Accommodation tips


My main tip is this: if you can possibly stay at the same B and B as I did in Clecy, le Pont du Vey, then do so. It's a marvellous spot to hang out, with a relaxed garden by the bridge and river, and a really friendly hostess, Madame Brion, whose family have owned the place for generations, and who'll also do you a decent packed lunch for the walking day. It's also incredibly good value. 

For dinner, there are several nice riverside restaurants very close by. But if you're arriving on a summer weekend afternoon/evening, they might get booked up, so I'd advise asking Mme Brion to reserve a table at the third restaurant along, where her son is the chef!

 More importantly, do book the B and B well in advance if possible. And if you can't get in at the Pont du Vey, there are various other "chambres d'hotes" (B and Bs) in the area - let me know if you find another good one.



In Bayeux, places are more expensive and more commercial, but it's a special experience to stay in the town. We stayed at Hotel Reine Mathilde, which has converted a lot of old buildings in the city centre and has rooms at a variety of prices if you book early enough.

If you end up staying in Caen, I can highly recommend Le Perroquet Fringuant (the dashing parrot), a very comfortable and well situated apartment in the heart of the old town, right by the castle.

Finally, if you stay overnight in Ouistreham, quite a lot of the accommodation seems either to be for seaside holidays and have nowhere for bikes, or are cheap "formula hotels" which don't seem very pleasant according to reviews. But getting in on a late ferry, the Ibis Styles hotel is a really good option: right next to the ferry port, open all hours, good bike storage and a decent breakfast buffet included. It's not that cheap, but you may want to try to contact them directly, rather than using Booking.com, who charged me the same in pounds as was advertised in Euros on the outside of the hotel (120 for a double room, in summer 2026).

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