EuroVelo Bike Route 1: The Atlantic Coast, from the North Cape to Sagres

This article explores the EuroVelo Atlantic Coast bike route (#1) which follows the Atlantic shoreline from the North Cape in Norway to Sagres, Portugal. Not by accident, these locations consist of the Northernmost point in Europe, dubbed "the top of the world," and the westernmost, once believed to be "the end of the Earth."

Because the EuroVelo routes are still in development, it is possible some rerouting will occur before this route is completed.

Atlantic Coast Bike Route Description
The EuroVelo Atlantic Coast bike route hugs the western coast of Norway from the North Cape to Bergen. At Bergen, the bikers cross the North Sea by ferry, disembarking in Aberdeen, Scotland. The route progresses westward around the tip of Scotland, then southward past Glasgow to Stranraer, where another ferry trip brings cyclists to Belfast. After circling west around Ireland, the EuroVelo Atlantic Coast bike route breaks in Rosslaire, Ireland for a short ferry ride to the port city of Fishguard, Wales. From Fishguard, riders will head east to Bristol, then south to Plymouth, England. Again traveling by ferry, bikers will pick up the EuroVelo Atlantic Coast bike route in Roscoff, France. From Roscoff, the route takes a westward turn toward Nantes before progressing due south to Spain. In Spain, the bike route heads west past Burgos then makes a sharp turn southward past Salamanca, crosses into Portugal near Tavira, traverses the southern border of Portugal, passing Faro and terminating in Sagres.

Surface Conditions

The EuroVelo Atlantic Coast bike route consists of both on road and off road tracks. Because it is under design and construction, information on routing is tentative and incomplete. Most of the on road sections were chosen for low traffic load.

In Scotland, 43% of the route is on road and 57% off road. Northern Ireland boasts the largest percentage of off road travel at 75%. Wales is split almost evenly with 51% on road and 49% off road. In England 66.5% is on road while 33.5% is off road.

The France segment of the EuroVelo Atlantic Coast route consists of bicycle paths, minor roads, and towpaths.