gentle adventures, expertly organised Cycling holidays in England & Europe Walking holidays in England

Transcription

1 gentle adventures, expertly organised Cycling holidays in England & Europe Walking holidays in England

2 WELCOME Self-guided adventures with real peace of mind Whether you fancy days by the Danube, pedalling in Provence, wheeling around Tuscany or Venice s watery wonders, coasting along in Norfolk or putting your best foot forward in Suffolk s Constable Country, let us invite you to stretch your independent legs in the gentlest of ways and set off on your cycling or walking break with real peace of mind. We ve selected a great range of destinations, tours and very comfortable accommodation in England and Europe, designed to interest and excite as well as help you unwind and claim space as your own.

3 Our focus is on your time It s your activity holiday and we want you to feel better for it. Be sure to relax before you even arrive: we ll take care of everything from accommodation bookings to luggage transfers, always with the expert knowledge and real personal attention which comes from over twenty years experience in organising cycling and walking tours. Our complete service to you Arranging the best accommodation Transporting your luggage for you Preparing the most attractive and inspiring routes Providing expert advice on route details, distances and ease of terrain Supplying good mapping and a personal itinerary for every party. Also, for cycling holidays Providing comfortable, reliable, quality bikes Electric bikes now available on selected tours Offering on-road help should you need it. Our additional tours, short breaks and latest deals Why not visit our websites for even more great tours and offers? cyclebreaks.com walkingbreaks.com To find out more or make a booking call us on or us at bookings@cyclebreaks.com bookings@walkingbreaks.com Contents Cycling Holidays 8 25 England - Suffolk England Norfolk France - Loire/Dordogne/Provence Germany Austria Italy Walking Holidays England Suffolk England - Norfolk For all tour prices, our booking form and information about travelling to our tour destinations, please refer to our separate price insert. The information provided in this brochure is provided in good faith and is correct to the best of the publisher s knowledge at the time of going to press, but is subject to alteration. Published by Cycle Breaks. January Design & production: / Printed in the UK by Fuller Davies on 50:50 recycled paper. Photography courtesy of Cycle Breaks, East of England Tourism/Britainonview/Rod Edwards, National Trust/British Museum, Xtrahead.co.uk, LVT, Eurofun, CDT Touraine, CDT Dordogne- Périgord, ATOUT FRANCE/Emmanuel Valentin /Jean Malburet/Michel Angot/R-Cast/Martine Prunevieille/Oxley/Michel Laurent/Pascal Gréboval. cyclebreaks.com I 3

4 Breathe-in space Real exploration There s something amazing and immediate about experiencing a culture, a country, a landscape or coastline through the personal power of your own two legs. The breeze seems more exhilarating, the people more accessible, the sunshine more welcome and the local flavours even more special and refreshing. Don t forget to look up It s great to be so close to nature, leaving your car behind you and being a responsible visitor or sustainable tourist. The exercise is welcome also, though so too are the pools and massages available at some of our hotels perhaps. But don t forget to look up, be it at Bolzano s intricate façades, the jagged points of the Dolomites, the Mediterranean haze shimmering over the Camargue or the wrap-around skies of Suffolk and Norfolk. There s something positively uplifting about the views we ve selected on all our tours. Going that extra mile (or not) We like to think that once you re in the saddle or have your walking boots firmly laced up, the rest is up to you. That doesn t mean you re on your own with our extensive maps and meticulously planned routes; support is always at hand. Part of the appeal is that the pace of your break and the distances you cover are up to you, so you can be as active or relaxed as you wish, visit the sights you want to see and enjoy every minute of your holiday. More pedal power if you need it We ve introduced electric bikes as an option on a selection of our tours overseas, so should you have any concerns about your pedalling ability, you can still feel the wind in your hair and really rest assured all route long! 4 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more call us on I could just see the stress lift from my man s shoulders, even on the first day! Mrs R. & party, Orsett, Essex

5 Flexibility and freedom Rec: Min: Most of our routes feature a range of detours or short cuts and all our descriptions detail minimum, maximum and, in the UK, recommended mileages. Some longer trips may Max: 38 offer rest days. All our cycling and walking tours are graded as some routes offer more challenges than others. Please remember though that gentle holidays are what we do, so there are no extreme days in any of our programmes. Very easy Cycling: Very short/short rides. Mainly flat terrain. Some small hills. 1 Walking: Short day walks. Generally flat terrain. May include some small hills. Easy Cycling: Slightly longer rides. Mainly flat terrain. Some small hills. 2 Walking: Slightly longer walks. May include gently rolling hills or stretches of beach. Moderate Cycling: Longer rides - generally same itineraries as Easy tours, but with the longer route options selected. May include 3 slightly more or bigger hills. Walking: Moderately long walks. May include some hills or stretches of beach. More challenging Cycling: Longer rides with more frequent climbs and descents and 4 EB Walking: Cycling: occasional (although possibly avoidable!) challenging climbs. Longer walks with frequent ascents or descents. Electric bikes an option. To find out more call us on Exercise your independence We can organise extra nights at the beginning and end of your stay, and usually along your route too. At some of our period or coastal hotels in particular you might wish to upgrade to enjoy special views or a spot of four-poster luxury. Upgrades are also avaialble on some of our French tours. With only a few exceptions, (see tour facts for details), you can start your break on any day of the week. Look out for our English and French single centre holidays too - great for first timers or those who might just want to spend more time relaxing at the hotel than in the saddle. Key to maps All our maps are to scale Routes Extension Highlight Railways Overnights Towns/villages Châteaux cyclebreaks.com I 5

