From ferry to finish line: Penny’s tips and highlights along the Vélomaritime
Cycling trip taken in July 2025.
Penny, 74, originally from Bournemouth on the south coast of England, is an experienced cyclist. Passionate about cycling trips, she has already travelled many routes in France: La Loire à Vélo, Burgundy, the Cévennes and the Camino de Santiago. This summer, she chose to set off on La Vélomaritime, surrounded by a group of friends, to explore the Normandy coast at her own pace, between sea and memory.
I chose La Vélomaritime because the route seemed relatively flat*.
*With 2,400 metres of elevation gain between Cherbourg and Le Havre, this route still offers a good challenge for even the most seasoned cyclists!
Practical aspects, technical organisation and guidance
Type of accommodation: hotels and guesthouses. Each establishment had a garage or secure storage area for bicycles. I asked about this every time I made a reservation.
Type of bicycle: Hybrid bicycle - Cannondale Synapse
Stages on La Vélomaritime: Quetthou, Isigny-sur-Mer, Asnelles, Auberville, Pont Audemer, Le Havre
Support used to follow the route: the route was very well signposted. If we missed a sign, we used Google Maps and our Garmin GPS
What did you like most and least about La Vélomaritime?
The positives:
- A well-marked route that is easy to follow.
- Cycling is a great way to enjoy France.
- The cycle path into Le Havre is now superb! When my husband and I did it in 2011, we had to share the estuary road with heavy goods vehicles speeding towards the port.
Negative points:
- The Pont de Normandie remains a real challenge for cyclists. We crossed it, but the lift to get across the toll bridge and back onto the cycle path wasn't working.
What are your favourites?
- The Sunday market in Pont-l'Évêque, with its folk dancers – a moment out of time.
- Paying respects on the D-Day beaches, thinking of the lives lost for our freedom.
Your cycling adventure in a few figures?
- 340 km in 6 days
- Average budget: €500 for accommodation, €40 per night for meals.
⛴️ Joining La Vélomaritime from England
On the outward journey, we left Bournemouth and headed to Poole, where we took the Brittany Ferries ferry to Cherbourg.
On the return journey, we used the same company, this time from Le Havre to Portsmouth. From there, we took the train back to Bournemouth. The entire trip went smoothly.
💬 Penny's advice for a successful cycling trip
‘Be aware of your cycling ability. Don't plan too many kilometres per day so that you have time to enjoy the scenery, take coffee breaks and visit places of interest.’
🚲 And after this trip?
When asked if she has any new travel plans in the pipeline, Penny replies: ‘I'd like to come back and discover another section of La Vélomaritime. See you next year!’