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We road the Route 8 cycle route from the top (Holyhead) to the bottom (Cardiff) of Wales. The roads around North Wales were fantastic, we hardly saw anyone, the scenery was beautiful, the food was tasty, the route was well signposted and the roads and cycle paths were smooth and pot hole free. There were things to see along the way like visting Caenarfon and the Centre for Alternative Energy. It's a cyclists dream, you can't ask for a better place to cycle in the UK and Europe for that matter!
Cycling from Holyhead to Cardiff along the Route 8 cycle route. See sustrans website for more information.
My idea for a super off road bike ride is from Burrator in Devon up to Princetown, stop in at the plume of feathers for a warm by the fire (and 8 pints of shandy) and then rattle back down over the top of the moors in a circular fashion to Burrator. The first half is all uphill but of a gentle gradient with the reward being the “are you local” oasis, in the shadow of the towers of the prison (made famous by Sherlock), PUB!... and then the second half being mainly all down and a little rocky/FuN. Most riders will cope with it well and it’s all do able without pushing although there is one up hill I always skip (and definitely would the day after Christmas). Here’s a map! www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/nu/-devon/684126113096767600
This would be my local boxing day route, bit hilly but enjoyable if taken at a steady pace and gets the blood pumping! Setting off from the garden centre at Shelley up to Emley moor mast, highest free standing concrete structure in Europe and good view across the peaks to Holme Moss and Huddersfield. Down a long hill to the main road which you briefly join before a steep climb to High Hoyland and the Cherry Tree pub. Stop. Enjoy views a beer. Then a short climb before riding along high country lanes with more excellent views to Dunkirk and Denby Dale on the way back to the start point.
From Wadebridge gentle route down hill through broad leaf woods following the route of the old branch line to Padstow(Betjeman described the intrusion of the old green liveried southern railway engines into 'cream and chocolate' territory, on this route)
The route levels out and the camel estuary opens to the riders right with glimpses of the open sea on the later parts of the route.
Before this, the famous,award winning, camel vineyards, may(on boxing day?)offer inspiration for wine purchases for the new year celebrations.
Padstow ,with it's beautiful views towards the beautiful beaches of Rock and harbour side pubs,is a welcoming prospect.
Richard Tassell
Starting in the town of Abbiategrasso (meaning "Have Fat!" i.e. Good Luck!) I ride down the valley of the river Ticino to Pavia, the
wonderful ancient university town south of Milan; there, using one of the few bridges spanning the Ticino, I go west to San Marino
Siccomario before then heading north again, this time riding towards Vigevano. For those who have never been there - Vigevano is famous for its Piazza Ducale (the Duke's Square), a beautiful renaissance ensemble with a lot of cafes in the arcades. This is where I will have a cup of Cappuccino (or a hot chocolate) before heading back to Abbiategrasso. I hope to have burned enough fat during the past four or five hours to be ready for the Boxing Day dinner...
Here's the route on bikemap.net:
www.bikemap.net/route/358624
Although most of us could probably do with some exercise to burn off the excess consumption of Christmas Day – we probably won’t want anything too demanding.
The Manifold Track in the Peak District provides a perfect ride along a picturesque Staffordshire valley. It’s a disused railway track, so there are no difficult gradients – and there is car parking at either end (Waterhouses at the south and Hulme End at the north). Although it’s a linear route, viewing the scenery from a different direction makes the the return journey just as interesting – and there are pubs close to each end of the track!
This ride is entirely by road, and after the excesses of Christmas Day I would imagine that it’s best to start your Boxing Day ride gently, so head for the Poole/Bournemouth coastline and after purchasing your £1.20 return ticket take the Sandbanks Ferry south (maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=sandbanks%20ferry). After the five minute journey across the mouth of Poole Harbour it’s a pleasantly flat start flanking the yellow curves and dunes of Shell Bay and Studland, eventually climbing up and over the viewpoint by the Isle of Purbeck Golf Course, where you can take in the panorama of Studland Heath, Poole Harbour and the surrounding area (unless you’ve got your head down!).
Carry straight on the B3351, which climbs and descends a few times, to the villageof CorfeCastle (maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=corfe%20castle); when you reach the castle itself, turn left and cycle clockwise round it, climbing out of the village. Now comes the strenuous bit; after half a mile or so take a right on to the B3069 to Kingston Hill - a very steep and winding tree-lined road leads up the hillside to the Scott Arms at the top. Carry on out of Kingston, then after a mile or so take a right to Worth Matravers; if you started your ride mid to late morning then the Square and Compass (squareandcompasspub.co.uk/) should just about be open for a lunchtime pint and a pie (both guaranteed to be of exceptional quality).
