Ocean, salt marshes and villages – the Vélocéan

Would you like to cycle from the Vilaine estuary to the famous Côte d'Amour in the Loire-Atlantique? The Vélocéan is a cycle route that links these two areas. It’s largely based on the Véloroute 45 or Voie nº5 in Brittany, which links Roscoff to Nantes.

This kind of cycling weekend allows you to reconnect with nature and discover cultural jewels. Many remarkable sites await along the way. You visit the salt marshes of Guérande, the coasts of Loire-Atlantique, the regional natural park of the Brière marshes and a plethora of characterful villages. In the space of a few days, the landscape constantly evolves, maintaining interest throughout.

There are usually plenty of accommodation options at the end of each stage, with hotels, campsites, gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and more. Some have the Accueil Vélo (the national accreditation scheme guaranteeing high quality for cyclists using French cycle routes) label and are less than 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the route. They represent the best option for storing your bike while you explore on foot. Also, the whole route is fairly well signposted with the official Vélocéan logo.

I have divided the route into five short stages to give you time to discover every corner. It’s an itinerary that lends itself to family outings. Confident cyclists can combine the stages and do the whole route in one or two days. Unfortunately, the northern section is poorly served by public transport and you’ll have to do the route from Saint-Nazaire and back, or organise a car drop off.

Any touring bike is perfectly suited to the route: all terrain, gravel, mountain bike... There’s no need to overload yourself! You’ll find food options at the end of each stage and in the intermediate towns. As far as the weather is concerned, it’s best to organise this cycling trip from spring to autumn. Remember to check the wind conditions, as there are sometimes strong ocean gusts from the west.

To get to the start point in Pénestin, you can either leave a car in Saint-Nazaire and go back up with your fellow traveller in another vehicle. Or you can take the TER to Saint-Nazaire and go back and forth.