Hi all,
Looking to dump my friends and husband after crossing the channel via Eurotunnel so they can ride to Bruges, with a brief sightseeing stop in Dunkerque.

The North Sea Cycle Route isn’t particularly close to the sea, which seems a shame. Anyone done this route or similar?
http://www.fietsroute.org/mapuk.php?xmlfile=Calais-Bruges

In March just gone I (with a bunch of mates) rode Dunkirk Port to Brugge.

Obviously can’t help you with the Calais – Dunkirk/Gravelines bit but can dig out the GPX for the Dunkirk-Brugge bit if you are interested? Maybe even the GPS trace from the day just incase there were diversions!

In summary it started with small local roads from the port (after a 50m walk over gravel to get off the main drag), then a bit of cycle lane on the main road (only because the bridge at the end of the breakwater is broken and not crossable!). More quiet local roads to a tarmac’d cycle path next to a river all the way to the coast. About 8 miles of coastal cycle path near the beach onto the last 12 miles on a cycle path next to the canal to Brugge centre.

Quickly looking at your link I think our route was better riding – but obviously further as not the most direct route – from Dunkirk it was about 60 miles

Hi smurfly13. Not too concerned about the distance. That route is from the Belgian long distance cycling site. I have no great opinion either way, but it would be good to have a route where you’re making reasonable progress.

Any gpx or whatnot gratefully received.

i went from Dunkerque to De Hann , not far from Bruges . I just followed the coast all the way . some bits were good , some bits awfull .

can give you a strava link if you want .

When you say “awful”, how do you mean? Busy, dull, bad surface, what? A Strava link would be cool, thanks.

Gpx for the route is here

http://www.feering.cyclists.co.uk/events/belgium_event_apr_2015.php

There was one of the towns we had to push in as the whole place was a building site! Very strange.

the first bit in Dunkerque was dangerous , massive roads , should have gone through the town center .

strava link :

https://www.strava.com/activities/314588840

there is a long straight before Ostende which goes on forever .

I should have spent more time researching a better route . we stayed in De Hann and I went for a ride every morning and found some lovely and very quiet roads .