After that, it’s a long fast descent down through the picturesque Purbeck villageof Langton Matravers(www.langtonia.org.uk/) and on to Swanage seafront, where you take a left along Shore Road, gently threading your way past the Boxing Day walkers, with the beach on your right. Climb back out of Swanage, past the pubs and hotels, and make your way back through Studland village and the return journey on to the ferry.
The entire journey is just under thirty miles and should only take a couple of hours’ worth of actual cycling. If you’re feeling both fit and adventurous the Purbecks can offer a number of off-road variations to this route, taking in most of the locations described, although time-wise it could take twice as long, depending on the course you choose.
South Shields to Seaton Sluice and return. I've done this ride a few times and its a great way to shake off the cobwebs, either with friends or on your own.
From South Shields head west and meet any other riders at the Tyne Tunnel 'pedestrian' entrance (more info here:www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/tyneped.html).
Come out of the tunnel and turn right. Follow the cycle route up the slight incline and bear right. Cross the road after about 500 metres and go along the side of Percy Main Cricket Ground. Pick up the cycle way and continue straight on, following cycle way marked '10' - part of the Reivers Route. Continue for around five miles and as you hit a new cycle way turn off the route '10' heading north easterly to East Hollywell. Head down the farm track and follow the track into Hollywell village, tacking a right had turn into Holywell Dene Road. The road turns into track after about 100 metres and after a further 400 metres turn right onto the old railway track, a few miles on you reach a road where you turn right and pass Seaton Deleval Hall, a national Trust property of some granduer (see www.seatondelaval.org.uk/Hall.html). Continue down into Seaton Sluice for great views of the sea and the spot where Robson Green says he learned to swim! We usually stop at the Waterford Arms (www.waterfordarms.co.uk/) which does great fish and chips.
From here its south all the way, following Route 1 and the coastline. Past the spectacular St Mary's lighthouse and on to Tynemouth Priory, the burial place of three English Kings, though I can never remember which ones. From here it's best to head for the Ferry and avoid any traffic. The ferry runs every 15 minutes and takes you into the heart of South Shields, two minutes from the market square. There's a great pub called the Allum House right next to the ferry landing but I'll be giving it a miss - just because if I stop off there on Boxing Day I might not want to leave!
A good ride of about 25 miles.
Fancy pedalling through a little-known history of north Essex? This easy-going four mile circular route begins and ends in the peaceful Domesday village of Ridgewell, but circumnavigates some hostile times in-between.
Head towards Haverhill on the A1017. Turn right onto Ashen Road and then right into Tilbury Road. Weave along this narrow strip of tarmac for three-quarters of a mile before turning left at a sharp right-hand bend. Immediately on the right are 14 moss-covered steps.
These steps lead to an area now given over to a small group of modern houses. But 64 years ago they led to a site that was once the headquarters of the US Army Air Force 381st Bomb Group based at Station 167 RAF Ridgewell.
Continue up the narrow hill between steeply banked hedgerows and follow the lane to its end. You now reach the wide plateau on which RAF Ridgewell was originally built. At the end of the lane, turn left. The road you are now following led somewhere entirely different during the Second World War as it was originally a taxiway used by British and American bombers to reach intersecting runways before heading off to Nazi Germany.
Follow the road's acute angles, passing Essex Gliding Club on the right. Directly ahead is an iron gate. Beyond this (on what is now private property) sat two hangars which were eventually demolished during the 1970s. It was inside one of these that Bing Crosby briefly entertained the US troops.
Descending slightly, you arrive in the small parish of Ashen with its 15th century buildings and royal connection (Lionel, son of King Edward III, is known to have been one of its residents). Turn left into The Street and follow its course. On exiting Ashen's western edge, watch the vista open up ahead to reveal undulating farmland.
Follow the road until it reaches its conclusion in Ridgewell. Turn left and follow the A1017 to the southern edge of the village. On the right hand side is the 18th century White Horse Inn. It was here that many of the wartime servicemen drank to forget their troubles. It now serves as a peaceful reminder of a time and place that should never be forgotten.
What I love about this ride is the fantastic variety of single track conditions it incorporates despite its compact size. Add to that it happens to be in one of the country's most breathtaking and under visited corners and is topped off by one of the Britain's finest inns. My mate Phil and I rode it for the first time last Boxing day and are heading back with a larger party this year.
Mountain bike required
Level: intermediate/difficult in places
1.5 hours
Park at the Inn at Whitewell (53.917584, -2.521362)
Head north on the road towards Dunsop Bridge. After a mile take a left onto the road immediately after crossing Burholme Bridge. The gradient steepens considerably and you pass one farm entrance on your right. After half a mile, towards the top of the hill is a second farm track on the right with a cattle grid and a bridleway sign. (53.916567, -2.53943).
