PEDAL PUSHERS
Adam Ruck takes a look at some of the best cycling holidays and short breaks for both the specialist and the not-so-expert
UNLESS stated otherwise, the organised holiday prices below are per person; they do not include flights or bike hire, but do include luggage transfers.
Easy
Flanders and Holland — guided, boat and bike The Carter Company’s Low Countries cycling cruise sails from Bruges to Amsterdam (or vice versa, alternate weeks) via Ghent and Antwerp in a luxury barge with 17 en-suite cabins and a guide who won’t take the hump if you prefer to go it alone or spend a day exploring on board ship. Seven nights, with guided cycling and visits, bike hire, dinner and picnics £965 ( the-carter-company.com ). Salzburg to Vienna — self-guided Down the Danube is a classic ride through Austria with mountain views but no mountain climbs, followed by bountiful wine country. It forms part of Eurovelo 6, a marathon cycling route between the Black Sea and the mouth of the Loire. Freedom Treks’ 320km itinerary takes the liberty of starting in Salzburg, city of Mozart and the Von Trapps, instead of the more conventional starting point, Passau, and joins the Danube at Linz. Seven nights, including B&B and return by train to Salzburg, from £487 ( freedomtreks.co.uk ). Cuba — guided The ramshackle charm of the largest Caribbean island works on all levels as a cycling holiday, from the Bay of Pigs to daiquiris and the social club scene in Havana. Two-week holidays departing November 1 or 29 with nine days’ cycling, four days’ sightseeing, most meals included and accommodation in hotels and private houses cost from £1 795 with Saddle Skedaddle ( skedaddle.co.uk ).
Moderate
South-eastern Sicily — self-guided Attractively rustic southeastern Sicily is an increasingly popular area for holiday cycling with its showpiece baroque towns and Syracuse for a dose of classical heritage. Hooked On Cycling’s itinerary
includes the dazzling mosaics in the Roman villa at Casale near Piazza Armerina. Seven nights’ B&B accommodation is £610 ( hookedoncycling.co.uk ).
Moderate to challenging
Alsace — guided The prettiest wine road in France hugs the lower slopes of the Vosges for more than 160km between Strasbourg and Basel via timbered villages, storks’ nests, perched castle ruins and wine tastings. The French Cycling Holidays itinerary from Ottrott to Mulhouse ticks all the boxes and includes two climbs in the Vosges, to the Grand Ballon and Haut Koenigsbourg castle, with a minibus bringing up the rear for the transport of luggage and weary cyclists.
Seven nights, including half-board hotel accommodation and wine, departing August 10, costs £1 795 per person ( frenchcyclingholidays.com ). Greek Islands — guided, boat and bike Island Hopping has several cycle holidays among the various Greek island groups, with cyclists and bikes transported by boat. Its eight-day Central Greek Aegean trip departs from Bodrum in Turkey, visiting Kos, Leros, Patmos and Kalymnos, with travel on a 10-cabin wooden motor yacht and 28-48km bike tours on each island. Departures in August, September and October from £1 090 per person, including
bike hire ( islandhopping.com ).
SOMETHING SHORTER — DIY TOUR SUGGESTIONS
Easy
Paris How about a weekend, on a bicycle, in Paris? Apart from a few no-go areas such as the Etoile, it’s a surprisingly bikefriendly city with well-marked bike lanes and paths and a non-confrontational roadsharing attitude; and the Seine-side expressways are car-free on Sundays. For instructions on how to use the Velib scheme of city bikes, see en.velib.paris.fr .
Moderate
Isle of Wight The 104km island circuit is just right for a weekend. The hilly section is in the south, west of Ventnor; take it clockwise and the steepest bit, from Niton to Chale, is downhill. See visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-todo/cycling and sunseaandcycling.com for maps and details of bike hire, accommodation and events including the Cycling Festival (September 13-28). Stay at Hillside Hotel, Ventnor ( hillsideventnor.co.uk ).
Moderate/strenuous
Aberystwyth to Hereford Travel by train from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth; cycle to Hereford via the Elan Valley reservoirs, Rhayader, and Hay-onWye; return by train to Shrewsbury. This beautiful 152km ride up the Ystwyth, through the tawny Cambrian mountains and down the Wye might be more relaxing if spread over three days. For details see mapmyride.com/gb/aberystwythwls/aberystwyth-to-hereford-route19311456 . Stay at the Richmond Hotel, Aberystwyth ( richmondhotel.uk.com ). —© The Daily Telegraph