Euro trip suggestions, start/finish in Rotterdam

[Dibble]

Not me, sadly. I’m still without a bike.

A mate is looking to do a bike trip in June. He plans to go to Rotterdam on the Friday overnight ferry and return Tuesday overnight. He’s after suggestions for a 4 day circular route.

[hiccy18]

I'd be aiming for Colmar for the Vosges mountains and the Ardennes, would make an awesome minibreak. Bit of Black Forest? Don't mind if I do.

[black-k1]

Assuming that purpose of the trip is to ride "nice roads" then realistically, the Ardennes are the only option. The Vosges Mountains and and beyond are the best part of a days ride to get there and the same to get back so half of the trip is on boring main roads just to get there/back.

[GriffoDP]

Agree on Ardennes. Last summer I took a few friends via the Ardennes to Vosges area. We did about 8 or 9 nights. 3 in Luxembourg and 3 in Vosges.

Ardennes would be easier for a short trip. It's got pretty decent roads near the border, bopping back and forth. Could make it a loop going via Luxembourg if the miles/hours-per-day calcs work for them. There's some nice stuff either side of Vianden, and along the border if you pick the not-boring side.

Could then aim for Bouillon and there's a nice wiggly bit going west from there. We stopped there for a rainy lunch, then got trapped in some cafe in the Ardennes region when a thunderstorm and a flying parasol caused some explodey power line things to happen. The French firemen still have shiny bronze hats!

Some YouTube fella did a similar Bouillon route recently but I forget who it was sorry.

But as said, it depends if they are looking for any excuse to ride at a decent pace all day every day, or visit some chateaux, eat some swans, drink some asparagus smoothies.

[RizzoTheRat]

The Ardennes is a good shout, and about 300km from Rotterdam. However you might also want to look at the Rothaar mountains and Sauerland area in Germany, South East of Essen. A similar distance from Rotterdam and some lovely roads.
Random internet link https://www.wunderlich.de/en/good-to-know/wunderli...

Don't forget the speed limit in NL is 100kph until 7pm.

[TiminYorkshire]

I echo the above, Ardennes and perhaps spill over into Germany to the Eifel area and Mosel valley, take in the B258, and swing past the Nurburgring to watch TF or any event whilst eating a curry wurst at Brunnchen.

[Dibble]

Thanks all for the suggestions, I’ll pass on the link to the thread so he can have a look.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

RizzoTheRat said:

The Ardennes is a good shout, and about 300km from Rotterdam. However you might also want to look at the Rothaar mountains and Sauerland area in Germany, South East of Essen. A similar distance from Rotterdam and some lovely roads.
Random internet link https://www.wunderlich.de/en/good-to-know/wunderli...

Don't forget the speed limit in NL is 100kph until 7pm.

Sauerland is great for riding and a few hours from the Dutch coast. Can recommend the Seegarten hotel in Sundern.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Vosges, and maybe a wiggle back via Bouillon – I've done a few video series covering these roads (Tim Rodie Rides Motorbikes – look for my M1000R series and my 1290 Super Adventure S series I think. Or my MT-10 one… god I need to do some different roads!)

[GriffoDP]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Sauerland is great for riding and a few hours from the Dutch coast. Can recommend the Seegarten hotel in Sundern.

Thank you kindly; saved! Having decent hotels is pretty much my biggest obstacle to planning trips .

TimmyWimmyWoo said:

Vosges, and maybe a wiggle back via Bouillon  I've done a few video series covering these roads (Tim Rodie Rides Motorbikes look for my M1000R series and my 1290 Super Adventure S series I think. Or my MT-10 one god I need to do some different roads!)

Ah it was your videos I was thinking of then! Saw them after I got back, gives me reasons to go again .

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

The Vosges is also a brilliant area for riding, just watch the weather forecast. We went one May. Two days before, sat outside in Reims sampling champagne. Top of the Col de la Schlucht, where it meets the Route des Cretes - snow.

Also the main square in Obernai has an epic bakers / patisserie

[black-k1]

I think people are missing the duration of this trip. It's 4 days. Now, to be clear, I would prefer the Vosges Mountains to the Arden but, from Rotterdam, the Vosges Mountains are almost 7 hours, via motorway. That's one full on day there and one full on day back of motorway riding, to have 2 days on nice roads. The Arden is half a day there and half a day back so three days on nice roads.

[hiccy18]

Or you could do two days to get there and two days back in a loop taking in lots of nice roads? Motorway to Liege is three hours so lunch there then wander towards Trier?

Edited by hiccy18 on Monday 13th April 08:58

[Soloman Dodd]

Vianden would be my target, it's on the Luxenbourg/German border.

Visit the castle. Cable car up to a bar, lovely.