Cycling holidays
1 SOAK UP THE SCENERY IN THE LAND OF LAVENDER
Head t o P rovence f or s ome o f E urope’s best c ycling r outes a nd t he d aunting climbs o f M ont V entoux. W hen y ou are o ut o f t he s addle, e njoy o live groves, c herry o rchards a nd t he vineyards o f C hateauneuf-du-Pape. Seven days costs from €1,570, exodus.co.uk
2 LUSH VALLEYS AND THE WONDERS OF WALES
Little c an b eat t he B recon B eacons and S nowdonia f or r ugged a nd t esting terrain. R ide a long c oastlines a nd through l ush r iver v alleys, p assing old w oollen m ills a nd s late m ines. Eight days from €2,125, the-carter-company.com
3 A BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Follow t he c ycle p aths that h ug t he R iver E lbe and c ross t he b order between t he C zech R epublic and G ermany. F rom P rague to D resden, y ou w ill m eander past B ohemian v ineyards a nd Renaissance p alaces. Eight days from €1,510, chaptersholidays.co.uk
4 BRAVE THE MOUNTAINS OF BAVARIA
Let b ratwurst a nd b eer b e y our f uel on t his t our o f s outh-east G ermany, against t he s tunning b ackdrop o f t he Jura m ountains. T he t our s tarts a nd finishes i n m edieval R egensburg. Eight nights from €1,333, headwater.com
5 A SPARKLING TIME IN CAVA COUNTRY
Enjoy g reat s cenery a nd a ncient lanes o n a t our t hrough A lt P enedes in C atalonia, w ith p lenty o f s tops at w ineries t hat p roduce c ava. Six nights from €905, inntravel.co.uk
6 SEE THE BEST OF THE BALKANS
Starting a nd e nding i n D ubrovnik, this B alkan T rilogy t our t akes i n l ush countryside, t he D inaric A lps a nd t he Dalmatian c oast i ncluding a t rip t o t he island o f K orcula. T he r oute c rosses into B osnia-Herzegovina a nd Montenegro, w ith a r ide a round L ovcen National P ark a nd t he B ay o f K otor. Eight days from €1,315, keadventure.com
7 ON THE TRAIL OF THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
Fancy t ackling s ome T our d e F rance climbs i n t he P yrenees? M ountain passes h ere a re g enerally n ot a s h igh a s those i n t he A lps, b ut i f a nything t hey are e ven m ore m emorable. T ake o n legendary c limbs s uch a s t he C ol d e Peyresourde a nd C ol d u Tourmalet. Six days from €1,130, marmot-tours.co.uk
8 FINDING GEMS AT HOME
Cycle a long t he r ugged Atlantic c oast o n t his t our of C o.Clare, i ncluding t he extraordinary l imestone landscape o f t he B urren a nd the C liffs o f M oher. Eight days from €715, irishcycletours.com
9 PUT TUSCANY TO THE TEST
Follow a n o ld p ilgrims’ r oute through t he T uscan h ills f rom S an Gimignano t o S t P eter’s S quare i n Rome. E ncounter r olling c ountryside studded w ith t all c ypress t rees a nd delightful h ill t owns. Nine days from €1,640, skedaddle.co.uk
10 LOCHS, CASTLES AND WHISKY GALORE
A f ive o r s even-night t our h eads through t he f abulous s cenery o f Loch L omond a nd Trossachs N ational P ark. Saviour m ountains, whisky d istilleries a nd the c astles o f D oune, Menzies a nd B lair. From €455, hookedoncycling. co.uk