Does anyone know if there is any stuff worth riding in that general area, nether been to Normandy before and wondered if it was worth taking the mountain bike, any help greatfully recieved, Mark.

The Suisse Normande area is just a few miles inland. lots of marked trails in the area around Pont d'Ouilly.

Ah, one of my specialist subjects! I used to live outside Caen and worked in town for a while. Great part of the world.

As mentioned above, Suisse Normande is the way to go. It's called that as it's like being in a little version of Swtizerland. Stunning part of the world, some lovely riding too.

In the area directly around Caen there's little of any interest, unless you're on a road bike. Some nice bars and cafes in Caen, though (Rue de Bras is a nice spot, as is the area around the port, quai Vendeuvre. Up by the castle there are some lovely restaurants as well)

Ahhhh, happy memories of warm summer evenings in Alencon…….in the Mayor's garden….. 😈

thanks for the advice, looks like we'll be well fed!

looks like we'll be well fed!

Oh man…the food! The food! Lovely, lovely food out there. The cheese, obviously (go for a Pont l’évêque, not Camembert), then there's the Gallette des Rois (Missed that, as it's on Jan 6th), the seafood where I used to live was astonishingly good, the pré salé should be hunted down if possible.

Oh, and the Calvados. WOOOO!