Route 3
Roquefort
Until Millau acquired its motorway bridge in 2004, the town was best known for gloves and sheep’s cheese from the nearby village of Roquefort…
By train up into the wilds of the Massif Central, as far as the highest stop on the Cévenol line, La Bastide Puylaurent; on our bikes from there over the Mont Lozère, down the Tarn as far as Albi, up to the Lot, across to Sauternes and finally in great heat to the bay of Arcachon.
Reaching the start took us ages – via a ferry from Dover and an overnight stay in Calais – but an early start from St Pancras could see you in La Bastide for supper (such as it might be). Once we got going, and over the hills, we loved this ride for its scenic and sightseeing variety: a glove factory, a Roquefort tasting, prehistoric cave paintings, Château d’Yquem, a bird reserve and a swim at the foot of the mighty Dune du Pilat, Europe’s biggest sandhill. Our hotel selection was good too: La Lozerette in Cocures, Le Sombral in St Cirq Lapopie and Le Resinier in Le Barp would be in our top ten.
Route 3 map: from the Cevennes to the AtlanticOpen the map in Google My Maps
Information:
Nord/Pas-de-Calais: www.northernfrance-tourism.com
Auvergne: www.auvergne-tourisme.info
Languedoc-Roussillon: www.sunfrance.com
Midi-Pyrénées: www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com
Aquitaine: www.tourisme-aquitaine.fr
Ferries (Dover/Calais): P&O www.poferries.com
Trains: www.raileurope.co.uk; www.voyages-sncf.com
Canelle, Mousse-Cafe and friends on the Montagne du Goulet. It was a big hill for them too.
Cordes
Beaulieu en Rouergue
a swim in the Lot: slimy, but still good
St Cirq Lapopie
Prayssac: déesse ex machina
Near Duras
On the Canal du Midi
Yquem
Arcachon, front de mer
Le Teich bird reserve. Spot the godwit
