Try stress-free rugby trips
For more great holiday ideas, see page 41
Sandown, with its golden sands. Beware of the steep hills at Appuldurcombe and Wroxhall. GO FOR IT: 16 miles on disused rail paths, with road links in towns.
Puffing Strait
Start near Caernarfon Castle, built for Edward I in the 13th century to guard the Menai Strait. Climb south alongside the Welsh Highland Railway, now privately run with steam locomotives, past Llanwnda and Penygroes to Bryncir.
Here you will see wonderful views west out to Caernarfon Bay and east to the foothills of Snowdonia. Lon Eifion’s highpoint is reached after 500ft of climbing, two miles south of Penygroes. You can stop at the Inigo Jones Slateworks at Groeslon, to see craftsmen shape and polish raw RUGBY fans can hop on a coach and catch top England matches from £69. England take on New Zealand in a three-match international Rugby League test series between October 27 to November 11. Shearings Holidays has a range of slate into very expensive kitchen worktops. GO FOR IT: 12 miles of mixed terrain, with some traffic-free sections.
Heart route
This follows one of the longest dismantled railway paths, in the quiet heart of England. Starting in Market Harborough at the southern end of Britannia Walk, it runs by Oaklands Park and crosses Scotland Road.
You reach rolling countryside, climbing gently up to the marvellously spooky Oxenden tunnel – use your lights – before crossing the flat valley of the little River Ise. There are detours where you can visit Kelmarsh Hall and Brixworth Country Park before arriving in one-day packages, each including tickets and return coach travel from various UK pick-ups. The matches will be at Hull KCOM Stadium, Liverpool’s Anfield and Elland Road in Leeds. See shearings.com. Northampton on the banks of the Nene. GO FOR IT: 14 miles along a disused railway.
Royal ride
Kick off in Ballater’s Station Square on Royal Deeside and follow a waymarked path along the old Deeside railway line. Never far from the River Dee, you pass quiet woodland with lovely views of the mountains. After two miles, take a short detour to Tullich Kirkyard, to see old graves and Pictish stones, before continuing on to Cambus o’ May with its timeworn station building and impressive suspension bridge – a favourite picnic spot for families. GO FOR IT: Seven miles of flat gravel off-road cycle path. Find all route details at sustrans.org.uk.