This is my bicycle touring route from Greece to England. I started my trip in May 2016, and arrived in England in July. Read on to find out about the route and the countries I am cycled through.
My Bicycle Touring Route From Greece To England
When planning my bicycle touring route from Greece to England, I had some considerations to keep in mind.
The first, was that the time I could spend cycling was limited to a couple of months.
The second, was that I would like to cycle through some of the Balkan countries I had never been to before.
The third, was that the route needed to include some cities that the Mrs could fly to in order to meet me a couple of times during the trip.
The resulting cycling route from Greece to England takes all that into account.
Note – When I am actually cycling, I will be navigating using a mix of GPS, maps, and asking people for directions. You can read a previous article I wrote about it here – Bicycle Touring Navigation.
Route planning with Garmin
I planned the bike touring route across Europe using a combination of Garmin Connect and Google maps. I found Garmin Connect useful because it gave elevations of sections of cycling.
I have included the Garmin Connect routes down below. NOTE: These maps can take a while to load so please be patient! I think the information in them is worth the extra few seconds to wait 😉
Cycling Through Greece – My route
-This is a 10 day stretch of cycling, which will take me up the west coast of Greece
. I tend to average 80 kms a day when bicycle touring, but the first 3 days average much lower.
This is so I can gently ease into the tour (if there is such a thing!). Day 4 is the longest day of this first stretch, where I need to cover about 100 kms.
Due to several commitments en-route, (such as reviewing accommodation and meeting up with the Mrs), I need to keep to my schedule as much as possible.
Cycling Through Albania – My route
This is a country I really want to spend a great deal of time in bicycle touring, however on this trip, I will need to cycle through it pretty quickly.
In fact, reviewing my route, I am a little concerned that I have been a touch over-ambitious in what I can achieve here in order to make my deadlines.
Still, I love a challenge! I have previously visited Albania
, and you can read some of my blog posts here – Dave's Travel Pages in Albania.
Cycling Through Montenegro
Montenegro
will be the first ‘new' country on my bicycle touring route from Greece to England. Not that I will be there long on this occasion. There's an interesting guide here on cycling routes in Montenegro.
Cycling Through Croatia
Croatia
is a much bigger country than you think. Well, actually, it is a much longer country than you think.
It is also split in two by a narrow strip of land connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina to the sea. Before that happens though, I reach the city of Dubrovnik, where I spend a couple of days with the Mrs (I should really stop calling her that, but I just can't help myself!).
Cycling Through Bosnia and Herzegovina
I'm not sure how much the short strip of land is that splits Croatia, but I think it's about 20 kms. I can hardly claim to be bicycle touring in Bosnia and Herzegovina
, more gliding through!
Cycling Through Croatia (again)
I enter Croatia once more, and continue cycling along the coastal roads until I meet the border with Slovenia.
Cycling Through Slovenia
Over the past few years, Slovenia
has been marketing itself as a destination for outdoor lovers, with a particular emphasis on bicycle touring.
It will be quite interesting to see some of the cycling routes they have come up with, and to travel through what will be another new country for me.
Along the way, I am due to stay at a luxury campsite for a couple of days in exchange for reviewing it. I am quite looking forward to that!
Cycling Through Austria
This is an initially short stretch of cycling in Austria
. had to include it here though to keep things nice an accurate!
Cycling Through Slovakia
When I reach Bratislava, I get to take 10 days off my cycling route from Greece to England! The Mrs is flying out to meet me, and we will spend a few days in Slovakia
and Hungary
.
Hopefully I can find somewhere to keep the bike for this time, as we will be travelling either by train or bus.
Cycling Through Austria
Back on the bike once more, and from Bratislava in Slovakia, I cycle to Vienna in Austria. At this point, I begin to retrace in reverse a route I took almost 10 years ago when cycling from England to South Africa.
For the Austrian section, this follows much of the River Danube Cycling Route, one of the most famous long distance cycling routes in Europe.
Cycling Through Germany
I was very impressed with the network of cycling routes in Germany the last time I cycled there, and am looking forward to more of the same.
At this stage, the only deadline I have to meet, is to catch a flight back from England to Greece at the end of July. Although I have mapped out some stages along the way, I can be a lot more flexible.
Cycling Through France
This is the homeward stretch, and I think at this point I will be mainly thinking of cycling to England a quickly as I can so I can indulge in some guilty pleasures such as fish and chips, and a full English breakfast!
Again, I can be reasonably flexible with the route and times, although this is the current planned route.
Cycling Through England
For those ‘funny' people that wondered how I could cycle across the channel on my bicycle touring route from Greece to England
, I will be taking a ferry!
Once back in Blighty, it's a few day's cycle to Northampton which marks the end of my journey.
The Mrs says
You are right, you should really stop calling me that!
Dave Briggs says
That told me!