A Vélo La Véloroute Vallée de Somme
The Somme Valley cycle route
- 160KM
- 30Belvederes
- 8Maisonsde la vallee
The Somme Valley cycle route
Comfortable itinerary
Now it’s time to strap on your helmet and get on your bike, and pedal along the River Somme. From Ham to the river’s mouth in the bay’s estuary, the towpath has been converted into a peaceful, comfortable cycle path for almost the entire length of the route. Let yourself be guided by the flow of the water, and enjoy 160 km of the valley’s historical and natural treasures.
You can start at the source at Fonsomme in the Aisne for the more adventurous, as from the source you juggle between small roads, the Canal de St-Quentin and the Canal du Nord, which overlaps the Somme. You’ll need a mountain bike if you want to stay on the towpath, or follow the signs from Ham. The Véloroute Vallée de Somme runs along the towpath, 90% of which runs from the river to the Baie de Somme.
An ideal valley
An exceptional heritage
The route is also dotted with exceptional natural sites. These include the marshes of Méricourt-sur-Somme and Samara, as well as the Barette ponds in Corbie and the Cavins marsh in Bourdon, which evokes memories of Hector Malot’s novel En Famille.
A stopover in Jules Verne’s hometown, Amiens, is also a good way to discover the site of the hortillonnages300 hectares of gardens on the water, and the Notre-Dame d’Amiens cathedral, whose stone lacework has earned it World Heritage status.
Impossible to list them all: the charming village of Long, Abbeville…. And last but not least, the icing on the cake: the salt meadows of the Bay of the Somme, an area of sand and water with an infinite horizon, home to birds, seals, sheep and horses…
Everything has been thought out for the comfort of cyclists: picnic areas, bike racks, approved establishments, etc. Accueil Vélolabel, etc., and the old lock-keeper’s houses are gradually being renovated to welcome you.
Our favorite places to eat well, with your feet in the water :
Teal in Frise
La Caroline in Corbie
O Jardin in Amiens
Along the water in Long
The barge Jessy in Eaucourt-sur-Somme
Au Coin de la Baie in Grand-Laviers
Exceptional natural sites: the marshes of Méricourt-Sur-Somme, Samara, the Barette ponds in Corbie, the Cavins marshes in Bourdon and Amiens, the city of Jules Verne, the hortillonnages and Notre-Dame cathedral…
Valley Houses
The new life of lock houses
- Upper frieze: a large gîte
- Eclusier-Vaux: Le Domaine des p’tits Bouchons, a restaurant, two gîtes and a large ballroom
- Froissy: La Halte Gourmande, a café and B&B
- Ailly-sur-Somme: CyclenSomme offers bike rental, repair and sanitary facilities.
- Picquigny: Maison du tourisme Nièvre Somme, bike and boat rentals
- Long: Terres et Merveilles tourist information office with bike, kayak and paddle rentals
- Saint-Valery-sur-Somme: La Canoterie, a café/brasserie and starting point for nature outings by pirogue
Accueil Vélo ©
Services for cyclists
By 2024, 164 structures in the Somme had been awarded the Accueil Vélo label: accommodation, of course, but also restaurants, bike rental and repair outlets, tourist attractions and tourist offices.
Choosing a Accueil Vélo address means you’re guaranteed to have theright facilities , such as a secure bicycle shelter and repair kit, as well as a warm welcome and useful information and advice (routes, weather, etc.).
Discover the lists of all our partners Bike home
To find out more, visit France Velo Tourisme which lists all Accueil Vélo establishments in France.
Which steps?
Discover the somme valley cycle route
To help you prepare your ride, hike or stay on the Vallée de Somme cycle route (V30), we have divided the itinerary into several stages:
Where to start the Véloroute
Recommended starting points
Here is a list of the main stations where you can start your itinerary and organize your return:
Ham, Nesle, Corbie, Amiens, Ailly-sur-Somme, Longpré-les-Corps-Saints, Abbeville and Noyelles-sur-Mer.
Note that Amiens station is recommended mainly for Amiens residents, or if you’re arriving from another station, as parking is paid and underground.
For day trips, there are numerous parking areas along the cycle route, equipped with picnic tables.
If you would like to rent a one-way bike and have your luggage transported on the Véloroute Vallée de Somme :
