Plan your itinerary from home with the Plan Charente Vélo, a virtual road atlas that is now available online. The V3 European Road that links Trondheim in Norway to Santiago do Compostela in Spain crosses through the area between Lessac and Chantillac, but there are circular options too.
Seven loops, all downloadable from the website, each offer three options of differing lengths, suitable for family groups, more experienced cyclists, and the seriously sporty.
Or try the 20 km voie verte that passes through Angoulême along the towpath of the Charente river – a green corridor through the capital of the comic strip.
North-east of Poitiers, the Vienne à Vélo route runs for 17 km through the delightful Vienne river valley around Châtellerault. Or cycle a section of the Ligne Verte which cuts through the countryside between Châtellerault and Loudon for 40 km along an old railway track.
Stop off along the way to relax in the picnic areas and discover the local history and landscape through a series of information panels.
Further west, the Thouet à Vélo cycle route follows the river Thouet along 120 km of safe, signposted tracks through the historic towns of Thouars and Parthenay. The trail crosses backwards and forwards across the river through fords and over ancient stone bridges, past water mills, chateaux and churches. A handbook gives detailed maps, as well as tourist information, and accommodation choices. Real enthusiasts will also soon be able to carry on north to Saumur to join up with the Loire à Vélo long-distance trail.
Then of course there’s the Marais Poitevin, second largest wetland area in France, and a haven for walkers and cyclists. Hire your wheels from waterside  villages throughout the marshland to explore the shady tracks and tranquil towpaths of ‘Green Venice’. A magical experience you’ll remember long after the holiday’s over.

Poitou-Charentes has some of the most diverse coastline in France and when you explore on two wheels, you can admire the ever-changing views at your own pace. Pack a picnic in a rucksack and you have all the ingredients for a perfect day out of doors.

Bicycles are a way of life on Ile de Ré, where more than 100 km of marked cycle tracks wind through vineyards, salt marshes and nature reserves. And with the highest point just 19 metres above sea level, it is small wonder that bikes are the most popular way to explore the whitewashed villages, sandy beaches and coastal defences.

The neighbouring island of Ile d’Oléron is also easy to explore by bike and offers a surprising variety of landscapes from north to south. Follow forest trails, hug the shoreline, or pedal through the flat landscape of the oyster beds. Over on the mainland, there are more coastal trails through the oyster beds at Marennes, the villages and beaches of La Coubre forest, and the Charente estuary near Rochefort. Or pick up one of 350 iconic Yélos – the Vélos Jaunes or Yellow Bikes that have became an integral part of the transport system around La Rochelle over the last 30 years. Just leave your passport as a deposit to enjoy the first two hours for free. There are now 180 km of cycle lanes and dedicated tracks in the La Rochelle area, the latest route stretching north to Esnandes on the edge of the Marais Poitevin.