Cycling the Canal du Midi: Across Southern France from Toulouse to Sète [Paperback]

A guidebook to cycle touring along the Canal du Midi in the sunny Languedoc region of southern France. The 240km main canal route, and the 37km Narbonne extension are described. Information is also given on short detours to sights close to the canal, and longer excursions into the surrounding countryside.

Those planning a week-long cycling holiday should concentrate of the main canal and some of the short detours. Reasonably fit cyclists should be able to complete the canal and the excursions in two weeks. A stage-planning table is also included to make it easy to work out a different schedule to suit a particular timescale and ability. For each stage a route description with sketch map in included, together with details of terrain, availability of shade, ascent or descent made, maps needed, historical points of interest and information about places passed en route.

• includes excursions to Cathar strongholds, the canal-s water source in the Montagne Noire and the lagoons and marshes in the Aude and Orb delta
• with practical information on accommodation, cycle shops, markets and local festivals

Declan Lyons brings a lifelong passion for cycling and touring to this guide. As a teenager in the 1960s, he explored the wilds of Connemara on a rusty three-speed Rudge bicycle. Since then, he has touredextensively in Ireland and further afield. He hascycled throughout France including regular trips fromthe Channel to the Mediterranean.Declan now lives next to the Canal du Midi.