Route and approximate Timetable

The exact route is not set in stone and inevitably it will be subject to change as we go along.
  

We take the ferry from Plymouth to Santander on Sunday 5 May 2013. Our ferry docks in Santander around noon on Monday 6 May and we take a local ferry across Santander harbour to Pedrena where our cycling starts. We then cycle east to the Spanish/French border and thereafter northwards along the western (Atlantic) coast of France, cutting inland in Brittany to reach our finish point, Roscoff, on the English Channel coast, in time for a return sailing to Plymouth on the afternoon of Saturday 25 May 2013.

The minimum distance that we expect to cover is 1100 kilometres (just under 700 miles) according to viamichelin.co.uk but it is quite likely that this will be exceeded.

An overview of the route, starting in the south-west in Santander
moving up the west coast of France to finish in Roscoff
in north-western France

Below are enlarged sections of the map, in REVERSE travel order (to keep the orientation of the maps, one to the other, in a logical sequence), showing at least where we hope to be by the dates indicated.  These dates allow for theoretical daily distances averaging 65 kms (41 miles) and a maximum theoretical distance of 87 kms (54 miles). There is provision for 3 rest days - 1 near the Spanish/French border, 1 near La Rochelle and 1 somewhere in Brittany.

The tough stages are expected to be immediately, in northern Spain, and then towards the end of the tour, in Brittany. From reports that we've read about the flat terrain, good progress is expected to be made just  north of Bayonne and up to the area roughly level with Bordeaux.

We aim to post progress reports during the trip, hopefully daily, but this does depend on our being able to connect to the internet via wi-fi each evening.