Description

This comprehensive guidebook offers a detailed stage-by-stage description of this epic 1380km route along the Rhine, one of Europe's great rivers, which travels through six countries on its way from Switzerland to the North Sea. On its way, the Rhine Cycle Route passes the remains of Roman cities, medieval towns, castles, cathedrals, palaces, great cities of the industrial revolution and relics of 20th-century warfare. And it travels through a great range of stunning scenery. Starting in the Swiss Alps with high mountains, deep glacial valleys and gorges it soon reaches Europe's third largest lake, the Bodensee, and its greatest mainland waterfall. After Basel, the Rhine becomes a broad river, where straightening, flood dykes, locks and dams have created the world's busiest river trading artery. The middle Rhine, between Bingen and Koblenz, forces its way through the narrow rocky Rhine gorge lined by romantic castles perched above Germany's finest vineyards. The cycling is easy, downhill and along dedicated cycle routes. The countries visited are very cycle-friendly and the waymarking is excellent. And the whole trip can be completed in two weeks by a fit cyclist.

Author description

Mike Wells has been a keen long-distance walker and cyclist for over 20 years. He has walked all the major British trails, the GR5 from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean and has explored the Italian Dolomites' Alta Via routes. He has also walked in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway and Patagonia.

Table of contents

Map key Overview map Introduction Background Natural environment The route Preparation Getting there and back Navigation Accommodation Food and drink Amenities and services What to take Safety and emergencies About this guide The route Alpenrhein (Alpine Rhine) Stage 1 Oberalppass to Ilanz Stage 2 Ilanz to Chur Stage 3 Chur to Buchs Stage 4 Buchs to Bregenz Hochrhein (Higher Rhine) Stage 5 Bregenz to Konstanz Stage 6 Konstanz to Schaffhausen Stage 7 Schaffhausen to Waldshut Stage 8 Waldshut to Basel Oberrhein (Upper Rhine) Stage 9 Basel to Neuf-Brisach Stage 10 Neuf-Brisach to Strasbourg Stage 11 Strasbourg to Drusenheim Stage 12 Drusenheim to Karlsruhe Stage 13 Karlsruhe to Speyer Stage 14 Speyer to Worms Stage 15 Worms to Mainz Mittelrhein (Middle Rhine) Stage 16 Mainz to Bacharach Stage 17 Bacharach to Koblenz Stage 18 Koblenz to Konigswinter Niederrhein (Lower Rhine) Stage 19 Konigswinter to Koln Stage 20 Koln to Dusseldorf Stage 21 Dusseldorf to Duisburg Stage 22 Duisburg to Xanten Stage 23 Xanten to Arnhem Delta Rijn (Rhine Delta) Stage 24 Arnhem to Wijk bij Duurstede Stage 25 Wijk bij Duurstede to Schoonhoven Stage 26 Schoonhoven to Rotterdam Stage 27 Rotterdam to Hoek van Holland Alternative routes across the Netherlands Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B Glossary Appendix C Useful contacts Appendix D Principal tourist offices Appendix E Youth hostels