Two mothers cycle 130 km with toddlers through Normandy's greenways
A family cycling and camping trip in Normandy, France, is described, where two sisters and their three-year-old sons covered 130 km in five days using e-bikes and staying at various cyclist-friendly accommodations.
Two mothers have completed a 130-kilometre cycling tour through the Normandy region of France, accompanied by their three-year-old sons. The five-day journey mostly followed the Véloscénic, a car-free greenway connecting Mont-Saint-Michel and Paris, with detours into the historic province of Perche. The group used electric bikes hired from local supplier Jean-Louis, who insisted on them despite initial resistance.
The route began in Rémalard-en-Perche and ended in Domfront. While the main path was mostly flat, exploring the surrounding countryside involved steep hills that made the e-bikes essential. The children sat in child seats on the back, enjoying the ride by pointing, laughing, and singing. Accommodation was provided at several Accueil Vélo-certified sites, including the Forest View campsite with wooden pods, the Café de la Place where they pitched a tent in the garden, and an orchard behind the Château de Carrouges. A storm during one night in the orchard tested their camping skills but passed by morning.
The final night was spent in a hand-built cabin called Cabane des Deux Chênes, nestled between two old oaks, complete with a Nordic bath. On the last morning, they visited Ferme de l'Yonnière, where Jérôme Forget produces AOP Poiré Domfront pear cider. He explained that pear trees take decades to mature, which has made perry less fashionable, but he has planted a thousand new trees. Overall, the trip was a success, and the sisters are already planning to return next summer.
