London to Barcelona Cycle Tour

This 14-day supported road tour takes riders from London to Barcelona across remarkably diverse landscapes. The journey opens on quiet Surrey lanes from Hampton Court to Portsmouth, followed by an overnight ferry to Caen in Normandy.

Through France, the route crosses four regions: Normandy's green farmland, the Loire Valley's vineyards and châteaux (crossing the river at Tours), the medieval villages and castles of Nouvelle Aquitaine, and the sun-baked countryside of Occitanie. A rest day is spent in the fortified UNESCO city of Carcassonne before the route climbs into the Pyrenean foothills.

The tour's centrepiece is the crossing into Spain via the 1,513 m Col d'Ares, a 52 km climb followed by a 32 km descent. From there, riders continue through Catalonia to Ripoll before a final day following the River Merlés into Barcelona, finishing on the city's dedicated cycleways at the Mediterranean.

They describe this as a challenging tour with several demanding climbing days, suited to riders who have trained specifically for the distance and elevation involved. A support van, tour leader and assistant accompany the group throughout, providing mechanical support, luggage transfer and refreshments en route.

Highlights:

• Overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
• Normandy farmland, Loire Valley châteaux and Dordogne countryside
• Rest day in the fortified UNESCO city of Carcassonne
• Crossing into Spain via the 1,513 m Col d'Ares (52 km climb, 32 km descent)
• Finish along Barcelona's dedicated cycleways to the Mediterranean

Surface and terrain:
Quiet country roads with some busier joining sections and town riding at the start and end of days. Well surfaced throughout, suitable for road bike tyres of 25 mm or more. Mountainous terrain through the Pyrenees.

Weather:
Runs in May. Average daily highs of 17-21°C, with daytime range up to 24°C. Generally sunny with low rainfall, though this varies between northern France and the coastal south.

Suitable for:
Classified as an "Avid" rider tour, for cyclists who are fit, experienced and specifically trained for long days and mountain climbing.