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        <title>Been there | Tips</title>
        
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        <description>
            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>Cog Wild Bicycle Tours</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28180</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[These guys offer mountain biking trips around the Bend area, from 1/2 day to three. They can arrange bike hire, transport you to the start of the trail, feed you and escort you back to base, and will tailor it to your skills and interests.<br>Once back at the office, they even offer you a bottle or two of Deschutes beer!<br>I had a great time on a one day Bachelor to Bend trip and, if it wasn't for the substantial distance from home, I'd be back there tomorrow.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Pure Mountains mountain biking holidays</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26718</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[A faultless mountain biking experience. We went on a short break (5 nights) as a group from the UK and all wished we could've stayed longer. Brilliantly organised and guided, stunning scenery and varied, challenging trails, excellent food and accommodation, great value. What more could you want?]]></description>
                
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                <title>Eddie's Mountain Bike Adventures</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26579</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[A bike tour of the Franschhoek wine valley was one of the highlights of our stay in South Africa's winelands. Eddie picked us up from our hotel and took us on a beautiful scenic tour - taking in vineyards and a reservoir. You get to see parts you probably wouldn't venture to on your own. He's a lovely guy and takes time to explain recent history as well as the origins of the town. The pace was just right - I imagine he could do something more gruelling if that's your thing! There are other options including winetasting by bike.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Pure mountains mountain biking holidays</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23809</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Mountain biking tour company based above the village of Berchules. They have different packages available for different levels of experience. Awesome views, great tracks and great people. The added bonus for us was the full-time 4WD support while riding which made riding accessible to everyone. Highly recommend this company - we had a great time. Seriously - go!]]></description>
                
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                <title>Chalet La Foret</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23372</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[An amazing chalet in a little forest, close to the Flegere lift. We went in summertime when Chamonix is buzzing and lively - full of French alpine character and tradition.<br><br>The chalet sleeps 10 and is incredibly spacious, with a huge balcony to sit out on and enjoy the stunning Alpine views. There's even a fully appointed 'Mazot' (enchanting mini-chalet) in the garden, which is unbelievably romantic! The enormous garden was covered in wildflowers, nestled in the woods, with a hammock to laze in, a hot-tub with views of the surrounding mountains, and woodburning barrel sauna to pamper yourself in - and we spent happy nights  having BBQ's arond the firepit, under the stars.<br><br>The chalet itself has a really traditional feel, with wood beams and granite, with a proper wetroom, spacious kitchen and lounge - and a wonderful atmosphere.<br><br>It's truly a magical destination for all seasons!]]></description>
                
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                <title>Pure Mountains Mountain Bike Holidays</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23330</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Strengths<br>The riding is fantastic with loads of swooping single track. The guiding is excellent with well thought out routes tailored to the groups abilities. Tim and Jenny's patience is second to none and thanks to them I can now do switch backs! Not forgetting the luxury accommodation, great food, Land Rover support and amazing location. <br><br>Overall<br>Our second visit proved to be as excellent as our first. The combination of  biking, accommodation, food and guiding is still the best I have known. Tim and Jenny look after you so well in every aspect of the holiday. I will definitely return.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Cycling from Yulin ti Xian</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21276</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[In September 2008 58 of us cycled the above route to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. It was a fantastic experience and I have a DVD copy chronicling the twelve days we spent in China with various photos. We saw some main tourist attractions but it was the unexpected sights along the way which delighted us. However nothing compared with the contact we made with the Chinese. We stayed in hotels in Beijing and Xian but felt more at home when we camped with locals who lived in primitive houses and caves for seven fascinating nights.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Maribor Pohorje</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21122</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[We are serious skiers and I can tell you the "Golden Fox" skiing slope just off the Habakuk Hotel in Maribor is more than worth its reputation. <br>This place is a real hidden gem in Europe]]></description>
                
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                <title>Head for the hills</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21094</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This is a great mountain bike shop in the Surrey Hills. The staff are fab and they create their own bike maps of trails for the area. When you come back from a muddy ride you can wheel your bike round the back, make yourself a cup of tea and clean it down before getting the train back to London.<br>I've never bought a bike from them but have bought lots of little accessories, grease etc. One of those bike shops that makes you realise how pants Evans Cycles are.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Pure Mountains Mountain Bike Holidays</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20125</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Pure Mountains provide first-rate guided mountain bike holidays in the Sierra Nevada district of Spain. The Pure Mountains team made us feel very welcome and treated us to some awesome bike rides, excellent views and fabulous food and support.]]></description>
                
