GT Newperson CycleTours

Tour de Haut Vivarais 15th to 22nd June 2002

From the 15th to 22nd June 2002, the Tour de Haut Vivarais will be based in a gite in the region of the hills and valleys of the rivers running between the edge of the Massif Central with its high plateau of extinct volcanos and the broad valley and the 'Côtes de Rhône' vineyards of the Rhône river.

The Vivarais region, in the Rhône-Alpes Département, lies for 100 kilometres along the western bank of the Rhône with the lower part and the town of Viviers, which gives the region its name, in the south and the Haut Vivarais in the north, separated by the black basalt rocks of the Plateau du Coiron.

The Rhône valley near Valence is about 100 metres above sea-level, with the Haut Vivarais at between 300 to 600 metres, and the plateau of the Massif Central at over 1000 metres.

There is great interest in all outdoor activity including walking, climbing, mountain biking & cycle-touring, and 'le pique-nique'.

The FFCT (the French CTC) and the Comité Départemental de Cyclotourisme de l'Ardèche have produced a guide of 20 cycle routes of anything from 18 to 100 kilometres with details of all the climbing, and there's plenty of it.

In the Massif

The Eyrieux and the Doux are the main rivers descending fron the Haut Vivarais into the Rhône. The Eyrieux is known for its peaches and chestnuts, and the Doux for its scenic Steam Railway.

The many Rhône vineyards nearby include the well-known like Crozes-Hermitage and the local like Saint-Joseph, Saint-Péray (tasting of aubergine and aged honey!) and Cornas (leather and truffles?).

We recommend travelling from London on the Eurostar to Lille, where we change onto the TGV high-speed train to Valence.

The cost of the tour is £380 and includes breakfast and evening meal, accommodation, and a detailed route guide with recommended routes.

If you would like to come, please send a deposit of £50, with the balance of £330, less the £20 shared room discount if applicable, to be paid by 20th April 2002. We can book the rail tickets for you, which will cost approximately £120.

You can put your bike in a bag and take it with you on the train. If you would prefer your bike can be transported by van.