The road snakes and undulates for a third of a mile. Just after the hen huts on your left make sure you bear right on the road where the left fork takes you to a farm.
After another 200 metres the bridleway should be signposted to your right, guiding you right up a great little climb through a conifer forest
On exiting the woodland the conditions change again, initially to open moor singletrack and then to a semi-technical descent down a rocky path incorporating one or two stream crossings.
At the bottom of the descent navigation isn't all that easy but you should be able to pick out the track as it crosses rough grazing land heading up towards a gate in the corner of the field (53.937874, -2.546529).
This is the top of the ride and a good time to replenish on snacks if you manage to find shelter from the inevitable wind.
Passing through the gate, you head diagonally right for 500 metres, the sketchy track becoming more defined as it turns right and begins the descent.
The descent itself is a real surprise, the track leads you down through undulating pasture where the grass is so tightly grazed it's more like carpet. The geological humps and bumps of the field present too great a pull and you end up abandoning the track altogether until you arrive at the farm at Hareden next to a brook.
You then have to make a decision, head back the way you came and enjoy it all in reverse or turn right onto the public road back towards Dunsop Bridge and the Inn at Whitewell.
Finally to the inn, dry yourself in front of one of the open fires while soaking up the jaw dropping views, the newspapers and of course the real ale. Only leave the two club chairs by the door, they're reserved.
There has to be a hill and a view from the top of it! This is one of the rides I do often from my house in Felpham near Bognor Regis. Go east along the coast using part of a Sustrans route, through Littlehampton and along the seafront (maybe seeing windsurfers), through to Rustington, then wiggle through to East Preston and the west part of Worthing, along the sea front and on a cycle path running to east Worthing. Then inland past Sompting Church (dating back to before 1000 AD) and up a hill to Steyning Bowl. It's not steep and there are great views from half way up right across to Brighton and beyond to Beachy Head. A bit further on and there are often powered model planes whizzing around. At the top of the Bowl you can see right across to the line of the South Downs and inland to the Weald. Then it's a steep hill down to Steyning on Bostal Road before turning back seaward via Botolphs (another Saxon church) and Coombes and then on to the art deco Shoreham Airport where there is a great stop for chocolate cake and coffee and a look at a variety of small planes coming and going. From there, go down to the seafront and along the cycle path to Worthing and home. If you want a really steep hill just do the route in reverse and tackle Bostal Road going up from Steyning. Two and a bit hours at an average of 16 mph - plus cake and coffee time!
Looking for something serendipitous, a bohemian Baghdad Cafe experience? Nothing tops this cool, retro trailer park and campsite.
Situated in southwest France in the gorgeous and historic Ariege department, on a hilltop with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees, little can prepare you for the gloriously time-warpy sight of several fully-equipped and lovingly maintained genuine Airstream trailers, each one with its own garden and totally kitted out with authentic vintage gear. From orange sun loungers to pink flamingoes, you have to see it to believe it.
Facilities include a farm shop that sells basic goods (including farm-fresh organic lamb for the barbie), shower/toilet block, hot tub and last, but not least, the groovy Apollo lounge - an Airstream converted into a proper bar house in a circus tent, serving meals and providing entertainment.
The surrounding area is packed with stuff to do. If you don't fancy just chilling out in front of your cool caravan, you can go hiking, biking, fishing, climbing, Cathar castle-spotting or sightseeing in nearby Carcassonne to mention only a few options.
Belrepayre truly is a fabulous way to discover an area of outstanding beauty and laid-back charm.
Must be seen!
Web: www.belrepayre.com
Telephone: 0033 561 68 11 99
Belrepayre is near the town of Mirepoix, about 40 minutes from Carcassonne (which is served by Ryanair from the UK) and approximately one hour from Toulouse.
Vierhuizen: miles of cycle paths radiating from a comfortable camp site, and six small towns in range.
See bird hides, eat seafood, view art galleries, a tea factory, ex-pirates' houses, windmills, old churches, wild flowers, calm canals and a national park island, Schiermonnikoog, where no cars are welcome and the North Sea beaches stretch for miles. The best food in Holland at campsite Herberg.
Bert Jan and Saskia Harens
Hoofdstraat 49
9975 VR Vierhuizen
De Marne, Netherlands.
Tel: 0595-401657
www.camping-lauwerszee.nl
Groningen is the nearest railhead.
A local guy that will come and pick you and your mates up from London (you can take your own bike) and then take you for a weekend of mountain biking on Dartmoor.
The accommodation provided was good enough but the home cooking is marvellous! He is a very enthusiastic guide - we probably wouldn't have seen half of what we did on Dartmoor had we just pottered around struggling to read maps or following some other prescribed routes.
