Cycle through the rolling hills, cobbled climbs and canal-lined lowlands of Flanders on the 1015km Vlaanderen Route, a 17-day tour linking the historic cities of Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen and Brussels with the wild heathland of the Kempen and the poignant battlefields of the Ypres Salient. Starting and finishing at the Channel port of Dunkerque, this classic tour reveals Belgium's cycling heartland to riders of every ability. This Cicerone guidebook divides the Vlaanderen Route into 17 stages averaging just under 60km a day, with faster cyclists able to complete the tour in 10 to 14 days. Three shorter tours - the three-day Frontline Route, the six-day River Scheldt Route and the ten-day Flanders' Cities Route - share sections of the main route and offer flexible options for cyclists with less time available. Getting to Flanders is straightforward without a car: for UK travellers, the Dover to Dunkerque ferry connects easily with Stage 1, while Belgium's dense train network makes it simple to join or leave the routes at Antwerpen, Maastricht or Brussels, or to shorten a tour altogether. Suited to cyclists of all abilities, from committed cycle-tourists testing themselves on the short, savage climbs of Ronde van Vlaanderen territory to more relaxed riders exploring at a gentler pace. Detailed route descriptions for the 1015km, 17-stage Vlaanderen Route plus three shorter alternatives - the Frontline, River Scheldt and Flanders Cities Routes 1:150,000 route mapping plus larger scale urban maps for the historic cities along the way Free GPX files for GPS navigation on every stage Explore Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen and Brussels alongside quieter towns such as Veurne, Tongeren and Mechelen Cross the cobbled climbs of Ronde van Vlaanderen territory, the heathland and pine forests of the Kempen, and the battlefields of the WWI Ypres Salient Practical advice on Belgian trains, river ferries, cycling-friendly accommodation and where to eat and drink Waymarked throughout using Flanders' Fietsknooppunten signage network and dedicated long-distance route signs Routes graded from flat polder country to hillier, cobbled terrain, suitable for cyclists of all abilities Whether you ride the full Vlaanderen Route or one of its shorter alternatives, this guidebook opens up the rivers, cities and cobbled hills of Flanders to cyclists of every ability. Pack your panniers and discover Belgium's cycling heartland for yourself.
