hit, so how to plan the sections? Some online blogs to catch for tips.

Do you have any more details of the ‘flat’ route in the Pyrenees that you mentioned?

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[suavecarve]

We’ve cycled La Vélodyssée pre-Covid in two parts - one year from Roscoff down to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in the Vendee, and the following year from Santander to Nantes, with bikes on the train back up to Morlaix and the short cycle to Roscoff on both occasions. We’re ‘relaxed’ cyclists, rather than ‘nose to the front wheel’ and can break a journey if a good glass of wine beckons!

The EuroVelo 6 Atlantic to Black Sea route is something that keeps nagging me to attempt, but I doubt we could devote the time to doing it in one hit, so how to plan the sections? Some online blogs to catch for tips.

Do you have any more details of the ‘flat’ route in the Pyrenees that you mentioned?

We are similar cyclists ! If you look at our threads we have quite an amount of beer being drunk as it seems very rude to pass a cold leffe or even Jupiter. We are not cyclists at all and havent had the bikes out since the last voie vert in September.
We have done bits of La Velodyssee but noted how the wind makes it hard work one way, but we always return the route back to the van so we only do 30-40 kms one way at a time so it takes hour and half or 2 hours return.
I will find this flat pyrenees one again. (Numerous websites visited and didnt bookmark it)

 

[suavecarve]

Orion
https://www.tourism-mediterraneanpyrenees.com/velo-route-ndeg2-la-vallee-de-la-vanera

But then I looked it up elsewhere and 400 m elevation twice is 1200 foot and that aint flat to me !

Vélo route N°2 - La vallée de la Vanéra - Saillagouse

www.pyrenees-cerdagne.com

 

[Orion]

I make you right on that one!

For the Pyrenees in general think I’ll hitch the trailer up and take the quad for some dirt road exploration. Already eyeing the Western Alps and the tracks linking the disused fortifications for summer next year.

 

[suavecarve]

I make you right on that one!

For the Pyrenees in general think I’ll hitch the trailer up and take the quad for some dirt road exploration. Already eyeing the Western Alps and the tracks linking the disused fortifications for summer next year.

Keep an eye on La Fluvia voie vert.
They are planning on building an extension to the current one which would then link up La Loire to La Rhone joining at Seyssel.
There were 3 plans in joining it up
1) building a tunnel about 5 kms long through the mountain
2) building a bridge over the trees so you cycle on it above the tree line
3) Something that I cant remember so it wasnt as exciting as the first 2.

Then you will be able to cycle from Nantes to just short of Marseilles (as who wants to cycle into Marseilles!)

 

[suavecarve]

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[jannyman]

View attachment 705336

Just been on this site - cycle.travel - and have downloaded the app, which for the moment is only available on ios - iphone, ipad etc. Have to say I was quite impressed, so much so that I have subscribed. For the princely sum of £1.75 per month you can choose which map you want to use for route planning. Amongst others O/S for UK, IGN for France etc etc. I know there are other mapping apps out there but to me this appears very versatile and good value for money. Just my take and not in any way connected with the developer.
Thanks to suavecarve for pointing me in the right direction and for his previous posts!

 

[dunnah01]

London to Paris

Cycling the Avenue Verte from London to Paris - Freewheeling France

Cycling the Avenue Verte London to Paris bike route, including maps and accommodation for cyclists for cycling holidays and charity bike rides - Freewheeling France

www.freewheelingfrance.com

Cycled a few bits to the north of Paris

 

[Bradders65]

Lovely disused railway voie verte in Burgundy from Chalons Sue Saone to Macon passing through vineyards and by delightful villages and towns including Cluny. You can even race against High speed Trains in some places. We’ll be there again this year.

 

[jannyman]

Lovely disused railway voie verte in Burgundy from Chalons Sue Saone to Macon passing through vineyards and by delightful villages and towns including Cluny. You can even race against High speed Trains in some places. We’ll be there again this year.

Thanks for this. Any recommendations for sites/aires please?

 

[Bradders65]

Thanks for this. Any recommendations for sites/aires please?

There is a site in Cluny and one in Cormartin - both have direct access to the trail. Another site at St Boil with easy access to trail. There is an Aire at St Genoux Le National right by the trail. There are others too M. We have stayed at all of the 3 sites above and all are good.

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[Diabalo]

Theres one just across the road from camping st claire neufchatel en bray, the station is a coffee shop. Not sure how far or where the line goes.

 

[suavecarve]

Theres one just across the road from camping st claire neufchatel en bray, the station is a coffee shop. Not sure how far or where the line goes.

Dieppe to Forges les Eaux
We are doing 1, 2 or 3 Newhaven Dieppes this year so will be doing this when we muck up and get back too early !

 

[jannyman]

There is a site in Cluny and one in Cormartin - both have direct access to the trail. Another site at St Boil with easy access to trail. There is an Aire at St Genoux Le National right by the trail. There are others too M. We have stayed at all of the 3 sites above and all are good.

Theres one just across the road from camping st claire neufchatel en bray, the station is a coffee shop. Not sure how far or where the line goes.

Thanks guys. Good to get these!

 

[SMB]

Great thread Suavecarve, very helpful . In France there is a lovely free aire at Clerac which is near a few cycle routes. Also, not in France but, there's a nice free aire at Cabra in Spain which is right on a Vias verde and a few miles north of this aire is another paid aire which has the option of ehu and is very reasonably priced at Dona Mencia which is also on the same Vias Verde.

 

[Emmit]

London to Paris

Cycling the Avenue Verte from London to Paris - Freewheeling France

Cycling the Avenue Verte London to Paris bike route, including maps and accommodation for cyclists for cycling holidays and charity bike rides - Freewheeling France

www.freewheelingfrance.com

Cycled a few bits to the north of Paris

Just to mention that this route goes right past the front door of that well known
overnight stop/ camperstop at Neufchatel en Bray.

Recorded as 22.5 miles one way to Dieppe.

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