Overview
This varied and exciting route begins at Dassault Systemes offices in Cambridge, through Cambridgeshire, Essex and Kent to Rochester. The following morning we’ll ride to Dover, cross the English Channel to Calais then cycle through France, Belgium and The Netherlands, ending our ride at Den Bosch.
It’s is a pioneering project that will see you pedal your way through England, France, Belgium and The Netherlands. You’ll explore a mixture of brilliant roads, fabulous canal paths and cycle lanes over four unique cycling days. This trip is fully supported, so all you need to do is turn up and cycle!
Highlights
- Riding through rural Cambridgeshire and Essex
- Crossing the Thames on a passenger ferry
- Arriving at Dover for our ferry to France
- Riding along the perfect canalside cycle lanes of Belgium and The Netherlands
- Cycling through four countries in just four days
- Finishing the ride in style at the Dassault Systemes office in Den Bosch
Our Star Ratings
Here is an explanation of our cycling trip grades. Please bear in mind that total ascent, wind, rain and general riding conditions can play as important factors as the daily distances involved. Whilst we have stated some example distances, the overall difficulty assigned to each trip will encompass a range of these factors. If you are at all unsure of whether you think the trip is suitable, please contact us.
Easy: Suitable for those new to cycling seeking an introductory and very relaxed yet active experience on two wheels. Easy riding on short, flat and/or gently undulating routes. Approx 20 – 40 miles a day
Relaxed: Undulating terrain with occasional minor undulations for semi-regular novices who wish to develop fitness and ability. May include a few short steep climbs. Approx 40 – 50 miles a day
Moderate: Designed for cyclists with a good level of riding experience and fitness, and are comfortable riding for full days in the saddle. Routes will include some steep and/or sustained climbs. Not for those completely new to cycling. Approx 50 – 80 miles a day
Challenging: Routes with multiple steep and sustained climbs and technical descents and/or long distances. Riders need to be have a high level of fitness and stamina in addition to experience in riding over extended distances and/or tackling long ascents and descents. Approx 70 – 110 miles a day
Advanced: Designed for experienced cyclists with an excellent level of fitness and stamina. Routes are consistently long with multiple serious and steep ascents and descents throughout. High altitude ascents may be undertaken followed by technically demanding descents. Approx 80 – 120 miles a day
Itinerary
Day 1: Cambridge – Rochester
80 miles & 3000 feet ⬆
We meet at Dassault Systemes offices in Cambridge. After a trip briefing, photos and loading luggage onto the support vehicle, we cycle south through Cambridgeshire, crossing the River Granta and through countryside to the south of the city. We’ll soon cross the border into Essex to the west of the historic market town of Saffron Walden. Our journey continues through rural Essex, skirting around Basildon to the ferry port at Tilbury on the Thames river. Here we’ll jump on the passenger ferry for the short crossing over the Thames to Gravesend. From there it’s a further eight miles to our hotel in Rochester where we’ll also have our evening meal.
Day 2: Rochester – Dover – De Panne
90 miles & 3500 feet ⬆
After breakfast we continue our ride southwest through Kent. There are some considerable climbs to tackle during this morning’s ride, particularly as we ride the more rural roads of the so-called Garden of England. However, we’ll soon arrive at Dover where we’ll board our ferry to France, leaving England behind. Once we’ve arrived in Calais we still have a considerable ride ahead of us but it’s almost completely flat. We ride east from Calais, skirting around the busy town of Dunkirk to the Belgian border. Our overnight stop is just over the border at the seaside town of De Panne.
Day 3: De Panne – Bergen op Zoom
101 miles & 1100 feet ⬆
Today is the longest ride but with very few hills to contend with. Our route heads northeast, skirting the north of Bruges and crossing our third international border of the trip as we enter The Netherlands. At Breskens we then catch another passenger ferry over the Scheldt Estuary to Vlissingen which is situated on Midden-Zeeland, the central peninsula of the Zeeland province. We continue due east entering North Brabant province to the north of Antwerp and to our overnight stop in Bergen op Zoom.
Day 4: Bergen op Zoom – Den Bosch
65 miles & 600 feet ⬆
Our fourth and final day’s ride is again very flat and almost entirely on the wonderful cycle lanes of The Netherlands! We ride northeast, skirting around the town of Breda and through Geertruidenberg to cross the Bergse Maas canal just to the east of De Biesbosch National Park. From here our route follows the Bergse Maas then the Meuse river into the city of Den Bosch. The ride will end at Dassault Systemes offices to the northeast of the city before a short ride to our hotel for the evening. We’ll have a team celebratory meal and a few drinks in the city – congratulations!
Day 5: Den Bosch – UK
Your bicycles and luggage will be driven back to the UK for pickup at a couple of locations at a time convenient to you. They will be ready for pickup a couple of days after the trip has ended. Return transport from Den Bosch is not provided so you’ll need to arrange this yourself. If you’re travelling elsewhere then please get in touch to see if we can help with the transportation of your bicycle and luggage.
This itinerary is a guide only and can sometimes be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Whilst we endeavour to uphold the proposed daily mileages, this cannot be guaranteed due to changes to hotel bookings.
The total cost per participant is £300 which will be made up of two payments of £150, Dassault Systemes will be paying the remainder of the trip cost. To secure your place, please scroll down and click book now!
Map
Includes
- Cycle leader(s) and support driver(s)
- 4 x night’s hotel accommodation
- Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais
- 4 x breakfasts
- 4 x buffet-style lunches
- Bicycle mechanical support
- First Aid cover
- All luggage transported during your trip
- Bicycle and main luggage transfer back to the UK
- GPX files of the route (if requested)
FAQs
Can you transport my bike box in the support vehicle because I'm flying back at the end of the trip?
Yes, this isn't a problem. Please email us to confirm though please.
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