Station-to-station cycle route

Cycle route from Vire to Mont Saint-Michel

Tested by Refuse to Hibernate

From station to station, head off on a cycling micro-adventure in La Manche! From Vire to Mont Saint-Michel, the route covers 100 kilometres and is suited to all levels. Try this cycle route in low season and enjoy the great outdoors for a few days as you travel through countryside and bocage landscapes, via the waterfalls in Mortain and the pretty little villages of La Manche. At the end of the route, feast your eyes on the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. Ready for a two-wheeled adventure tested and approved by the bloggers at Refuse to Hibernate? Let's go!

113km of cycling

612m of cumulative elevation gain

2 to 3h in the saddle per day

Stage 1: from Vire to Mortain - 43km

The adventure begins in Vire, a small Norman town renowned for its andouille, or smoked chitterlings sausage. When you arrive at the station, hop on your bike and head through the town centre towards the greenway. En route, you’ll leave the bustle behind as you cycle through a small forest that will take you to Mortain. This route is best explored in autumn, when the colours are especially lovely.

In Mortain, the sound of the waterfalls will take you to a world of legend in the heart of the wooded landscapes. Enjoy a stroll along the stream, cross the Pont du Diable and admire the Rocher de l'Aiguille.

Where to stay on this stage

After this first day in the saddle, stop and rest in a lovely stone house typical of the Mortain region. Elena and Pascal welcome you to their home, which they've been renovating for more than a year, right in the heart of Mortain-Bocage. This is a great place for cyclists, with a closed garage, a repair kit and a charging point for e-bikes. Meals are available for guests on some evenings.

La tour cachée

Stage 2: from Mortain to Ducey-les-Chéris - 35km

It's time to head off for a stage that’s slightly shorter than the first one, taking you through forests again. You’ll follow a section of the Véloscénie and Vélomaritime cycle routes. After a leisurely ride of around 15 km along greenways, you’ll arrive in the pretty village of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, awarded the Station Verte label.

Stop for lunch before heading off again for 20 kilometres through some lush countryside. In Ducey, the Château des Montgommery stands guard over the banks of the river Sélune. You can visit this historic monument on a guided tour, or by testing the Ducey Code experience, a life-size police investigation game.

Where to stay on this stage

At the end of this second day on your bike, some cosy “Accueil vélo” labelled accommodation awaits you: the three-star Auberge de la Sélune by the river. If the weather is good, enjoy a restful break in the pretty garden. And if you're hungry, be sure to try the restaurant with its delicious traditional cuisine and lovely waterside terrace.

Hôtel Auberge de la Sélune DUCEY-LES CHERIS

Hotel-Restaurant

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Stage 3: from Ducey-les-Chéris to Mont Saint-Michel - 25km

And now for the final stage of this green adventure taking you to the famous mount! Get back on your bike and head towards Mont Saint-Michel, enjoying lush woodland scenery on the way. You’ll cycle through Pontaubault before coming to the estuary of the Sée and the Sélune rivers, which marks the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. You’ll follow small country roads with plenty of fantastic views of the mount, as the countryside gives way to the seaside. Pedal the final kilometres and cross the bridge to the medieval village of Mont Saint-Michel.

If you get there early, leave your bike in the Cour des Fanils, at the foot of the mount. Parking is free of charge, but on a first-come, first-served basis. Wander through the winding streets and visit the Abbey, a gem of history and architecture and your ultimate reward!

For the return journey, cycle the 8 km back to the station in Pontorson, which marks the end of this fantastic adventure.

An adventure by Refuse to Hibernate

In October, the bloggers Audrey and Mickaël tested this station-to-station cycling adventure in La Manche for four days. This micro-adventure gave them the opportunity to enjoy the tranquil greenways, the peaceful low season and the warm colours of the countryside and the bocage landscapes

Refuse to hibernate logbook

Other station-to-station cycling micro-adventures

Practical information

Organising your trip

"Accueil vélo" labelled accommodation, leisure accommodation, bike hire, transport from station to station, topoguides, etc. Find all the information you need to prepare your trip.

Preparing my cycling trip

Hiring a bike with Ouibike in Sourdeval

For this cycle route between Vire and Mont Saint-Michel, you can easily hire bikes and e-bikes with Ouibike. This bike hire service accompanies you on all of your trips on the major cycle routes that cross La Manche: the Véloscénie, the Vélomaritime and the VéloWestNormandy. To make things easier, you can choose to hire bikes in one town and drop them off in another. With Ouibike, you can also book all the equipment you need for your trip, including ponchos, saddle bags, phone mounts and even tents, mattresses and stoves for the more adventurous cyclists!

Ouibike Sourdeval SOURDEVAL

Leisure

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