Three ideas for Dieppe to Paris itineraries
All of the following use daytime ferry from Newhaven, arriving
Dieppe about 3pm. They use the pick of the places to stay in my accommodation guide, all
of them universally praised by visitors. NOTE SUMMER 2015: At present
another option is to take a late afternoon ferry, staying in
Dieppe. I've set out some pluses and minuses
of taking this one, but if you do, it makes Option 3 below more
feasible (a 60 plus a 70 mile full day), or else to combine Option 3
(first day) with Option 2A (second day) - ie two days of 50+
miles then one of 25.
1) Leisurely - 3.5 days: 20/25 miles...35/40 miles...35 miles...35 miles
Take your time, enjoy the countryside.
First afternoon gentle ride along Avenue Verte to Mesnieres or Neufchatel (20-25 miles). Stay at 23 Grand Rue or Manoir d'Aulage, each outstanding in its own way.
Day 2, enjoy the Pays de Bray, getting hillier later on, ending at the marvellous Chambres du Confiturier a memorable treat. Or stop earlier at Le Cygne or Chambres de l'Abbaye
Day 3, over the rolling plateau to the small town
of Marines, then on through wooded valleys to Boisemont, staying at a
rustic farmhouse, La Ferme Rose
Day 4, final day into Paris, passing by Seine and through the forests
2) Energetic 2 half days plus full day in middle:
Challenging, but manageable if you are reasonably fit
VERSION A 45 miles...60 miles...25 miles Best option if you have a long summer evening to get a few hours in off the ferry
First afternoon 45 miles off ferry to La Brayonne:
worth the stretch for Sophie's warm hospitality, tasteful home
and lovely food.
Day
2, longish day through rolling countryside. Near the end, come down a
magnificent hill off the plateau to the Seine, and stay at Campanile at la Villenne - widely praised despite being a chain hotel
Day 3, the last 25 miles into Paris takes you through the forests and
gives you time for a bit of sightseeing before an evening
Eurostar without the cost of a Paris hotel.
VERSION B 35 miles...60 miles...35 miles Best option for large group and/or you want a shorter first afternoon ride that doesnt extend into the evening
This involves stopping in the pleasant town of Forges Les Eaux, where there are plenty of hotels in my guide. Sofhotel, and potentially Hotel St Denis have capacity for large groups.
On Day 2, it's then 60 miles to La Ferme Rose, which has high capacity and plenty of space to spread yourselves: a sociable place to stop.
Day 3 is then another 35 miles into Paris, giving enough time to look around before an evening departure
3) A challenge for fit riders - 1.5 days: 50-60 miles...70-80 miles
For this version, the main issue in booking your one night en route is
how far you think you can get coming off a 3pm ferry. In midsummer it
stays light till about 11pm, so you could be quite ambitious (but let the B&B/hotel know of your late arrival plans). The ideal
is Chambres du Confiturier, at
61 miles nearly halfway to Paris. Apart from the fact that it's such a
great place to stay, getting this far reduces the rush the next day,
especially if you're booked on an evening Eurostar. But unless your're
quite fast and on a road bike, Chambres de l'Abbaye or le Cygne (good for large groups)
may be more realistic, and both really great places. Warning: you'll
probably be thinking "we should leave really early on the second day,
to give plenty of time to get to Paris". Once you see the splendid
breakfasts that these places lay on, you'll find it hard to stick to
your resolve. Also be warned that it's advisable to allow at least 45
minutes from Eiffel Tower to Gare du Nord, to allow for taking care in
traffic, waiting at traffic lights, navigation and a chance to see the
sights - so if you're doing a long day and
catching the train, book it quite late if possible.
ONE FURTHER ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTED BY JOE STIDDARD JENKINS, WHICH HE DID IN 2015 AND WORKED WELL:
Fitting in London Paris in a weekend, for the busy working person:
Leave your desk early afternoon Friday
Get to Newhaven for the 11pm ferry
Arrive early Saturday morning and do maybe 80-ish miles to eg Marines
Get to Paris in time for an early Sunday evening Eurostar
Back at your desk first thing Monday morning
Main drawback is not getting much sleep on the ferry on Friday night,
but you may have the sort of job where you can doze a bit on Monday...