6 Gentle adventures expertly organised About us At our base under huge Suffolk skies, we ve been listening to and learning from our walking and cycling break customers since Over this time, we have refined and added to our tours portfolio, but have never lost our very personal touch. In this internet age, we appreciate that choice is at your fingertips. Again and again though, we see proof that our high level of service, valuable knowledge and attention to detail is very much appreciated and considered good value for money. We ve been holidaying with Cycle/Walking Breaks for nearly 20 years & you ve never let us down. Mr & Mrs D., Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire How our holidays work Transporting luggage from place to place Travel light with just the bare essentials camera, book, picnic etc. In the morning, we pick up your bags and ensure they are waiting for you by late afternoon at your next overnight stop. Characterful accommodation that s comfortable and well chosen It s an essential ingredient, so we get it right. Well-positioned and relaxing accommodation with en-suite facilities and breakfast provided. Evening meals are either available on the premises or close by. Our route notes give additional tips for the best places to eat and identify any fine dining opportunities. More information is provided in this brochure s section introductions. Maps, guides and detailed route notes We believe in well-planned, meticulous itineraries with plenty of information and options, and we really pride ourselves on the personal service behind our tours. Details of the maps/guides provided are included in this brochure s section introductions. 6 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more call us on

7 Sensible distances and bespoke itineraries As a guide, occasional cyclists should expect to cover between 6 10 miles an hour at a gentle pace, allowing for short stops on the way. For walkers, our daily distances are between a gentle stroll and a healthy hike depending on the tour you choose. Dedicated cyclists and walkers ourselves, we re very much hands-on and can usually tailor our holidays to the requirements of each party. We can add extra nights, cut rest days, arrange taxis just ask and we ll do our very best to help. Children s discounts Cycling and walking can make an ideal family holiday provided the right distances are chosen for the younger members of the party. Do give us a call to discuss your requirements. Discounts and facilities are included in our price insert. Your payment protected We value your peace of mind, so we ve also ensured that your holiday payment is safe with us, through our secure online payment system and payment protection insurance arranged through IPP (International Passenger Protection) on your behalf (included in the holiday price). A note on our European holidays Many years ago specialist cycle tour operators from Europe approached us to look after their clients when holidaying in Suffolk. Our relationships developed and, in 2002, we decided to reciprocate. The tours we offer in Europe blend our experience and understanding with the expert knowledge of our local partners who share our commitment to quality, service and great cycling. We have developed our European programme slowly, choosing tours carefully. We visit the hotels personally, refining the suggested selections where we feel it is appropriate. Although not always able to guarantee the same organisational flexibility on offer through our UK tour programme, we work with our expert partners to accommodate special requests wherever possible. Specific to cycling holidays Great bikes provided... We supply hybrid tourers, a comfortable bike, more rugged than a road bike, but lighter and faster than a mountain bike. The bikes have easy to use gears, flat or quarter-rise handle bars and are available with a ladies or gents frame. Panniers, handlebar bags, map holders and support equipment are supplied. We now also offer the option of electric bikes on selected routes.... or bring your own We re happy to give you a discount if you d prefer to bring your own bike on your holiday. If you have a problem with it whilst on the tour, we ll bring you a replacement for the rest of your holiday and charge back the discount you were given. On the road support We ensure that your bike is a good fit before you depart and you will receive a briefing about the route, how to fix a puncture and how to make contact in case help is needed. cyclebreaks.com I 7

8 cycling in SUFFOLK Leaning half-timbered legacies and pink thatched cottages. The gentlest of rolling landscapes and Constable s meandering Stour. Amusing crinkle-crankle walls, big skies, bustling market towns and enormous flint churches. Cambridge Colleges and Kings. A ship full of buried treasure. Broad estuaries, boldly-coloured beach huts and yellow gorse heathlands. Britten s mystifying melodies and booming bitterns at Minsmere. Kersey ducks at the watersplash and a freewheeling whizz to remember. Accommodation We ve selected our favourite places to stay, where the welcome is warm, the facilities inviting, the atmosphere pleasant, and where the comfortable en-suite rooms will help you relax after your time in the saddle. All our accommodation is of a very high standard, with many hotels and B&Bs awarded 3 or more stars according to national classifications. We also feature a couple of 5 star B&Bs which have won the much-coveted gold award for quality. Each establishment is very different in character, for example: half-timbered coaching inns in small market towns; historic pubs and fine dining restaurants with rooms taking pride of place at the centre of a medieval village; the smartest hotels in Southwold and seafront properties in Aldeburgh. Our special single centre breaks feature a Tudor mansion and more modern club hotel. These, like all our establishments, are well-located for your gentle adventures, but also offer great leisure facilities so you can really relax into your time away....good cycling, lovely villages & towns, sea & castles. Highly recommended. Ms McA. & party, Sheffield

