The Loire

The Loire valley is home to some of Europe's most impressive castles

THE FRENCH ARE good at many things – cooking, arty movies, and shrugging to name but a few. But they’re really good at castles. Fierce and functional, grand and imposing, large or small, the countryside is peppered with châteaux – and the banks of the River Loire are littered with them. A visit to one adds an extra dimension to a riding holiday, but it doesn’t have to add hours. True, doing justice to some of the more majestic might take the better part of a day, but many can be enjoyed in a briefer visit – and a couple of hours off the bike can go along way, sometimes.

We base our Loire visit in the small town of Amboise – home to not one but three châteaux and right in the heart of castle country. From here, you can get to some of the most impressive châteaux in France – from the massive Chambord to the river-spanning Chenonceau, to Château d’usse that inspired Sleeping Beauty. You don’t even have to visit any - you could just enjoy the riding…

Hotel tip: Hotel La Breche (www.labreche-amboise.com)