Cycling in Normandy: Voies Vertes near Coutances

✔ Traffic-free cycling routes · ✔ Flat, confidence-boosting paths · ✔ Cycle straight from the gîte
✔ Coast, countryside & historic stops · ✔ Secure bike storage on site · ✔ Cake stops considered essential

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First published: October 2025

Last updated: January 2026

Cycling in Normandy is one of those quietly brilliant things that doesn’t shout about itself. No dramatic hairpin bends, no competitive shouting in neon Lycra — just rolling countryside, deeply peaceful lanes, and an excellent network of Voies Vertes that make you wonder why cycling ever needed traffic in the first place.

Around Coutances, right in the heart of La Manche, cycling feels refreshingly manageable. Routes link villages, river valleys, and the coast without demanding heroic fitness levels or questionable life choices. From our gîte, you can simply get on your bike and go — no car juggling, no reversing into hedges, no debate about whose idea this was.

This is cycling at Normandy pace: unrushed, scenic, and with frequent opportunities to stop “just for a moment”, which inevitably involves food. Whether you’re here for gentle family rides, relaxed coastal routes, or longer Coutances vélo loops, this part of Manche delivers calmly and consistently — rather like a very reliable French baker.

🚴‍♀️ What is a “Voie Verte”?

Voies Vertes are traffic-free routes reserved for cyclists, walkers, and occasionally horse riders who also appreciate good surfaces and low stress. Many follow old railway lines or rivers, which means wide paths, gentle gradients, and absolutely no surprise hills designed to test your character.

La Manche has over 500 km of Voies Vertes, with several excellent sections close to Coutances and within easy reach of our gîte. They’re well signposted, well maintained, and blissfully free from impatient drivers who believe overtaking inches are a valid unit of measurement. If you’ve ever wanted to cycle and still enjoy it, this is the place.

🌳 The Voie Verte Coutances–Gavray

This 15 km route follows the former railway line between Coutances and Gavray-sur-Sienne, gliding through meadows, woodland, and quietly impressive little bridges. It’s flat, mostly shaded, and forgiving enough that nobody needs to “wait at the top”.

The surface alternates between compacted gravel and asphalt, making it ideal for hybrid bikes and e-bikes. You follow the River Sienne for much of the way — calm, green, and suspiciously good at making time disappear. Gavray itself has a proper market square, cafés, bakeries, and enough places to sit down that returning immediately feels unnecessary.

Local tip: pack a picnic and stop by the river… or surrender to ice cream in Gavray. Both are widely accepted recovery methods.

🏞 From Coutances to Regnéville-sur-Mer

For riders craving sea air and a sense of arrival, the route towards Regnéville-sur-Mer is a favourite. You cycle through orchards, hamlets, and low-traffic lanes before the landscape opens onto one of Manche’s most atmospheric small ports.

Regnéville is shaped entirely by the tides. Boats rest obediently in the mud twice a day, the historic harbour tells stories of granite and lime exports, and the ruined medieval castle watches over the estuary looking quietly pleased with itself. On clear days, the Chausey Islands appear offshore like a well-earned bonus.

There’s a small maritime museum, cafés by the water, and excellent seafood if you time it right. It’s the kind of ride where nobody asks how far it was — only what you’re having for lunch.

🌾 Other Local Routes Worth Leaving the Gîte For

• Nicorps Loop (10 km): classic Manche bocage with hedgerows, cows, apple trees, and tractors moving at a pace that makes cycling feel smugly efficient.
• Hauteville-sur-Mer Coast (8 km): flat, breezy, and beach-adjacent. Ideal for families, relaxed riders, and anyone who believes cycling should end near sand.
• Gratot Castle Trail (12 km): gentle climbs leading to the ivy-covered ruins of Château de Gratot — excellent for photos, picnics, and feeling vaguely medieval.

🚲 Bike Rentals and Local Help

If you haven’t brought bikes, that’s absolutely fine — you won’t be judged. Several local providers offer reliable rentals, and we’re always happy to point guests in the right direction before arrival so everything is ready when you are.

• Coutances Tourisme – classic bikes, children’s bikes, and e-bikes near the cathedral.
• La Maison du Vélo, Granville – excellent electric bikes and delivery options.
• Décathlon Coutances – solid rentals and the sort of accessories you only remember after you need them.

On your return, bikes can be stored securely on site, so you can actually relax in the evening rather than keeping one eye on them and another on the weather.

Electric bikes are particularly popular here. Not because the hills are savage — they’re not — but because they let you explore further and still enjoy dinner without falling asleep halfway through it.

🧺 Places to Stop (And Stay Longer Than Planned)

• Abbaye d’Hambye: peaceful medieval ruins hidden in woodland, with a café and picnic tables. Calm, atmospheric, and wonderfully unhurried.
• Vallée de la Sienne: shaded riverside stretches ideal for birdwatching, snack breaks, and pretending you’ve discovered somewhere secret.
• Port de Regnéville: seafood, crêpes, local cider, and tidal views that change constantly — unlike your desire to leave.

🌦 When Cycling Works Best Here

April to October is ideal, with May and September offering the sweet spot: good weather, fewer people, and zero pressure. Even in the cooler months, the Voies Vertes remain usable year-round, particularly on dry, crisp days when the countryside is quieter and the light is at its best.

🧭 Practical Tips (Earned Honestly)

• Download routes in advance — optimism is not navigation.
• Carry a basic repair kit; bike shops thin out quickly.
• Helmets are required for children under 12 and strongly advised for adults with self-respect.
• Village shops often close 12–2 pm. Always plan snacks. Always.

🌸 Who This Suits (And Why Staying Here Helps)

Cycling in this part of Normandy suits families, couples, slower travellers, food lovers, and anyone who values scenery over speed. It’s not about pushing limits — it’s about enjoying where you are.

Guests often arrive with a rough plan and then quietly abandon it once they realise how straightforward everything is from here.

Staying at our gîte makes it particularly easy. You can cycle straight from the door, return to secure bike storage, cool off with a swim, and enjoy a relaxed evening without driving anywhere.

🌿 A Final Word

Days out vary, routes change, and the weather does its thing, but coming back to the same comfortable base keeps everything easy.

This is Normandy at its most enjoyable. Traffic-free cycling, quiet countryside, and the freedom to explore at your own pace — with a comfortable gîte to come back to at the end of the day.

Whether you’re travelling in spring, summer, or the quieter months in between, staying with us makes everything easier. You can cycle straight from the door, explore without rushing, and unwind properly in the evening — no constant packing, no unnecessary driving, no compromises.

We’re open year-round, and availability naturally varies by season. If your dates are already starting to take shape (even vaguely), now is the right time to check availability and book directly.

Ready to explore Normandy?