The beautiful Dordogne
Dordogne, Millau & Normandy
France
Dordogne, Millau & Normandy
France
France has some beautiful riding country easily accessible from the UK and this 7 day tour proves that.
Ben Spear and Felix Billington.
Find out more about Magellan Guides
Find out more about Magellan Guides
This self guided tour takes in some truly epic roads and with extended stops in hotels, it allows you to unpack and explore the sights without having to worry about moving on each night. You’ll take in the roads around Normandy before heading down to the magnificent riding of the Dordogne. Rideouts to prehistoric villages, historic castles, dramatic gorges and extinct volcanoes are all on the cards.
Self Guided Tour
7
days
1500 miles
April to October
From Calais you will ride cross-country making your way through the rolling countryside that is northern France to your base in rural Normandy, here your hosts will treat you to a traditional meal with lots of local wine!
Your second day will see you heading to the delights of the Dordogne in the southwest of France set between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees mountains passing picturesque little towns and villages all on the most scenic roads.
Ben Spear, Trip guide
Norway is often the trip people are most suprised by. Just how dramatic the scenery and empty the roads are. Come and join me in August and experience a beautiful country with tremendous twisty roads.
Your base for the next three nights will be just outside of Treignac and from there you will have a wide range of rideouts and fantastic places to visit, your hosts are avid bikers and will be keen to share their local knowledge and know how to help you get the best form the area.
You’ll have three days to explore the region with amazing spots including Oradour sur Glane, Rocamadour, the Puy Mary Volcano, Mount Dore Passes, Bran tome, the Gorges du Dordogne, Collonges La Rouge, the Millau Viaduct, Les Eyzies Prehistoric, Route Couer de Lion, Cahors and the Lac Vassiviere. Whichever you choose you’re sure to have some great times in and out of the saddle.
Stunning historic hideout destinations.
Stunning historic hideout destinations.
From Treignac you’ll continue back northwards with a leisurely ride through rural France and the tranquil National Park at La Brenne, Skirt Orleans and the Loire valley to take you to the final evening stop in Chartres. You wake up to a hearty breakfast and then onto the channel tunnel for the final leg of the trip home.
From Treignac you will head north riding through the unmistakable rolling hills of rural France and the tranquil National Park of La Brenne, you then skirt Orleans and the Loire Valley to take you onto your final overnight stay in the gorgeous cathedral city of Chartres. The next morning you will start making your way back to Calais for the tunnel back home marking the last leg of your trip.
The beauty of this tour is it can be easily extended based on your needs, see the common questions at the bottom of this page.
With some of the the finest scenery and roads in France, we will take you on a voyage of discovery...
Tour highlights
Normandy countryside and WW2 beaches: You’ll have a chance to visit the beaches made famous by the D-day landings in 1944. Go for a walk along these beautiful beaches and enjoy the scenery of this amazing site.
Dordogne: The Dordogne is home to some of the most stunning scenery in France. The roads are amazing to ride, and the views are second to none.
'I would recommend Magellan to anyone without a second’s hesitation…The routes opened our eyes to everything the country had to offer, kept us all entertained and they expertly took care of all logistical issues. Thanks for everything!'David R
Oradour sur Glane: The original village was destroyed, and all its occupants massacred by the Nazis in 1944. The town that stands on a nearby site now acts as a monument to the original citizens.
Rocamadour: Rocamadour is in Occitan in the southwest of France. It’s a small town that used to thrive on trade from those on pilgrimages but the beauty of the town has made it a popular tourist spot.
Puy Mary Volcano: Le Puy Mary Volcano is 1,783m high, with a distinctive pyramid shape. If you decide to climb to the top you’ll experience some of the most beautiful panoramic views in the whole of France.
Auvergne: This landlocked region is famous for its volcanic past, beautiful scenery and amazing biking roads!
Millau Bridge: The Millau viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world, taller than the Eiffel tower. It’s also 2,400km long, only touching the ground in nine places- its a true feat of engineering.
Tour Map / Itinerary
Full Itinerary
Day 1 240 Miles
From Calais, you make your way to your first overnight stop in rural Normandy.
Day 2 300 Miles
Your only long day on the whole tour is riding through the Dordogne with stops for coffees and lunches planned in small villages.
Day 3,4,5 Rideout Days
Treignac we have a range of rideouts to choose from including: Oradour sur Glane, Rocamadour, Puy Mary Volcano, Mount Dore Passes, Bran tome, Gorges du Dordogne, Collonges La Rouge, Millau Viaduct, Les Eyzies Prehistoric, Route Couer de Lion, Cahors, Lac Vassiviere.
Day 6 248 Miles
From Treignac you’ll continue through rural France to Chartres.
Day 7 212 Miles
Hearty breakfast and then onto the channel tunnel for the final leg of the trip home.
What's included
Euro Tunnel return trip Folkestone-Calais (if Folkestone isn’t convenient for you do please get in touch as other crossings can be arranged).
6 Nights accommodation in good quality hotels and 5 evening meals.
Excellent breakfast each morning.
Full use of all hotels’ leisure facilities.
Detailed route plans and maps.
GPS routes (Garmin / Tom Tom).
Detailed daily itinerary including sights and suggested coffee / lunch stops.
What's not
Fuel.
Toll charges.
Admission charges.
Occasional hotel parking charges.
Meals and drinks other than specified above.
Travel/Breakdown insurance covering repatriation back to the UK.
Common questions about this trip
Can I get a different crossing on this trip?
Of course, many of our clients cross by ferry instead. If you would like to do this and make your own way to the hotel on the first night just let us know in the comments section of your booking form and we will deduct the cost of the Eurotunnel crossing from your booking.
When is the best time of year to do this trip?
May to September as a rule although April and October can work with a dash of luck.
Can I extend this trip?
Of course, if you wanted to spend a few more days in the saddle with two nights extra in Normandy you can have rideouts to Falaise, La Roche and the beautiful Normandy beaches, the Bayeux tapestry and the Château de Carrouges. Your hosts there will be happy to take you into town to the local hangouts and drive you back. You could also add some more time in the Dordogne if that took your fancy, whatever your wishes just let us know in the comments box when you book and we’ll happily tweak this tour to suit your needs.
More information
For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.
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