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France
We also offer a series of shorter cycling holidays which give you the chance to get a real flavour of our chosen areas. Loire
> Châteaux of the Loire (grade 1) A leisurely route allowing plenty of time to visit the many châteaux and other places of interest along the way. > Sologne - Land of Kings (grade 1) New for 2009, this holiday is a delightful route of contrasting
discoveries as you leave the bustling city
of Orléans and head into the unspoiled region of lakes and forests of the Sologne. Brittany
> Brittany's Land's End (grade 1-2) This undulating coastal route leads you from bustling fishing ports to traditional whitewashed farming communities, past menhirs and dolmens of an ancient bygone culture, and on to charming small hotels and restaurants where you will savour delightful local cuisine. Dordogne
> Ancient Périgord (grade 2) Discovery of the beautiful Dordogne countryside away from the crowds, taking in splendid La Roque-Gageac, one of the region's greatest sights. Alsace
> Villages & Vineyards of Alsace (grade 1-2) New for 2009, this holiday explores the very heart of Alsace. Based at just two welcoming hotels - in Kaysersberg and Bergheim - you are ideally located to discover this fascinating and beautiful area, rich in culture, gastronomy and heritage, by bicycle. Tarn Valley
> The Timeless Tarn (grade 1-2) Starting and ending in the fascinating city of Albi, you follow scenic riverside lanes to explore the meanders of the River Tarn and the surrounding hills. Provence
Short BreaksWe also offer a series of shorter cycling holidays through our Short Breaks programme, which give you the chance to get a real flavour of our chosen areas: > A Taste of the Dordogne (4-nights) grade 2 > Loire Highlights (4-nights) grade 1 Have a look at our favourite top ten days specially selected from our cycling holidays.  |
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The love affair between the French and their
bicycles is no secret, and our chosen
regions were seemingly made for leisurely
exploration on two wheels. You have so much time
to appreciate what makes these places special - from the stone dovecotes of the Dordogne to the
old-fashioned market towns of the Loire. Enjoying France is also all about
taste, of course. Choose to pause for lunch at a
country restaurant, or make up your own picnic
from local shops; call in at vineyards for wine-tasting
discoveries; sample
hand-made cheeses; end
your day with a dinner of delicious regional cuisine at your hotel. France truly is
made for our kind of cycling!
Famed for its magnificent châteaux and its wide, lazily flowing rivers, the Loire region is a delight. With a gentle terrain of rolling vineyards and broad valleys, this is perhaps the best region in France for lazy days on two wheels, and is for us the very essence of pootling along on a bicycle, with few hills and plenty of cultural interest! Spend your days visiting the elegant châteaux, calling in at vineyards for a taste of the deliciously dry and refreshing local wines, and basking on the riverbank in the warm sunshine.
Finistère, literally ‘land’s end’, is set on the rocky coast of northwest
France, in the heart of Brittany. Its ancient Celtic culture has left the
area rich in churches, calvaries and chapels, hewn out of the local
granite rocks of this rugged landscape. Picturesque lighthouses
stand sentinel on rocky cliffs that contrast with the broad sandy
beaches at the southern end of the Bay of Audierne. This is the quiet side of
Brittany and it is here you will enjoy the best of coastal cycling.
We love the Dordogne’s combination of ravishing countryside, great history and wonderful gastronomy. As you meander along quiet country lanes and beautiful riverside routes, your eye is drawn time and again to hill-top châteaux standing sentinel above the valley. Cycling through the ancient villages, pause to visit Romanesque churches where pilgrims have prayed for centuries. The famously rich cuisine features foie gras and duck, which you can accompany with a glass or two
of Bergerac wine, or the classics from nearby Bordeaux.
The very distinct region of Alsace on the French-German border is
a land of verdant rolling hills and fertile plains. Irrigated by the mighty
River Rhine to the east and sheltered by the Vosges Mountains to
the west, the region is ideal for viticulture, and well-kept vineyards
carpet the lower slopes of the undulating foothills. The valleys are
dotted with picturesque villages and crisscrossed with country lanes, which, when
combined with comfortable accommodation and fine traditions of gastronomy and
hospitality, provide all the ingredients for a wonderful discovery on two wheels.
The gently rolling hills, secret valleys and hidden vineyards around the delightful town of Albi are blessed by a Mediterranean climate and sometimes referred to as a ‘French Tuscany’. Like its Italian counterpart, this corner of south-west France irresistibly combines a pervading sense of history with alluring countryside and fine food and wine. The medieval fortified villages (bastides), with their formal, grid-like streets sheltering behind robust fortifications, are a delight. The region’s wines are gaining a deserved reputation - we love the flinty Gaillac whites, most refreshing after a few hours’ cycling on the quiet lanes.
Provence conjures up images of cicadas and cork oaks, fields of lavender and picturesque villages clustered around ancient stone fountains. The warm, scented Luberon and Lure hills enchant the cyclist with timeless, evocative countryside dotted with hill-top villages and isolated chapels. Savour, too, the distinctive gastronomy featuring local olive oil, fresh rosemary, plump red tomatoes and creamy goat’s cheese. The Mediterranean climate brings warm days from early spring to late autumn, and the famous light which has inspired countless artists lends colour and definition to these magical landscapes.