Holiday homes for cyclists in Belgium

The node network in the Campine is one of the loveliest in Flanders: flat, shaded and set in a landscape that asks you to slow down. The RAVeL routes in the Ardennes follow old railway lines and take you through valleys you would otherwise never see. On the coast, the route behind the dunes is a classic.

A good holiday home for cyclists has a secure, dry bike room, a repair kit or pump within reach and a host who knows which routes match your level.

Belgium has more than 20,000 kilometres of waymarked cycle routes. The node network makes it easy to put together your own stage: pick a starting point and ride from node to node. RAVeL routes are traffic-free and safe even for children. The Ardennes offer mountain bike trails for every level.

Hosts in cycling regions understand what cyclists need. A dry garage or barn to store the bikes, somewhere for small repairs, a good breakfast before the ride and tips for the best day route in the area. That is what makes the difference.

Belgium's node network covers more than 20,000 kilometres of waymarked cycle routes and spans Flanders, Wallonia and the coast almost entirely. You pick a starting point, follow the numbered posts and put together your own stage without needing a map or GPS. In Limburg and the Campine the nodes are very close together, on flat paths through woodland and heath, perfect for beginners and families.

In the Flemish Ardennes the routes become hillier and the views more rewarding. Around the Koppenberg and Kluisberg, cyclists ride the same roads the professionals use during the spring classics. The network also links small villages and farms you would never discover by car. A holiday home right in the middle of the network gives you a different route every day without ever retracing your wheels.

The Ardennes are the centre of mountain biking in Belgium. Around Houffalize, technical singletracks with stream crossings and rooty sections await experienced riders. Vielsalm has an extensive network of flowtrails and enduro routes for all abilities, plus a bike park for those who want to tackle the descents too. The RAVeL routes follow the river valleys and are well suited to touring bikes and gravel riding.

From a holiday home near Houffalize or La Roche-en-Ardenne you have direct access to the trail network. After a long day in the forest you come back to a hot shower, a dry bike room and a terrace with a view. The area also has hire points for electric mountain bikes, for those who arrive without their own.

A lockable, dry bike room is the feature cyclists look for first when booking. For an expensive road bike or an e-mountain bike, a lockable garage or separate store is not a luxury but a necessity. Ask when booking whether there is enough room for several bikes and whether hooks or stands are provided, as leaning a bike against a wall damages the paintwork.

Charging points for e-bikes are now offered by more and more holiday homes. An outside tap or hose for rinsing muddy bikes, a repair kit with inner tubes and a decent pump: these are the details that tell you the host is a cyclist themselves. Some hosts also keep a list of nearby bike mechanics, very handy if your derailleur gives up mid-ride.

Touring cyclists and families tend to choose the Campine or the coastal node network: flat, traffic-free and pleasant in every season. Road cyclists after climbs and cobbles head to the Flemish Ardennes in spring and autumn, when traffic is light and temperatures are kind. The RAVeL routes in the Ardennes are at their best in May and September, when the forests are in blossom or turning colour.

Mountain bikers are best off planning their Ardennes trip outside the summer peak: the trails are drier and the car parks at trail heads less crowded. E-bikers get the most from the long routes in the Campine and along the Meuse, where the RAVeL paths are quiet and the stages easy to reach. Whatever your riding style, a good holiday home as a base makes all the difference.