9 How to get there Rail to: Needham Market for our main tours. Woodbridge / Manningtree for our single centre breaks, followed by a taxi transfer. Get a taste of the place Our hotel stays are arranged on a bed and breakfast basis but our route notes point out great places to stop for lunch, tea, a picnic or refreshing pint, encouraging you to try specialities such as Newmarket sausages, creamy cheeses or succulent local asparagus. We also give tips for evening meals, either at the hotel or nearby restaurants. What s included in the price En-suite hotel accommodation as described with full English breakfast Route notes and descriptions (we post these out to you approx. two weeks before departure) OS mapping with marked routes provided on arrival Luggage transfer Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment cycles generally available for collection on day one of your tour Local assistance on call The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area By car: Free parking is available for the duration of your stay. Go on, spoil yourself Fancy a four-poster for the night in your historic inn or simply a sea view to wake up to in the morning? Upgrades are available at a number of our hotels and, at some destinations we can arrange for you to stay, if you prefer, in especially sought-after establishments. We are also pleased to book additional nights at either at end of your tour, or along the way too, if applicable. Get ahead: early start options If you haven t got too far to travel to start your Suffolk adventure and can be with us by 10.00am, then you are welcome to skip the first night in Needham Market and go straight into day two of whichever tour you choose. Alternatively if you would prefer to start your tour on the day of arrival but cannot get to us until later, we are happy to suggest alternative first night accommodation. For more details, please refer to our price insert, visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. To find out more and book a tour call us on cyclebreaks.com I 9

10 Lavenham Kersey Bures Stoke-by-Nayland Stour TOUR FACTS Chelsworth MILES Dedham Needham Market Hadleigh Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 From wool towns to the water s edge Needham Market Hadleigh Shelley East Bergholt Overnight Dedham Day 3 Hidden gems & hollyhocks Dedham (Stoke by Nayland) Kersey Chelsworth (Lavenham) Needham Market 10 I cyclebreaks.com Flatford Manningtree Ipswich Rec: 22 Min: Max: 38 Rec: 32 Rec: 29 Min: 19 Min: 20 Max: 37 Max: 30 Rec: 37 Min: Rec: Max: Min: Max: 39 Rec: 17 Min: 17 Max: 28 TOP TIPS Picture the gentlest of English landscapes: smooth vales full of water meadows and meanders, distant churches and dragonflies, boats and bridges. Sketch Constable Country roughly as the area which the 19 th century artist could reach on foot or horseback, and it s not surprising that the places where he set up his easel are all within easy pedalling distance of each other around the Stour. TOUR Settle into Suffolk at Needham Market before encountering the half-timbered phenomenon of the medieval Suffolk wool towns. Cycle country lanes to Hadleigh with its redbrick deanery tower, massive flint church and delightful painted pargetting of the historic High Street. Continue through the tiny riverside hamlet of Shelley to East Bergholt. A plaque marks the site of Constable s birthplace by the fascinating church with its unique churchyard bell cage. At Flatford Mill perhaps take a guided walk to seven sites painted by Constable, row out on the Stour for a different perspective or drink in the atmosphere over tea by the river. Constable went to school in Dedham and the pretty village has plenty of treats in store today, boasting connections with Gainsborough and Munnings as well as many a contemporary artist. Heading back to Needham Market, there are options to visit Langham Church and Stoke-by-Nayland, both closely linked to Constable, then weave through wool towns great, small and undoubtedly some of the prettiest villages in England. Splash through the ford at Kersey, then on to cottage garden country at Chelsworth. There is also an opportunity to visit Lavenham, the most spectacular of wool towns with its medieval maze of half-timbered buildings. The Dedham Vale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated by Natural England in It stretches from Manningtree to Bures on the Suffolk / Essex borders. Heart of Constable Country TOUR 3F 3 days (2 nights) To find out more and book Tour 3F call us on You ll be sure to recognise the famous site of Constable s Haywain by Willy Lott s house. From here there are idyllic walks across the water meadows west towards Dedham or east towards Manningtree.

