Far more than just a ferry port, St Malo boasts the most impressive walled citadel on France’s northern coast as well as large stretches of sandy beach. The wide, sweeping bay to the east of the town makes a great starting point for your journey.

The afternoon and evening is spent building bikes and strolling around the beautifully preserved fortified walls and the maze of cobbled streets in the old town, or perhaps go for a dip in the sea. In the evening we will eat at one of St Malo’s many restaurants for a chance to catch up meet your fellow Skedaddlers and chat about the epic journey ahead.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 770 Metres Approx.

A gentle first day with friendly flat terrain, enjoy the wide expansive views of Mont St Michel and quiet back lanes of rural Brittany and Normandy.

Pedalling right from the hotel door we make our way to the official start on the beach front, for the obligatory photo with ‘La Manche’ (The Channel) against the backdrop of the tidal island of the Fort National clearly visible from the promenade. This morning’s ride takes us out of St Malo and hugging the coastline, this early part of the first stage gives a true taste of Brittany. We pass close to the small fishing port of Cancale, famous for its fresh oysters before searching for the misty outline of Mont St-Michel across the marshes and vivid colours of the Cote d’Emeraude.

The Abbey was established here as early as the 8th century on top of a large distinctive mound connected to the mainland via a causeway and is the most visited sight in France after the Eiffel Tower! Mont St-Michel is the highest piece of land for many miles around. As we start pedalling inland, just before the town of Pontorson, don’t forget to have a look over your shoulder for your last glimpse of the sea for 3 weeks!

Pedalling south-east the route winds through the tranquil roads of rural Normandy and Brittany, weaving our way past golden fields of hay and deep green pastures. The latter part of today’s stage passes through the town of Fougeres with its well preserved chateau designed to protect the Duchy of Brittany. Brittany fiercely defends its unique culture and identity to this day recently exempting itself from a proposed merger of French regions proposed by the central government.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

Today we enjoy straight roads linking crests crowned with churches, travelling to our destination of Avrillé close to the city of Angers which sits on the banks of the Loire.

After stocking up on pain au chocolat we press on due south as we cross from Brittany into the deeply rural Mayenne then the Loire. We pass through many small villages punctuated by occasional market towns such as Craon and Segre. Most settlements are located on top of small rises, their church spires each competing to be the tallest. A series of undulations along the straight roads ensure the next church is a great visual target to lure you south. Towards the end of the ride we turn south east and pass through small woodland and pastures before resting up in Avrillé and looking forward to visiting the Loire the next morning.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

This morning we cross the famous River Loire — France’s longest river at over 1,000km. We follow the great river upstream on the southern bank all day, even cycling along the quiet lanes of one of the river’s many islands. Along the banks of the Loire we pass our first (and not the last!) vineyard of the trip. The Loire is famous for its rose wine but the local Saumur sparkling (a rival to champagne) is a must before our evening meal. We ride into Saumur up a long avenue lined with wine cellars (which in some cases still use ancient caves to store the wine).

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

After lingering in the Loire, this is a stage of real pedalling progress as we head due south in two distinct sections. Five kilometers south of the river we pass Fontevreaud l‘Abbaye, famous for its spectacular turreted Abbaye, the largest abbey complex in Europe.

After this, the route winds through the wheat fields and grazing lands of the Thouet valley to St Loup sur Thouet with its main street connecting the key crossing point of the Thouet river and its grand chateau.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 870 Metres Approx.

Secluded back lanes with flower-studded hedgerows take us through the pastoral landscape surrounding Parthenay to the more open countryside of the Vienne region. We glide past endless fields of sunflowers and farmers bringing in the hay. Avoiding the city of Poitiers, we stick to quieter routes passing through the small towns of Lusignan, Vivone and Gencay. We rest up just south of L‘Isle Jourdain where Cavendish first featured after his Tour crash in 2014 during the Tour de Potiou Charentes. Our hotel is on the banks of the Vienne river, perfect for a post ride dip and a great opportunity to relax after the first few days.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,330 Metres Approx.

Today is a little bit more exerting than previous days with the added ingredient of the rolling hills of this picturesque ancient region of Perigord making an appearance in the afternoon to add a little extra spice.

By now any morning saddle soreness will have hopefully disappeared and we will all be raring to continue on our journey! The morning starts gently along the peaceful Vienne River following it upstream on some of the quietest back lanes of the whole journey with little disturbance other than a stray roaming cow or the occasional tractor. After passing through the pretty village of Exideuil, the route undulates away from the river past Gallo-Roman ruins to Rochechouart, famous for being hit by a meteorite and is dominated by its chateau. The route enters the ever popular region of Dordogne famed for its lush rolling hills and languid lifestyle, we pass green meadows and clusters of chestnut trees before reaching picture postcard Brantome which is perfect for an evening stroll and is almost an island, surrounded by the Dronne river!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,250 Metres Approx.

