La Loire à Vélo, from Angers to Saint-Brevin

Suitable for intermediate cyclists. The route mainly follows minor paved roads and avoids busier departmental roads as much as possible. Daily stages range from 56 to 63 km. The entire route is signposted in both directions.

You only carry your essentials for the day in a small backpack or pannier, along with your picnic lunch. Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel in the evening. Luggage is limited to one bag per person (maximum 20 kg). Bags must be left at the hotel reception before 9:30 am and will be delivered before 6 pm.

Available for 2 people or more. Solo travellers can also take this trip for a supplement.

5 days, 4 nights, 3 days of cycling.

A self-guided trip, without a guide. We provide a digital travel information pack containing access to our smartphone navigation app, your accommodation list, any vouchers required and all the information you need for your stay to run smoothly. If you wish, we can provide a paper version of the travel information pack with maps, a route guide and a travel wallet, for a supplement of 35 € per pack. For paper travel information pack requests made less than 45 days before departure, and for travellers living abroad, the packs will be sent to your first hotel.

Accommodation

Bed and breakfast in a room for two, in a 2* hotel or a comfortable guesthouse, with 2 nights in a 3* hotel in Nantes and Angers. If the planned accommodation is fully booked, we may arrange for you to stay in another hotel of the same category.

Hotel ratings

In France, an increasing number of hotels and guesthouses choose not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated a year or two ago. This does not mean their quality has declined—far from it. Many guesthouses offer charming accommodation.
If we indicate, for example, a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”: this means that the establishment may not have an official rating, but offers a level of comfort comparable to a 3* hotel.

Meals

For lunch, the route passes through many villages, allowing you to choose between a restaurant, a village café, an inn or a picnic. At each overnight stop, you will find restaurants near your accommodation for dinner.
Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

Please note: accommodation photos are for illustrative purposes only. Accommodation may change. Depending on availability, we may book other hotels of an equivalent standard and level of comfort.

Start

Day 1 in Angers.

Finish

Day 5 in Saint-Brévin, after breakfast.

You can add an extra night before or after your cycling holiday in Angers or St Brévin.
If you book an extra night in St Brévin on Day 5, you can take the opportunity to make a return trip to Pornic; approximately 50km, taking you to the delightful harbour of Pornic, a gem of the Côte de Jade, via Pointe de Gildas and back. This holiday can also be combined with our St Brévin to La Rochelle itinerary.

Bike hire

If you hire a bike, it will be delivered to your hotel in Angers on Day 1. At the end of your holiday, you must leave the bike at your final hotel on Day 4 after your ride and let reception know. We will arrange its return. Below is the type of bike we book (or an equivalent; photos are for illustration only).
Type: Hybrid bike, Scott or equivalent, equipped with a 27-speed Shimano drivetrain and a Custom Racktime luggage rack.

Please remember to tell us your height when booking

Hybrid bike equipment: 1 handlebar bag containing a map holder, strap, multi-tool, puncture patches, tyre levers, 2 inner tubes / 1 empty rear pannier / 1 helmet / Flat pedals
E-bike equipment: 1 handlebar bag containing a map holder, strap, multi-tool, puncture patches, tyre levers, 2 inner tubes / 1 empty rear pannier / 1 bag with battery charger, pump and e-bike user manual / 1 helmet / Flat pedals

Women’s and men’s hybrid bike models:

Women’s hybrid hire bike

Men’s hybrid hire bike

Electric-assist bike (e-bike)

Electric-assist hire bike

Optional bike handover and setup service: Meet for a personal handover of your bikes, including adjustments to ensure an optimal riding position, technical explanations of how the bike works, and answers to your questions so you can set off in the best possible conditions.

Getting to Angers

From Lyon: Direct TGV, approximately 3 hours 45 minutes

You can check timetables and fares at: https://www.sncf-connect.com/fr-fr

Leaving St Brévin

Take the LILA Loire Atlantique bus (route 17) from the Pôle de Bresse stop in St Brévin to Saint-Nazaire SNCF railway station https://www.saint-brevin.com/bus-aleop-ligne-317.html, then take the train:

To Lyon: TGV, 1 connection in Angers, approximately 6 hours

You can check timetables and fares at: https://www.sncf-connect.com/fr-fr

Lyon / Angers: 596km, including 588km on motorways, approximately 5 hours 45 minutes

You can plan your own route at: https://www.viamichelin.fr/

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim, either along the day’s route or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, we stress that it is up to you to judge whether swimming is appropriate; you therefore swim under your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As members of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector adopt more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and prices
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and foster meaningful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognised as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a demanding international certification scheme, recognises our practical actions in support of responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

For cycling

• Cycling shorts (padded bike shorts)
• Cycling gloves (optional)
• A helmet
• Sunglasses (to protect against sunlight, wind and midges)
• A windproof jacket
• T-shirts or cycling jerseys
• A handlebar map holder
• A water bottle

Note: Synthetic technical clothing performs very well. New merino wool clothing is also available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of resisting sweat odours (brands include Icebreaker, Ruka, etc.)! As a general rule, avoid cotton, which makes you cold when wet.

For sun and rain protection

• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat (helmet)
• A windproof jacket
• A rain poncho or a “Gore-Tex” jacket

For your lunchtime picnic

• A plastic bowl or plate
• Cutlery (spoon, knife and fork)

• A jumper or fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers
• Shorts
• A tracksuit or a change of clothes
• A lightweight, long-sleeved cotton shirt
• A pair of running-style trainers for the evenings
• Spare clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag
• Swimwear
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, Elastoplast, Biogaze or “2nd Skin”, gauze, antiseptic, arnica granules and aspirin for minor ailments …

• If your bike does not have panniers, bring a comfortable small 40-litre backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic during the day. If you have a luggage rack, you can secure your bag to it with bungee cords. Rental bikes come with panniers where you can put your belongings. Bring a small backpack as well; this makes it easy to carry your belongings when you stop to visit somewhere along the way.
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack or travel bag in good condition.

Country: France
Capital: Paris

Documents

Travellers, including minors, must carry a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).
Wearing a helmet is compulsory up to the age of 12 and strongly recommended for adults.

Useful addresses

Angers Tourist Office

• Destination Angers
  7 places Kennedy
  49051 ANGERS
  Tel: +332 41235000

Nantes Tourist Office https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/

• Nantes Tourisme
  9 rue des Etats
  44000 NANTES
  Tel: +338 92464044

• Opening hours:
  Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm
  Sundays and public holidays: 10am – 5pm
  July and August: 7 days/7, 9am – 7pm

St Brévin Tourist Office

• St Brévin Tourist Office
  10 rue de l’Eglise
  PO Box 1010
  44250 ST BREVIN LES PINS
  Tel: +332 40272432

• St Brévin Tourist Office, Océan district
  Place René Guy Cadou
  44250 ST BREVIN LES PINS
  Tel: +334 272432

Dialling code for calling France from abroad: +33.

No time difference. GMT +1.

IGN Top100 map: No. 125 Angers Laval and No. 131 Nantes La Roche sur Yon.