11 Constable Country Landscapes TOUR 3H 3 days (2 nights) Gently does it. Landscapes don t come more calming than the rolling idylls immortalised by John Constable. Combine pedalling through these pictures with time out discovering half-timbered treasures and tearoom temptations in South Suffolk s inspiring medieval villages; add a renowned country retreat and, hey presto, you have the perfect getaway break to leave you both inspired and refreshed. TOUR Slow down and absorb Suffolk s alternative pace of life at Needham Market, then head out south down quiet country lanes at your own pace and on through history-laden villages towards the River Stour which marks the border between Suffolk and Essex. This is Constable s Country, a place of mills and water meadows, pointed poplars and church tower pinnacles. Flatford Mill and impressive East Bergholt are must-sees when it comes to paying homage to the Grand Master: places of real meaning in his life and his work and very special spots to get off the saddle a while, admire the views and, like the painter himself, get things into perspective. Dedham Vale s smooth fieldscapes unfurl beneath the wheels on the rise towards Stoke-by-Nayland. Mighty St Mary s dominates this historic huddle of a village where tiny lanes push between Suffolk pink cottages and timber-framed houses. This was once a market town, but times are quieter now and the rambling Angel Inn which used to bustle with many a coach and horses is now a godsend to travellers on more gentle journeys. Two route options allow for a morning that s as lazy as you need it to be. Both weave through wonderful little wool towns, edging the rivers Box or Brett. It s worth going the extra mile or more through historic Boxford to Lavenham, Suffolk s most magnificent medieval jewel, but the shorter ride back to Needham Market just can t fail to please: taking in Kersey s watersplash and charming Chelsworth, it allows a later start or simply time to linger over a well-deserved en-route pint. TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Constable s home & inspiration Needham Market Flatford East Bergholt (Min. via Hadleigh) Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland TOP TIPS Day 3 Return route options Stoke-by-Nayland - Boxford Lavenham Needham Market Or Stoke-by-Nayland Kersey - Chelsworth Needham Market 2-3 Rec: 33 Min: 24 Max: 37 Rec: 30 Max: 33 Min: 23 John Constable loved the tower of Stoke-by- Nayland church. It appears several times in his paintings but not always in the right place! Don t forget to look inside. To find out more and book Tour 3H call us on cyclebreaks.com I 11

12 Lavenham Stour Brett Kersey Needham Market Hadleigh East Bergholt Flatford Mill Dedham MILES TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Constable s home & inspiration Needham Market (Shotley Peninsular) East Bergholt Flatford Overnight Dedham Day 3 Weaving around the wool towns Dedham Hadleigh Kersey Overnight Lavenham Day 4 Heading homeward Lavenham (Ickworth House) Needham Market 12 I cyclebreaks.com Ipswich 2 3 Rec: 31 Min: 19 Max: 46 Rec: 27 Min: 20 Max: 33 Rec: 24 Min: 16 Max: 40 TOP TIPS Explore the gently rolling, oh-so-english landscapes immortalised by Constable and pedal at your own pace through the beautiful half-timbered villages - the legacy of Suffolk s medieval wool trade-based wealth. This leisurely tour takes in the very best of both worlds, and being on the saddle gives it all a special immediacy and added dimension. Somehow taking time gives you time to take it all in, amidst the natural peace of country lanes and the respectful silence of person-powered pedals! TOUR Constable Country & Lavenham TOUR 4A 4 days (3 nights) Relax into Suffolk at Needham Market, then perhaps start your cycling with a little detour to the lovely Shotley peninsular before you rejoin the recommended route close to East Bergholt in the heart of Constable Country. Golding Constable, John s father, was the miller down at Flatford. He is buried in East Bergholt churchyard just a stone s throw from the site of his home and John s birthplace. Head down to Flatford Mill to take a guided Constable appreciation tour around the mill area and the Stour s adjacent water meadows. There s time to enjoy the ducks or the tearoom, or even row along the Stour, before you set off to historic Dedham with its antique shops, inns and imposing church. Hadleigh is the next stop, reportedly the 14 th most prosperous town in England in medieval times! At half-timbered Kersey the ducks have priority at the water-splash, then wind your way through farmland landscapes to the medieval masterpiece, Lavenham. Leave the leaning houses and crooked streets for a relaxed ride back to Needham Market. Near Bury St Edmunds, the magnificent rotunda, Ickworth House, is worth the detour, if you ve energy enough, or similarly, the Museum of East Anglian Life at Stowmarket. Many of the wool towns houses might not be as young as you think - look out for Tudor buildings modernised by the addition of Georgian façades. It s often the roof lines which give this away! To find out more and book Tour 4A call us on As you tour the wool towns, look out for raised plasterwork, or pargetting. Often painted for greater dramatic effect, it is out to impress and is perhaps the earliest form of personal advertising!

