London to Roncesvalles bike/train/ferry advice

paulontheroad

Looking for some advice about a route through France ending up at Roncesvalles in Spain (where we start the camino de santiago). We were thinking about taking the ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo and then a combination of bike and train to Roncesvalles. What bits of France would people recommend cycling, and which skipping? We have about two weeks, and 400-500 miles to play with, and would like at least one big mountain! Any advice much appreciated,
Thanks
Paul

pneumatic

No need to wait until you get to Roncesvalles to start the Camino, you can start in France; there are four well mapped routes. We did the Vezelay one and it was great.

You can also start the camino in many other European countries. There are pilgrim routes all over Europe. We started from St Andrews in Scotland, took its pilgrim trail (backwards) to Dunfermline, took a boat to Bruges, which, being staging post for mediaeval pilgrims, set us on our way to Vezelay.

Have a look at

http://www.workhouse8.co.uk/miscellany.html

and check the links, too.

If you are short of time, take the bikebus to the Rhone valley and pick up the route from Le Puy. Apart from the pass over the Pyrenees, you'll get plenty of climbing on that route.

bon camino!