Escape with the caravan to Flanders in France

Why travel to Flanders?

Flanders is a tale of two halves – the flat south that we all imagine and a more hilly north that offers a little more challenge for those who like to pack the bikes on the back of the car as well as hitching up a caravan for a holiday over the Channel in France.

What makes Flanders great for cycling is lovely rolling countryside and a network of minor road that have been waymarked with routes; signs have a number and arrow pointing to the next numbered point, called ‘point de noeud’.

You can buy a map of cycle routes at local tourist centres, all of which offer an incredibly friendly reception, offering other maps and brochures to help.

Also, if you like to feel a little like a pioneer, this is an area of France that has very few other British visitors. That sense of discovering new areas is highlighted when you don’t see other UK number plates.

Plan a shorter first ride. Using the node points as a guide can be tricky at first, but once you get into the swing of things, it’s a doddle. The key is to make sure you know exactly which node point you start at on the map.

Park up in Saint-Venant and offload the bikes. This is one of the recommended routes on the cycle map and you start off with a gentle pedal along a smooth river path. The route takes you into the forest, which means rougher trails. If you choose a lunch spot in the trees, flying insects may be a bit annoying.

However, the upside here is that while you are munching on your pack-up, you might spot roe deer or egrets going about their business. You’ll also pass through some of the region's gorgeous villages – houses are adorned with flowers and have a distinctive look.

If you’re in the region at the right time, you’ll also experience the proliferation of poppies on the fields.

The poppy, a flower of remembrance, is accompanied by the many war cemeteries in an area that played a big part in the First World War, particularly. Most of these are in the south near Neuve-Chapelle, where there is another cycling route marked out. This passes an Indian memorial listing over 4.700 soldiers names, a large Portuguese cemetery and a tiny British one that is obviously very poignant.

If you want a different pace, then head out of Flanders slightly to the Audomarois, a large wetland area used for market gardening as well as being home to a huge variety of wildlife and plantlife. You can cruise along a network of canals dug in the seventeenth century, which were primarily created to control flooding.

You can hire canoes, or take a guided tour on a flat-bottomed boat here.

It’s actually a little busier in the hilly north, an area known as the Mont des Flandres. The highlight of this area is the town of Cassel, located on the top of the tallest hill in the region, at a heady 176m. It’s reached by a winding and steep road, which is very popular with Tour de France wannabes, so be careful when driving up it.

This area often appears in the Tour de France route, so check ahead if you are timing your visit for the beginning of July (it’s not listed for 2023). Massive crowds accompany the tour and everything gets booked up, so it’s best to avoid unless you are a Tour de France fan.

Cassel has a lovely cobbled square at its heart and the whole thing is overlooked by a glorious wooden windmill. Head up to this to find tables that point out all the highlights of the area below.

To the east of Cassel, there is another recommended cycle route, albeit a bit hillier than those of the south, taking in the village of Boeschepe. The rolling landscape is idyllic with fields full of ripening crops of corn and hops.

Boeschepe itself is marked by another windmill, one of the best preserved of the area. If you didn’t want to take to the bikes, there is a small car park with picnic tables here.

There is an estaminet (see Eating out section) nearby on the Mont des Cats, as well as a Trappist monastery that sells its own beer and cheese – remember your panniers if you’re cycling around here on a bike, or come back in the car to stock up.

Having been completely destroyed in the First World War, Bailleul has since been rebuilt and now characterises the essence of Flemish Renaissance. Bright colours accentuate stepped and arched gables as well as mullioned windows and raised motifs. The central square is simply staggering.

There are a multitude of cheesemakers in the area, too, many of which offer demonstrations at weekends. The region actually specialises in eight different French cheeses, from the well-known Gouda to ones that we’d never heard of.

Some of the demonstrations are more like sales pitches and the cheese can be quite expensive, but the quality of the cheese can offset this.

Obviously, there are numerous options in France, but it’s worth searching out an estaminet. This is a very Flemish establishment combining a pub and bistro. It’s worth noting that many local restaurants in this area are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and may only open for lunch during the week.

You can also avail yourself of the friterie van, which can be found in most villages or towns.

Brittany Ferries

When you say 'oui' to Brittany Ferries, France comes to life the moment you set sail. With space to relax and unwind and award-winning on-board restaurants, there are plenty of reasons to choose Brittany Ferries. Hitch up your caravan and get ready to head off, sailing over by ferry makes it easy.

Free Flexible Ticket upgrade

With a Free Flexible Ticket upgrade (T&C’s apply – see website for details) and low deposits there’s never been a better time to book. Book by 28 February and say 'bonjour' to France!

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Contact Brittany Ferries

Web: brittanyferries.com/caravan

Tel: 03308 088 819