13 Offering plenty of flexibility and scope for real relaxation, our single centre break is ideal if you wish to try out a cycling holiday for the first time, or simply fancy mixing a bit of cycling with a comfortable hotel stay in beautiful countryside. The choice of gentle circular rides and shortcut options allows you to cover distances you feel happy with at the same time as exploring picturesque villages and countryside made famous by Constable s brushstrokes. TOUR Constable Country Single centre break TOUR 3E 3 days (2 nights) We ll deliver your bikes to you on the morning after your arrival, so you ve plenty of time to get in the saddle and head off for a pub lunch or complete day s Constable Country cycling and savour the views from the quiet country lanes. Who knows, after a relaxing swim or massage, you might be re-invigorated and ready to set off on more gentle adventures in the morning? We ve put together five circular routes for you to choose from during your stay. We ll leave you with all of them, so you can make your choice as the mood takes you. Each is designed to give you a delightful experience to remember the splash through Kersey ford, the wander across water meadows to Willy Lott s house and the site of Constable s Haywain, the picnic by the pond at pretty Polstead... Do enjoy some excellent cycling, and treat yourself to that well-deserved pint or delicious cream tea - or even both! Box Nayland Boxford Stoke by Nayland Club Hotel Kersey Polstead Stoke-by- Nayland Stour Little Horkesley MILES TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Day 2 Take delivery of bikes. Choice of circular rides Brett Hadleigh Shellley Dedham Day 3 Choice of circular rides & depart Overnights Stoke-by-Nayland East Bergholt Flatford Mill Manningtree 1 Min: 9 Max: 16 Min: 9 Max: 16 Your hotel The 3 star Stoke-by-Nayland Club Hotel combines great facilities and picturesque location to ensure you relax and unwind. Enjoy a magnificent pool and fitness centre, two golf courses, sauna and steam room and a chance for a soothing massage and beauty treatments. To find out more and book Tour 3E call us on cyclebreaks.com I 13

14 Brett Lavenham Box Bildeston Kersey Boxford Stoke-by-Nayland Nayland Stour Chelsworth Polstead TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland MILES Hadleigh Dedham Day 2 Spinning wheels & wool towns Stoke-by-Nayland Hadleigh Kersey Chelsworth Overnight Bildeston Day 3 The medieval masterpiece Bildeston Brettenham Overnight Lavenham Day 4 Colourful cottages & Constable Country Lavenham Boxted Polstead Stoke-by-Nayland Manningtree Station 1 Rec: 17 Min: 13 Max: 18 Rec: 12 Min: 7 Max: 16 Rec: 14 Min: 11 Max: 15 TOP TIPS Not too sure about how far you can pedal? Although we re sure you would be fine on our Grade 2 3 tours, this very gentle experience may appeal to you. It gives even more opportunity to linger and explore some of Suffolk s best-loved picturesque villages. Go easy, enjoy a relaxing massage or round of golf at your first hotel and look forward to getting to grips with the pedals and a slower pace of life. TOUR Lavenham & Pink-washed Villages of Suffolk TOUR 4G 4 days (3 nights) Start out in Stoke-by-Nayland and head up to Hadleigh with its fine old High Street and riverside walks. You ll soon recognise the hallmark huge churches of the once prosperous wool towns and pick out the rich merchants houses and candy pink weavers cottages. Kersey might prove that Suffolk is not totally flat, but the view is outstanding and resident ducks seem to appreciate visitors at the water-splash. Next up, the charming village of Chelsworth, renowned for its open gardens festival, is lined with beech and chestnut trees in the valley of the River Brett. Pedal on to Bildeston, for medieval life on a bigger scale, preparing you for the magnificent treats still to come. Leave the historic overhanging buildings for rural Brettenham, pedalling only a few gentle miles to the medieval labyrinth of timberframed merchants houses, shops and guildhalls that is Lavenham. An audio tour will help explore the tinier passageways, or find out more about wool trade history in the carved Guildhall of Corpus Christi on the market place. Finally head south to Boxford, a pretty huddle of houses, colour-washed in pale pinks, off-whites and pastel greens. From here, a short pedal past Polstead pond returns you to Stoke-by-Nayland. Lavenham is a treat both inside and out. Take tea at the hotel; visit the museum rooms of the great Guildhall; look up, as well as at the merchandise when you go in the galleries and shops. Beams abound and answers to the architectural puzzle are in evidence simply everywhere if you look. 14 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 4G call us on