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                <title>The Andalucian Cycling Experience</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19531</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[A holiday cycling company for both professional and leisure cycling and biking holidays in Andalucia. They specialise in organising road cycling holidays, mountain bike holidays, leisure cycling holidays , triathlon and winter training camps, family cycling holidays, a white village tour and winter cycling holidays. They provide guided cycling vacations and self-led tours. I highly recommend this company if you want to discover the stunning Sierra de Grazalema in western Andalucia by bike.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Stresa, Lake Maggiore</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19044</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Stresa, like many of the other towns which reside on the lakes, is a typical tourist trap, but is good if you are short of time and fancy some mountain biking or walking (skiing in the winter).  You can hire bikes from the cable car at Stresa for €10, put the bike in the cable car to Mottarone and bike down. The routes are clearly signposted and there are free route maps.  If you take route L1, one third of the route is on road (not so fun!) but there are other routes you can take.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Keir Mill and any of the seven Stanes routes</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17367</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The area has some outstanding scenery, very well established mountain biking routes, then tucked away in a tiny churchyard in Keir, is the grave of the inventor of the bicycle. <br><br>While passing through Penpont on your way to visit it, stop at the tea room for a decent cup of tea and reasonably priced food, then pass by the old smithy, which was where Kirkpatrick MacMillan lived and worked, then on to the parish church to visit his grave (which you will eventually find has a plaque next to it). <br><br>There's lots more to see and do in the area. For example, Joseph Thomson a native of the village of Penpont was a world famous explorer of the African continent. There is a monument to him in the nearby town of Thornhill.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Kingdom Trails</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16282</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Kingdom Trails in East Burke, Vermont: miles of single-track riding through idyllic rolling terrain. <br>Not to be missed by mountain bike enthusiasts.  There's a local pub and country shop for after ride beer and food.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Millstone Trails</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16280</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The Millstone Trails are walking and riding trails that wind through historic quarries and overlook super views of rural, scenic Central Vermont.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Vallorcine downhill mountain bike track</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13947</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The new downhill track at Vallorcine is a brilliant addition to the area - the top twists through the high meadow before heading down via a fast section with a jump to a long rooty and rocky descent through the trees, finishing off with some heart-pumping hairpin bends. <br><br>The lift is only open until August 19 for this year (2007) but hopefully the success will lead to a longer season next year.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Mangler Hotel, Todtnauberg , Black Forest</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13566</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Individual service, fine dining, a pleasant living ambience created by fine wooden surroundings, warm colors and original fabrics.<br><br>Cosy rooms with an overwhelming panorama view over the valley. <br><br>Beautiful mountain spa with treatment areas, pool and different saunas.<br><br>Alpine and cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, wine-tasting, shopping in and around the loveliest high valleys in the very heart of the Black Forest National Park, located within the region of Feldberg, Schauinsland and Belchen.<br><br>Ideal for round-trips as in the border triangle close to Freiburg im Breisgau (25km), the sunny capital of the Black Forest and to the French and Swiss borders.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Devon Mountain Bike Holidays</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13311</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[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. <br><br>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.<br><br>He drives you back as well - thank God!]]></description>
                
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                <title>Fereinwohnung Muhlradl Apartments</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13067</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This a lovely apartment, 4 separate apartments in all, all spacious and very comfortable, traditionally furnished.<br><br>Whether you want a nice relaxing holiday or fancy something energetic this is the place for you, Gosau is situated about 50mins from Salzburg, provides you with wonderful scenery, an abundance of mountain bike trails/hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. <br><br>Having been here in every season it never disappoints. <br><br>The view from the Muhlradl is stunning and you can be at Gosausee Lake in a short time, this is well worth a visit.<br><br>A number of other lovely towns are within easy reach.<br><br>The owners of the Muhlradl are wonderfully helpful and can arrange bike hire etc, and have plenty of local knowledge and will always give you a warm welcome.<br><br>Well worth a visit.]]></description>
                
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                <title>New mountain bike centre and tracks</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12946</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Probably the most challenging MTB tracks in the UK (as well as some for the less daring!). We read about the new centre and decided on our first MTB trip to Wales. A long journey from Yorkshire but well worth it. The technical tracks are great fun (especially the Beast - all 38km of it). We stayed at a local country house (Plas Dolmelynllyn Hall) which was much more relaxing than the usual MTB dormitory style accommodation and reasonably priced. It's good to know that at least this place realises that some of us bikers do like a bit of comfort. The food was brilliant too - there's an option of fine dining or a newly opened bistro. We'll be back - for both the biking and the food!]]></description>
                
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