The riding is similar to yesterday on quiet back lanes for the most of the day and over gently rolling hills. The patchwork landscape of woodlands and pastures make the region famous for truffles and foie gras. We skirt the regional capital of Perigueux, before reaching Les Eyzies, a small town made famous by the many pre-historic cave paintings that can be found in the valley. Cro-Magnon man, our earliest modern human ancestor, was discovered here. A small stretch on the ‘route national’ brings us to Sarlat; arguably the jewel in Dordogne’s crown. Sarlat has one of the best preserved network of medieval streets in the whole of Europe. In fact, Sarlat was the first old town granted protected status in the whole of France.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today we have earned a rest day. We can wander around the medieval streets of Sarlat with its plentiful array of cafés and bars to explore, giving your legs a well-earned rest before we head out again tomorrow and head eastwards towards Nice. For those of you keen to pedal a few more miles, you can explore some lovely back lanes of Dordogne.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,200 Metres Approx.

Our day begins with a journey on a short stretch of perfectly maintained cycle path that avoids the tourist traffic and takes us straight to the southern banks of the Dordogne River, where we will see more cyclists than cars. The stretch to Soulliac is incredibly popular with locals and cycle tourists alike. Riding the flat tree-lined roads along the banks of one of France’s most famous rivers, it’s easy to see why.

We pass the Grottes de Lacave before turning south-east away from the river for a short climb to the famous village of Rocamadour. It is well worth the climb, as the village sits dramatically perched on the cliff side of an abrupt canyon wall, a truly outstanding and audacious location for a village. Since medieval times Rocamadour has been a key site for pilgrims drawn by the apparent healing powers of Rocamadour’s Black Madonna. If you are still feeling energetic, you can climb up the 223 steps to visit her (though perhaps not on your knees as the pilgrims would!). We continue on the quiet lanes of the limestone plateau area known as the ‘Parc Natural des Causes du Quercy’ to the market town of Figeac.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 870 Metres Approx.

A shorter day of two halves! We will be tackling a rolling but leg-awakening climb during the first part of the ride and some classic riverside riding on the run into Entraygues.

Our undulating morning takes us past the small village of St Jean-Mirabel and Montredon and a descent to the River Lot follows. We will get to know the River Lot well over the next few days as we follow it to its source in the mountains of the Massif Central. For the second half of the day we stick with the river on a well-maintained but virtually unused minor road that takes us all the way to our hotel in the small town of Entraygues with its picture postcard medieval bridge.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,950 Metres Approx.

A great day as we head to the hills and the town of Mende, which regularly hosts a Tour de France stage. A slightly mountainous stage with 3 climbs, the final one undoubtedly has some bite at the end of the day topping out at 1,020m, but the first 2 climbs we have are very gentle gradients which lure you up the climb almost imperceptibly.

The Lot River guides our morning ride, passing the medieval bridge of Estaing and through three of France’s ‘plus beaux villages’. The scenery is stunning so we hardly notice we are climbing for the early part of the day. The road follows the river’s course only leaving its banks to climb into the wooded hillside of this quiet corner of Aveyron. The first two climbs are gentle before we take a picnic lunch by the river in St Laurent d’Olt.

A flat section allows us to digest our lunch before climbing gradually through Marvejols and we marvel as the surrounding hills become small mountains. As you enter wolf country beware the ‘Beast of Gevaudan’ snapping at your heels as you start the Col de Goudard, a challenging climb and the first of the trip at over 1,000m. A steep descent precedes a final cheeky little 2km climb before we reach Mende, the capital of the Lozere département on the northern edge of the Cévennes National Park.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,400 Metres Approx.

A little known region but today’s riding is awesome and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the trip. 2 very gentle cols are punctuated by a seemingly endless 25km descent which if pedalled slightly flows all the more sweetly.

We dip into the northern edge of the Cévennes National Park, home to gorgeous mountains which are characteristically green and forested and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. One of the hillier days of the trip it includes the Col des Tribes (which at 1,132m is the second highest point on the trip!) and the stunning wooded descent off the Col du Mas de l’Ayre (846m) into Les Vans. Today’s riding is challenging but all the ascents are thoroughly manageable.

The afternoon of this stage is a defining moment when we truly reach the south of France, as we descend through the cool pine forest of the Cévennes to the warm valleys of the Ardèche crammed with vineyards and fruit orchards. The ride finishes at the stunning Pont d’ Arc, the gateway to the Gorges de l’Ardèche

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 930 Metres Approx.

A varied days riding as we enjoy the corkscrew ride above the Gorges de l’Ardèche, cruising along the banks of the Rhône with the mistral on our backs (hopefully!) before riding amongst the vines of wine drenched Châteauneuf-du-Pape and finishing our day in Monteux.