15 Historic Wool Towns Tour TOUR 5A 5 days (4 nights) West Suffolk s wool towns are steeped in history, nestling alongside small fleece-washing rivers in hallmark rolling countryside. This tour is as delightful as the candy-pink cottages you ll discover en route, and takes in ancient Bury St Edmunds, a place of pilgrimage since the 11th century, renowned for its flower-filled Abbey gardens, Georgian town houses and classic shopping. TOUR Start your journey in Mid-Suffolk, setting out south from Needham Market via the renowned Jimmy s Farm to the Essex borderlands and Stour Valley, immortalised by John Constable. Explore the painter s birthplace of East Bergholt with its unfinished church, then head riverwards to Flatford and the site of the Haywain. Nearby Dedham was where Constable spent his school days; today there are antique shops to tempt you and some splendid riverside restaurants. Leaving the Dedham Vale, the huge spire of Hadleigh church will guide you to the town centre. At Kersey, half-timbered houses drop down the hillside from great church to little river. Freewheel down and splash through to the other side. Stop for refreshment half-way up, or wheel away to the best medieval treat ever the intact timber-framed town of Lavenham. It s worth a detour to Suffolk s antiques capital, Long Melford, famed for its two red brick Tudor manor houses, and the pink thatched cottages on the green at Cavendish on the way to the intriguing stucco-covered rotunda, Ickworth House, and Bury St Edmunds. This ancient market town mixes modern-day chic with good old Suffolk charm. On the historic Market Hill, visit the cathedral with its brand-new tower which looks like it has been there for simply years. Finally, on the return stretch to Needham Market, enjoy pretty Badwell Ash and perhaps even the gardens and vineyard at Wyken Hall. TOP TIPS Fancy some real floral treats? Why not pedal just a little further from the floral town of Bury St Edmunds, past vineyards up to Bressingham Gardens (Rec. 35 miles/ Grade 2-3) on our 5 night tour, Historic Towns & Villages of Suffolk (Tour 6C) Your additional overnight will be near Diss. Please visit cyclebreaks.com for full tour details, or give us a call. To find out more and book Tour 5A or Tour 6C call us on TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 A painter s home & inspiration East Bergholt Flatford Overnight Dedham Day 3 Weaving around the wool towns Dedham Hadleigh Kersey Overnight Lavenham Day 4 Bury beautiful indeed Lavenham (Long Melford) (Cavendish) Ickworth Overnight Bury St Edmunds Day 5 Heading homeward Bury St Edmunds Badwell Ash Needham Market 2 3 Rec: 31 Min: 20 Max: 46 Rec: 26 Min: 20 Max: 33 Rec: 20 Min: 17 Max: 29 Rec: 30 Min: 19 Max: 33 cyclebreaks.com I 15

16 History, Hoofbeats & Cambridge too TOUR 7E 7 days (6 nights) TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Weaving through the wool towns Needham Market Hadleigh Kersey Chelsworth Overnight Lavenham Day 3 Stately homes & castle keeps Lavenham Long Melford Castle Hedingham Overnight Clare Day 4 Heading over the border Clare Stradishall Woodditton Swaffham Bulbeck Overnight Outskirts of Cambridge Day 5 Colleges & Kings Day at leisure in Cambridge Overnight Outskirts of Cambridge Day 6 Horses everywhere Cambridge Newmarket Moulton (West Stow) Overnight Bury St Edmunds Day 7 Heading homeward Bury St Edmunds Badwell Ash Needham Market 2 3 Rec: 29 Min: 16 Max: 33 Rec: 27 Min: 15 Max: 28 Rec: 28 Min: 28 Max: 30 Rec: 31 Min: 30 Max: 40 Rec: 31 Min: 20 Max: 35 TOP TIPS Dip into Cambridgeshire from Suffolk on this places-to-visit-packed tour which leads you through picture-perfect weavers villages, and across the higher heaths of England s horse-racing capital, Newmarket, to the bustling, bike-filled university city of Cambridge. Fine art treasures abound in the stately homes and museums along the way and there s a great crop of rural pubs and picnic stops. You ll need to give way to horses or the occasional duck in places, and be prepared for a few gentle climbs along the quiet country lanes. TOUR Setting out from rural Needham Market, half-timbered wool towns unfold to charm you. Historic Hadleigh, the hillside huddles of medieval cottages at Kersey, sleepy flower-filled Chelsworth are simply a prelude leading up to the finest medieval prize of all at Lavenham. Long Melford s antique shops will tempt you, but don t miss Melford Hall with its Beatrix Potter connections or Kentwell Hall, renowned for re-enactments of Tudor life. Gentle rolling countryside guides you to the imposing Norman keep and compact medieval village of Castle Hedingham, before different castle capers at the adorable wool town of Clare. As you pedal forth to the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire borders, the landscape opens up with some stunning panoramas. Stud farms appear between the villages with glimpses of smart racehorses in the fenced fields. You ll enjoy a day at leisure when you reach your hotel on the outskirts of Cambridge. Nearby Anglesey Abbey has inspiring vistas and amazing artefacts, but head into the city Using the Park & Ride facility is ideal for getting into Cambridge without using your cycle bell! Once in the centre, a guided tour is a great way to see a selection of the 31 colleges, including King s with its unbelievable fan-vaulting. Newmarket is a fascinating world of its own, with traffic lights and public swimming pools for horses and more vets than doctors. Why not take an equine tour to find out more? 16 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 7E call us on

17 TOUR for some serious sightseeing. Here, historic colleges line the streets, sharing life with chic shopping opportunities. Don t miss King s or Trinity, Darwin s collections in the University Museum of Zoology, the amazing fine art in the Fitzwilliam Museum and be sure to jump in a punt to see the colleges from The Backs. There s no need to race back into Suffolk towards elegant Bury St Edmunds, but you ll see packhorse bridges and plenty of sleek racehorses in and around Newmarket. Take time here to visit the National Horseracing Museum or National Stud perhaps. Heading over the heaths, you might detour to West Stow and its Anglo Saxon village; then from bustling historic Bury, your route weaves past mills and pretty villages to Needham Market. Bardwell Cam Cambridge MILES Newmarket Moulton Clare Pakenham Bury St Edmunds Lavenham Long Melford Sudbury Stowmarket Needham Market Chelsworth Kersey Hadleigh Ipswich Castle Hedingham Stour To find out more and book Tour 7E call us on cyclebreaks.com I 17

