On a beautiful clear blue skied Sunday over the August Bank Holiday, I set off from Kings Cross to Dover by train with my old flatmate John and bikes in tow. We proceeded to and then loop our way around Dover Port by bike and cycle up the ramp onto a DFSD ferry and head to the continent and our mission to cycle to Wissant and arrive in time for a cool glass of beer before dinner! After navigating our way out of Calais and cycling over rolling hills, past Le Cap Blanc Nez (closest point of the continent to UK and similar to the White Cliffs of Dover) we achieved our mission and not only fitted in a beer but also participating in the Wissant Fête du Flobart. This is a maritime folklore festival where decorated fishing boats are pulled by tractors through the village and driven down to the beach for a blessing of the sea.
Delicious dinner at the Hotel Normandy (straight out of the film 'Monsieur Hulot's Holiday'!) followed by a 'gentile' evening promenade around the picturesque seaside village.
On Bank Holiday Monday, after an appetising hotel breakfast, and a delayed start (John found his bike had a puncture!) we set off to Wimereux visiting the picturesque fishing village of Audresselles on the way. Wimereux is a coastal town which was a hospital centre during the First World War for the Allies and in the Second World War, the German Naval Headquarters were situated on the northern side of the town. After D-Day, the town was re-taken by the Canadian 1st Army on 22 September 1944.
Wimereux has excellent seafood restaurants and Tuesday market which we were fortunate to be staying nearby. It was at this market that we purchased our picnic supplies which kept energy levels going on our 45km cycle ride into the countryside East of the town.
From Wimereux, one can easily catch the train back to Calais (my route) or in the other direction, to Le Touquet (lucky John had more holiday than me!).
I recommend!