The Basque Country is a fantastic place to cycle and eat. Let's face it, if you like cycling, there's a small chance you'll like eating too. So, what better way to combine the two? You cross the Basque Country, a part of Béarn and Chalosse with, for each region, a small speciality that will help you to regain your strength. As for me, I did my last two days of the trip with half a kilo of ewe's cheese in my bags!

I propose this loop over four days to make the most of the landscapes and the local specialities. Don’t forget to take the time to sample the cuisine and enjoy some shopping if you want to bring back some delicacies from your trip.

You leave Bayonne along the river Nive. Even if the first 15 kilometres (9 mi) may seem monotonous, they allow you to get your legs up to speed before entering the Basque Country and riding on its roads, which are at times physically demanding. Take advantage of villages such as Itxassou to watch a game of Basque pelota on the village court, while tasting black cherry jam. Beware, contrary to what people say, jam is not eaten with cheese! The producers of good cheese in the region say that black cherry jam is for pairing with bad cheese.

Each stage has its moments. On the first day between Bayonne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you cross the Pas de Roland road, a sublime route at the bottom of a gorge running along the Nive. Between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Salies-de-Béarn, two small passes offer you wonderful views of the verdant mountains of the Basque Country. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s a restaurant at the top of each pass. Between Salies-de-Béarn and Dax, the roads offer you enough elevation to admire the distant Pyrenees. Finally, between Dax and Bayonne, you can get lost in the forests of Chalosse.

For this trip, you should use a gravel bike. The route is mainly on roads, but the sections of paths and tracks require a sufficiently large tyre to allow you to venture out with confidence.

Refreshments are easy to find, as this loop is full of small producers and shops offering specialities. As the region is quite touristy, the campsites along the way are easily accessible.

Ideally, this route should be attempted between spring and autumn, when the campsites are open and accessible. The climate is mild all year round, even though the Basque Country has a reputation for being rainy, which is why there’s so much green on the mountainsides. So, bring your waterproofs.

The loop starts in Bayonne, which is accessible by TGV from Paris, Bordeaux and Hendaye, as well as by regional train from Bordeaux, which makes transporting your bike easier. If you are short of time, you can also stop in Dax, which has a train station.