18 MILES Castles & Vineyards Stowmarket Debenham Saxtead Green Framlingham TOUR 3B 3 days (2 nights) Needham Market Ipswich Helmingham Easton Woodbridge This neat little tour is just great for getting a real taste of Suffolk. A local vineyard, a picturesque working windmill, half-timbered villages and pink thatched cottages plus gardens stately or small are all highlights of the gentle routes across smooth rural landscapes. The crowning glory however, has to be the truly fabulous flint castle with redbrick, twisted Tudor chimneys in the delightful market town of Framlingham. TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 From tea & wine to windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Green Overnight Framlingham Day 3 A colourful route homeward Framlingham Easton (Woodbridge) Helmingham Needham Market 1 2 Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 26 Rec: 22 Min: 22 Max: 33 TOP TIPS TOUR Slip gently into the slower pace of Suffolk life as you relax on arrival in rural Needham Market. In the morning, push the pedals steadily along quiet lanes through gentle rolling landscapes to Debenham, a small village with huge church and huddles of halftimbered houses. Stop for refreshment of the drinking or browsing kind: there are several antique shops and a charming pottery making wonderfully eccentric and internationally renowned teapots. The striking white 18 th century post mill at Saxtead Green on the outskirts of historic Framlingham is well worth a stop, or you may prefer to detour for a glass of crisp white wine from the local vineyard. Once in Fram, there are lovely Mere-side walks for the very best views of the 12 th century castle. Up on the castle s walls, the panoramas are similarly stunning, out over the fields, the fine church, centuries of rooftops and towards the redbrick Victorian college. More red bricks at Easton too, this time in the miles of crinkle-crankle wall, once the longest in the world. Meet the famous Suffolk Punch horses at Easton Farm Park, move on to the extensive herbaceous borders at Helmingham Hall or detour to Woodbridge on the River Deben, before returning to Needham Market. Why not treat yourself to a little luxury and an extra experience in historic surroundings and sleep in a four poster bed at the ages old market hill coaching inn in Framlingham? Gentle Debenham escaped both industry and the railways, but it did have a brickworks and St Mary Magdalene has one of the most beautiful brick floors in Suffolk. 18 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 3B call us on

19 Offering plenty of flexibility as well as wonderful atmosphere in a period hotel, our single centre tour is ideal if you wish to try a cycling holiday for the first time, or spend a few nights in a luxury setting with bikes to hand and interesting sights, rivers and coastline all within easy reach. The choice of excellent circular rides explore timeless villages, castles, countryside and the sleepy sheltered river inlets that the Saxons and Vikings were so reluctant to leave. TOUR Woodbridge Tudor Treat Single centre break TOUR 3G 3 days (2 nights) As we deliver your bikes to you on the morning after your arrival, you ve plenty of time to enjoy the hotel facilities or get in the saddle and head off inland or towards the coast in time for an enticing pub lunch. We ve put together four circular routes for you to choose from during your stay. We ll leave you with all of them so you can make your choice as your energy and whim takes you. Each is designed to give you a cycling experience to remember a river trip perhaps through the reedbeds at Snape Maltings, around the creeks at mysterious Orford or along the Deben from Waldringfield; a visit to the Sutton Hoo ship burial site, 12 th century Framlingham Castle, windmills and tide mills or traditional seaside pleasures of piers and proms at Felixstowe with a return trip by foot/cycle ferry across the river mouth. Whether you re new to the saddle, getting gently re-acquainted or want a relaxing break with a bit of fresh air thrown in, enjoy a very rewarding break in a special part of Suffolk. Ipswich MILES Saxtead Green Seckford Hall Waldringfield TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & relax Framlingham Day 2 Take delivery of bikes Choice of circular rides Day 3 Choice of circular rides & depart Overnights Near Woodbridge Woodbridge Sutton Hoo Snape Maltings Foot ferry Felixstowe Shingle Street Orford 2 3 Min: 9 Max: 28 Min: 9 Max: 28 Your hotel The enchanting redbrick Tudor mansion, Seckford Hall, is situated on the outskirts of Woodbridge amidst beautiful parklands and rolling farmland. As well as its classic atmosphere, there are all the modern well-being facilities to ensure a relaxing and invigorating stay, including a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and gymnasium. A choice of health and beauty treatments may be booked and there is an 18 hole golf course nearby. To find out more and book Tour 3G call us on cyclebreaks.com I 19

