Cycling with your dog along La Flow Vélo

Considering a cycling trip but can’t face leaving behind your most loyal companion? Don’t worry, it is possible to ride along our cycle route with your pooch! Quite a number of dog owners have already done it, setting off well prepared and well equipped. So, ‘embark’ on unforgettable hols, sharing some unpawralleled muttments with your pet! 

Prepare thoroughly to make the most of it 

The key to a successful cycling trip with a dog is planning ahead. Even if your faithful four-legged friend is always thrilled to run by your side as you pedal along, you do need to plan good periods of rest for your pet. So, it is important to equip yourself appropriately. For big dogs, taking a bicycle trailer you can attach to the back of your bike is really indispensable. For the smallest pooches, a pannier is a practical option, attached to the handlebars or on the back luggage rack, which makes it lighter.

Of course, you will need to bring along what your dog requires in terms of food, water and games. Your four-legged friend should have its bowl, its favourite toy, a drinking bowl, its harness as well as its lead, its passport and its vaccination certificate, dog pooh bags and a suitable first-aid kit. Prevention is better than cure, so having the essentials to hand can help you avoid trickier situations.

Good canine addresses in Charente-Maritime

• Rochefort Océan Tourist Office and the associated Bureau d'Information Touristique de Fouras are committed to offering your pet a warm welcome, with their Toutourisme accreditation – toutou is the French word for doggie. So many details have been thought of to pamper your pooch, with a toutou bar, treats, dog pooh bags and a special welcome pack! What a treat for your toutou! 

Good canine addresses in Charente

• La Rochefoucauld-en-Angoumois Tourist Office has also been awarded Toutourisme accreditation. It can provide details on dog-friendly places in the area. Outdoor activities are of course put to the fore.  
• The Gîte du Luquet is an Accueil Vélo accredited holiday rental. Located at Chazelles, dogs are welcome here. This pretty holiday home can accommodate six people and is located not far from La Flow Vélo, just off the Marthon/Angoulême stage.
• Camping Le Buron, a campsite once again in Chazelles accepts animals (for an extra fee). This campsite can propose fixed tents, a good option for an unusual night on your trip along La Flow Vélo. It’s also to be found along the Marthon/Angoulême stage.