Around the island of Yeu by bike

Do you like to take long bike rides? Whether you are a family, a couple or solo, and whatever your level, the tour of the island of Yeu by bike is accessible to all. It is pure happiness to enjoy the sea air of the coastal paths, the woody scents of the pine forests and the floral notes released by the hollyhocks that line the white houses of the island. Get on your bike, we'll take you on an exotic and captivating ride on the cycle paths of the Ile d'Yeu...

Photos of the Vendée Guide article

Cycling

The Ile d'Yeu is a true paradise for lovers of slow tourism. You don't need to be a seasoned cyclist to adopt this mode of transport, which is gentle on the environment and which offers you so many advantages. Holidays are THE time to slow down and why not, to pedal! Play sports by going quietly to the market to do the shopping. Take the time to observe the landscape, which passes by at your own pace. This is, without a doubt, the best way to appreciate the exceptional environment of the island. But it's also an opportunity to share a real moment with the family to give meaning to the road traveled… These are the advantages of cycling!

On the Ile d'Yeu, soft mobility is preferred and everything is planned to make your life easier by bike. We give you some good tips:

• The tourist office of the island of Yeu advises you to rent a bike.

Around the island of Yeu by bike

Now that you are in the mood and well prepared, here are the stages of this long-awaited tour of the island of Yeu . It is a small island of 23 km2. There are only 28 km to cover on the old customs footpath which goes completely around the island of Yeu and offers you a few detours to see points of interest: monuments and small heritage, viewpoints , natural spaces.

You will pedal on beautiful tracks. Some portions take the GR80. It's an easy and family walk, lasting about 6 hours, with little elevation. Leaving Port-Joinville, directly on the wharf, you head north on a long street that crosses the town, becomes a road and takes on different names, but it is difficult to get lost. Our partner Cirkwi shows you the route: Around the island of Yeu by bike (fr).

It's an exotic trip that awaits you in a wild environment, between pine forests, fine sandy beaches and steep cliffs. Here are the main stages of your journey:

• You walk along the beaches of the island and in particular the Plage des Roses.
• At the northern end, take a break at the Dolmen des Petits Fadets.
• After leaving the main road, you will pass not far from the Dolmen de la Planche à Puare.
• You will also need to deviate a little from the main route to admire the view at Pointe du But.
• You will follow the magnificent coves of the island and you can take a short detour to Pointe du Châtelet and its small Plage des Sabias.
• You can admire the military fortress of Vieux Château. Visits are possible from April to September.
• The typical village of La Meule deserves a look and allows you to take a break or have something to eat.
• The port of La Meule is the ideal place to soak up the atmosphere of this wild coast of the Ile d'Yeu.
• The beautiful cove of Fountains is sandwiched between Belions and Pointe de la Tranche.
• Anse des Soux Beach is one of the most beautiful on the island.
• The very small port of Les Vieilles is nestled in a rocky escarpment, near the Plage des Vieilles.
• Then you are at the other end of the island at Pointe des Corbeaux, where the beautiful Phare des Corbeaux sits.
• You will follow the marshy area of the island: the marsh of the islet, the Mottou, the Cross, the Gorelle, the salt marsh.
• Finally you branch off to visit Saint-Sauveur, before reaching Port-Joinville.

The paths of the Ile d'Yeu

If you don't want to do a complete tour, all the tracks on the island are passable by bike. Some more mountain biking than road biking, inquire beforehand at the tourist office.

Here are the 5 paths, which allow you to discover the island of Yeu, in all its facets. Each is oriented on a specific theme:

• The marsh trail (fr) takes you on a discovery of the island's salt marshes.
• The Sente de Noiroit (fr) is a forest path through the pines.
• The Kreuzland path (fr) is oriented towards the Pointe des Corbeaux and the wild coast of the island.
• The Sente des Oyes (fr) gives pride of place to its small heritage, around Vieux Château.
• The Sente de la Meule (fr) takes you to the traditional village of La Meule and its small port.

Our tour of the island of Yeu by bike ends. We hope that this visit has made you want to discover the Vendée.

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