He drives you back as well - thank God!
My friend and I recently visited the 4* Hotel Lungomare, Cesenatico to take part in the Nove Colli Annual cycling event which takes place in May each year. Opting for the shorter 130km route (as opposed to the gruelling 200km route!) we decided not to take our own bikes as we had already experienced the loss of one through an airline several years ago, the hotel immediately put us in touch with their professional hire company, Neri, in Cesena who supplied us with bikes that rivalled those of our own! The hotel provides a great package for all its cyclists - a secure workshop with all the equipment you need for minor repairs/calibrations as well as offering a very impressive pre-event hot meal (at 4am!) and a very friendly welcome back after our long long day with a post event buffet all freshly prepared. The hotel is right on the beach with a huge pool and great spa/health facilities - everything was done in true Italian style and always with a smile! We have already booked to go back in September to explore the area more - some great hill climbs and some wonderful nature reserves to visit and we also plan to watch the Giro Della Romagna professional event which takes place on 9th September. Cesenatico is the home town of the late great Marco Pantani so cycling is taken pretty seriously here!
PS This is also a great hotel for families - plenty going on in town all the time, kids club, shops & bars just a stone's throw from the hotel - one not to be missed!
www.hlungomare.com
+39 0547 680666
Lungomare Carducci 299, Villamarina di Cesenatico 47042 (FC)
Low cost airlines fly here - Easyjet & Ryanair to Rimini & Bologna Forli
Hotel will also organise transfers
Cycle the Canal du Midi towpath and surrounding area between Carcassonne and Narbonne.
It's the best way to see the canal and you can detour onto routes through the vines and the foothills of the Black Mountains.
There are plenty of canalside restaurants and chambres d'hote.
Or stay in Paraza and hire bikes from Mellow Velos; Phil will provide routes.
Train to Narbonne via Paris.
www.mellowvelos.com/ for enquiries about bike hire and links to local accommodation.
Cheshire has varied countryside and plenty of places to visit on a day's cycling route.
There are National Trust gardens, castles and plenty of cafes and country pubs.
www.explorecheshire.com has day cycle routes and lists events en route, such as fetes, open gardens and events of interest which can give an aim for the day out.
The cycle routes are so beautiful and plentiful in Holland, often set apart from other traffic, that I really recommend going on a cycling holiday. I have done it regularly since I was about 7 with my family and it is very exciting, safe and beautiful (the countryside in the east/south is magnificent).
There are also special 'trekkershutten', little wooden cabins at many campsites throughout Holland specifically for cyclists. It is cheap, basic but clean accommodation usually with 2 bunkbeds, a kitchen and a terrace. Even though I have been on holidays to far away places as a child, my best memories are still these cycling holidays!
www.trekkershutten.nl, it is in Dutch, but if you click on 'Contact' and then request information in English, you should be okay. Otherwise contact the ANWB, info was in Saturday's (16/06/2007) Travel section.
The Danube cycle path (or Donau-Radweg) runs all the way from the source of the Danube at Donaueshingen to Vienna and on to Bratislava and Budapest.
It's all very flat, so it's definitely cycling for softies. About 95% of it is on cycle paths so the only hazard is getting run down by lycra-clad Germans.
There are lots of excellent B&Bs and campsites.
Several detailed guides are available, including a couple in English.
All the way from Donaueshingen to Budapest
You can cycle along the whole of the 67km Belgium coastline safely and easily, from the French border to the Dutch. I prefered the more wild stretch between De Panne (bordering France) and the midway point of Ostend. De Panne has a beautiful beach and is surrounded by forest, nature reserves and wonderful stretches of sand dunes. One thing the Belgians do very well are cycle paths, and you can be undisturbed by cars for quite long stretches. There are also a lot of landmarks dotted along the coast connected to the first and second world war which are fascinating.
The food is great, the weather can be awful but there are lots of good B&B's and campsites. It's easy going riding, so it's not for the hardcore but possible to do some or most of it in a long weekend if you give yourself time to do some sightseeing or get off the main track and explore the surrounding countryside.
Ostend is worth a stay and can be quite lively. The North Sea coast is stunning at any time of year and the sand dunes are wonderful so you may just want to carry on in to France or Holland!
You can fly or get the ferry to Ostend and hire bikes there. Also you can travel on to any Belgian station for free on a Eurostar ticket within 24 hours of arrival. Bike hire is plentiful, but you could also carry on from France or Holland if you were doing a cycle trip there.
www.depanne.be/tourism.aspx
tinyurl.com/lbapko
www.pbase.com/jan_hendrik/image/52096993
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