Hi there, We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?

A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!

Thanks! :-)

Hi there,

I’m the creator of the site RandoCamping. A new hiking-planning feature has just been added to the site. It might interest anyone who likes to prepare their hike or trip in advance, in France, whether on foot or by bike.

https://randocamping.touteslatitudes.fr/ma-rando

How it works... Upload a GPX file, choose your number of days and effort level, and the app automatically splits your route into daily stages with accommodation searches based on your criteria. The calculated stages can be manually adjusted, and once you're happy with your breakdown, all that's left is to select the accommodations that suit you for each night. The route for each stage can also be fine-tuned using the Route Editing and Calculation tool. The final itinerary, with your customized stages, can be exported in GPX format to take with you on your navigation device. Your hike can be retrieved and modified at any time once you’ve saved it in GPX format.

More info on this page: https://randovelo.touteslatitudes.fr/randocamping-planifier-ma-rando/

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.

Hello fellow cycle tourists, Are there any campsites along the Somme cycle route? Let’s say every 50/60 km starting from Tergnier. Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone, We’re organizing a week-long bike trip for a group of scouts. I’ve already mapped out a route using Géovélo (travel option). The teens will take the train to Nemours (or a bit beyond) and then follow the Loire à Vélo route for a good stretch (until Nevers, which they’ll bypass to the west). After Nevers, things get a bit trickier. I also wanted to avoid Moulins, so I planned for them to follow the Allier’s west bank and cross near Châtel-de-Neuvre. I’m having some doubts about the route and really want to steer clear of busy main roads as much as possible. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the route I’ve chosen, plus any tips you might have. I saw there’s the V70 veloroute, but I decided against it after hearing it has some *very* road-heavy sections.

Hi there,

Last summer, I cycled through the Lot and Célé Valleys. There were two couples of us, in "camping mode," with hybrid bikes (except for one road bike with tires that weren’t hybrid at all (!) plus a Bob trailer). We completed the route in the first half of July in just under 15 days (allowing time to explore along the way). The odometer totaled 550 km. We started in Aiguillon on the Lot River and finished in Saint-Geniez-d’Olt. It was an absolute delight. First off, a big thank you to everyone who helped us plan this trip by sharing tips, favorite spots, and practical guides—there were many, and some will recognize themselves (a Jakez from Brittany, a local postman, etc.). A major project seemed to have been launched, but since 2011, not much has materialized beyond Cahors (a signposted cycle route). Don’t let that stop you—it’s totally worth it! In return for the great tips we received, I’m happy to help anyone considering the same route with details on the itinerary, stages, road conditions and traffic, campsites, highlights, and more. Best regards,

Pierre from Lorient