Mountain Biking (VTT) in Languedoc, south France

Avid cycler and cycling expert Helen Bevis tracks down Languedoc's 10 mountain biking parks:

The Languedoc garrigue and hills are a playground for those of you who prefer your bikes chunky and firmly off the tarmac. There are trails through forests, over the hills, into the mountains and around the vineyards. Once you start looking, you’ll realise that there are trails everywhere. The question is how to choose. Here are just a few suggestions to get you pedalling.

The FFC (Federation Francais de Cyclisme) are associated with 140 national VTT parks and trails, 10 of which are found in the Languedoc-Roussillion. The FFC- VTT parks guarantee at least 100km of routes of all ranges and a quality of service. The routes are all signposted and maintained, there is a map available and even somewhere to wash your bike afterwards! Just like a ski resort the routes are graded from green (beginners) to black (serious mountain bikers).

There are two great routes to follow if you fancy a real challenge. The first is the FFC Reseau Vert (also known as the Grande Traversée) which traverses over 500km in the Herault from Castries St. Pons-de-Thomières in the West. It often follows ancient intercommunal routes or former railways. The average time taken is 15 days to complete this route!

The second is the Stevenson trail which crosses the Cevennes and ends in the Languedoc and is crammed full of literary history. Robert Louis Stevenson's second book was a travel book published in 1879, describing a walking trip he'd made the previous year. Travels With a Donkey in the Cevennes desribes his adventures on the 200km walk from the Haute Loire to St Jean de Gard (Gard). Now his trail is a popular footpath along the GR70 which is also suitable for mountain bikes. It is fairly well marked along its entire length as it scales high granite plains and the hot valley floors.

The possibilities for routes are endless, but here’s one more suggestion before you head off. Pic St Loup is the emblematic mountain that dominates the skyline north of Montpellier. Keen mountain bikers can follow the 40km tour that circles its foothills. The countryside is beautiful here and the route has a variety of tricky passages, both on the ascent and descent. It’s not a route for beginners. Perhaps the trickest section is the detour ascent towards the Chateau de Montferrand, but the stunning view will reward your efforts. A detailed map and GPS info are available on (search for pic st loup). This is a useful site for getting information about other routes that you fancy tackling.

Mountain bikers are also allowed their touch of luxury with a few companies also offering similar packages to their tarmac hugging road-bike cousins. For French speakers there are two interesting Languedoc companies: who operate VTT holidays and who offer some fantastic looking tours including the Stevenson Trail and the wilds of the Larzac plateau. If not, try based in the Aude.

- Helen Bevis