We enter the Gorges de Ardeche, the start of a fantastically winding 35km gorge ride is marked by a great photo opportunity at the Pont d’Arc – an amazing arch that the river has carved through the limestone landscape. As the road rises and falls alongside and above the gorge, take advantage of the many great viewpoints down into the steep-sided gorge where adventurous kayakers enjoy the long descent down the Ardèche. Panoramic vistas accompany the twists and turns of the road, whilst the scent of herbs and wild goats provides a heady concoction of smells.

Shortly after Pont St Esprit we arrive at the banks of the great Rhône River. We follow the river south for around 20km passing vineyards, fruit orchards and some industry, all accompanied by the backdrop of the shadowy silhouette of Mont Ventoux. Shortly after crossing the great river channel of the Rhône we reach the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Rhône also marks our arrival in Provence.

We pause for an afternoon break in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, giving us a chance to explore the caves of this small, but famous wine growing village, before heading onwards, to our accommodation in Monteux.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,100 Metres Approx.

One of the shortest days of our trip, but still with plenty of interesting riding, not least the irrepressibly beautiful Gorge de la Nesque.

After our morning croissants we are ready for our first day of riding in Provence. We begin by passing through the busy market town of Carpentras. The Tour de France peloton departed from here in mourning following the death of much loved British cyclist Tom Simpson on Mont Ventoux the previous day. We pedal through the village of Mazan, cruising by lavender fields and vineyards; views of the mighty Mont Ventoux start to appear as the ‘Geant de Provence’ looms imposingly, now almost directly overhead.

After stopping for our morning coffee in Villes sur Auzon we ride up the Gorge de la Nesque, arguably the best 30km you can ride in the whole of France. Leaving the vineyards behind, the route winds through the spectacular gorge, climbing at a perfect gradient for cyclists. The stage ends at Sault, the atmospheric old centre of the Provençal lavender trade, at the foot of Mont Ventoux.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 610 Metres Approx.

Leaving Sault we begin our day by tracing a series of minor and virtually traffic free roads through a series of small Provençal villages and towns as we make our way to Forcalquier. It’s a very pretty route in a region virtually untouched by tourism. The roads are generally undulating, but do have the occasional challenging climb to keep us on our toes!

This stage presents a full range of Provençal scenery from the lavender fields above Sault, with the ever present shape of Ventoux on the horizon, to a long valley filled with rocky outcrops and small pine forests. Purples, green and blues form the colour palette of the ride and the air is rich with the scents of lavender and pine.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,025 Metres Approx.

We start the day with a descent into the Durance River valley which divides Provence in two, before climbing to the Plateau du Valensole. The plateau is a sea of lavender surrounding the town of the same name and is the number one lavender production area in France.

The afternoon is spiced up a little as the route rolls into Riez with a couple of short and punchy ups which can be more difficult on a warm day, but we can always stop for an ice cream under the shady trees in Riez. A steady incline takes us out of Riez before a switchback descent to the foot of Moustiers-Ste-Marie which is precariously perched on a cliff face and guarded by a star chained high above town.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,620 Metres Approx.

Today will probably be one of the most memorable rides of the tour. A challenging but perfectly manageable stage with a shorter than average distance which includes the dramatic Gorge du Verdon.

Leaving Moustiers we head for the lake, riding the shoreline for a few km to the entrance of the gorge, where the climbing begins almost immediately. The southern rim of the gorge, which we will be riding, is certainly the most dramatic and the most rewarding way to experience this area of outstanding natural beauty. It is also the least visited side of the Verdon Gorge and has considerably less traffic. We’ll climb steadily for an hour or so, dropping down dramatically and then finally rising again out the gorge. Things ease up on the road to Comps-sur-Artuby, as we gently cruise along before plunging into the depths of the upper reaches of the gorge alongside the Verdon river, hugging the overhanging walls as we enter the immediate depths of the canyon. We relax for the evening in Castellane with the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Roc dominating the skyline, sat high above the town on its own rock plinth.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,060 Metres Approx.

Castellane itself is at the bottom of a hill so the day begins with a couple of climbs, but soon enough things level out and we’ll begin to make good progress as the last leg of our epic journey starts to really take shape. The route plunges from the high Provençal plateau clinging to cliffs and weaving through arches blasted through the rock to the precariously perched village of Greoliers. We soon reach the Col du Vence before enjoying a sweeping descent of nearly 1,000m down to the Mediterranean at Cagnes-sur-Mer. We pass from Cagnes into nearby Nice where we ride along the famous ‘Promenade des Anglais’ to dip our wheels in the warm sea and reflect on our epic journey through France.

• Meals: Breakfast

Following a night of celebration in Nice and looking back on almost 3 weeks of epic cycling, we have a short transfer to Nice for our onward journeys.