While tourism attractions have been identified at final destinations for a long time, the development of active travel in tourism leads us to reconsider what and where tourism attractions and experiences are. This article aims to analyse the tourist aspects of cycle routes, thanks to mobility experiences understood both as movement on cycle routes and experiences with the surrounding landscapes. The study mobilises the linear representation of life on the land claimed by Tim Ingold to unpack what attracts wayfarers on routes. Drawing on the cycle routes’ experiences in the Département of Calvados (Normandy, France), 58 qualitative interviews were conducted during the summers of 2022 and 2023. The analysis includes both one-day and multi-day experiences. A geographical approach leads us to map the distinction of spatial practices. Three complementary tourist ways of being mobile are brought to the fore: (1) a surface-orientated perception with the consideration to the surrounding landscapes for regional day-trippers, (2) a point-to-point perception and organisation of mobility for holidaymakers in local accommodation or itinerary camper and (3) a longitudinal threading overlooking the surroundings but paying attention to local details for multi-day cyclists. This raises implications for policy-making, implying to diversify the information, promotion and services on and along cycle routes.

While tourism attractions have been identified at final destinations for a long time, the development of active travel in tourism leads us to reconsider what and where tourism attractions and experiences are. This article aims to analyse the tourist aspects of cycle routes, thanks to mobility experiences understood both as movement on cycle routes and experiences with the surrounding landscapes. The study mobilises the linear representation of life on the land claimed by Tim Ingold to unpack what attracts wayfarers on routes. Drawing on the cycle routes’ experiences in the Département of Calvados (Normandy, France), 58 qualitative interviews were conducted during the summers of 2022 and 2023. The analysis includes both one-day and multi-day experiences. A geographical approach leads us to map the distinction of spatial practices. Three complementary tourist ways of being mobile are brought to the fore: (1) a surface-orientated perception with the consideration to the surrounding landscapes for regional day-trippers, (2) a point-to-point perception and organisation of mobility for holidaymakers in local accommodation or itinerary camper and (3) a longitudinal threading overlooking the surroundings but paying attention to local details for multi-day cyclists. This raises implications for policy-making, implying to diversify the information, promotion and services on and along cycle routes.