The newest EuroVelo route follows the river Meuse through the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Its source is on the Langres plateau in eastern France, falling slowly to the North Sea at Hook of Holland.

The upper reaches of the route mostly follow quiet roads until you reach Sedan. Here, it drops down to the riverbank on a wonderful traffic-free path through the wooded Ardennes. The gorge twists and turns all the way through to Namur, the capital of Wallonia with a fine waterfront and an impressive hilltop citadel.

From here, the river is a major commercial artery. But the cycle route eschews a simple towpath ride in favour of a fascinating tour of the valley, piecing together farm roads, purpose-built cycleways, and canalside paths. The cycle infrastructure in the Netherlands is justly renowned and this route makes an appetising introduction to it.

The route meets the sea at Hook of Holland, but you can dogleg back on the opposite bank to finish in Rotterdam.

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