20 Needham Market Debenham Helmingham Ipswich MILES Saxtead Green Woodbridge Framlingham Snape Maltings Sutton Hoo TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 From tea & wine to windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Green Overnight Framlingham Day 3 Wild coast & warrior kings Framlingham Snape (Orford) (Shingle Street) (Sutton Hoo) Overnight Woodbridge Day 4 A colourful route homeward Woodbridge Helmingham Needham Market 20 I cyclebreaks.com Shingle Street 2 3 Orford Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 38 Rec: 39 Min: 13 Max: 42 Rec: 17 Min: 16 Max: 28 TOP TIPS If you like rivers and boats with a great helping of history and local flavour, then this Suffolk escape has to be the right short break route for you. Enjoy castles and culture washed down with a glass of crisp local wine or refreshing real ale, then snake down from reedy creeks to the coast perhaps, as you head to listen to tinkling masts on the Deben at Woodbridge or muse over the wonderous ship burial site at Sutton Hoo. TOUR Follow the first stages of the Castles & Vineyards Tour (Tour 3B) from Needham Market via half-timbered Debenham to Saxtead Green s post mill or the local vineyard, and on to historic Framlingham where Mary Tudor once lived within the curtain walls of the impressive castle. From the picturesque market town move on to the home of the Aldeburgh Festival, Snape Maltings. The famous concert hall sits amongst the little arts community on the banks of the River Alde. Take in some local provisions before detouring perhaps to coastal Orford with its massive castle keep, quaint quayside and smokehouses wafting aromas of finely cured fish. Shingle Street where the River Ore meets the sea might also tempt you, but then again you might prefer just to head to Woodbridge to sit by the Deben, visit the intriguing tide mill or cross the river to treasure-rich Sutton Hoo. Take time to visit vast St Mary s or some of the exquisite shops on Market Hill before leaving Woodbridge en route for Needham Market. You ll be forgiven for stopping for tea and floral treats at Helmingham Hall, being tempted to detour for a riverside pint and possible boat trip at Waldringfield or savour a peaceful wander through idyllic woodland gardens at Blakenham. Orford offers some pleasant boat trips out from the quayside to explore the fishing traditions, oysterbeds and wildlife of this unique part of the Suffolk coast. Castles, Rivers & Woodbridge TOUR 4B 4 days (3 nights) Sutton Hoo, ship burial site of Suffolk s warrior king, has wonderful walks with views across the River Deben as well as plenty of mystery and unburied treasure. To find out more and book Tour 4B call us on

21 Heritage Coast Encounter MILES Halesworth Southwold TOUR 4H 4 days (3 nights) A great little snapshot of Suffolk, this tour is especially designed to give you a taste of the coast as well as some fantastic rural cycling. Picture mellow market towns or the panorama from Framlingham s curtain wall castle; lines of vines or rows of Southwold beach huts. The route is full of local colour and leads to a stay near the coast itself, just a pedal push away from hauntingly beautiful heathlands, forests, creeks and shingle stretches. TOUR Leaving Needham Market and heading out via the leaning legacies of Debenham and countless historic hamlets, friendly Framlingham is the second market town on the clock with its bustling square and 12th century castle. From here it s a short pedal past outstretched vineyards, through rolling rural landscapes to timeless Peasenhall, Sibton and Walpole - little villages with lots of character before reaching market town number three, an up-and-coming Suffolk arty favourite: Halesworth. Answer the call of the coast next by cycling east, past the post mill at Holton and on to the refined greens, white lighthouse, tasteful pier and brewery delights of Southwold. Lean up your bike against a canon on Gun Hill perhaps, look out to sea and share more sobering thoughts about the Battle of Sole Bay. Across the creek and on through the fishing village of Walberswick, there s a shady forest ride and glorious heathland close to the clifftops at Dunwich. If you re up for it, why not go off-road to RSPB s bird heaven at Minsmere before nestling down for the night in the delightful village of Westleton? The return route meanders almost as much as the famous redbrick crinkle-crankle wall at the thatched estate village of Easton. Two Bells, a Crown and three White Horses mark the way back. Stop for a pint perhaps or delight in a banquet of local herbaceous border colour at Helmingham Hall, before returning to Needham Market. TOP TIPS Debenham Needham Market Helmingham Peasenhall Framlingham Easton TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Market towns & more Needham Market Debenham Framlingham Peasenhall Overnight Halesworth Day 3 Windmills & waders Halesworth Holton - Southwold Walberswick Dunwich (Minsmere) Overnight Westleton Day 4 Rural return Westleton Easton Helmingham Needham Market Westleton Dunwich 3 Rec: 35 Min: 35 Max: 37 Rec: 24 Min: 23 Max: 29 Rec: 34 Min: 34 Max: 38 Framlingham is renowned for its mighty castle, but don t miss St Michael s Church too with its famous Thamar Organ and colourful Tudor tombs, including one belonging to a son of Henry VIII. To find out more and book Tour 4H call us on cyclebreaks.com I 21

22 MILES Covehithe Castles & Coastline = 5B = 6D extension Peasenhall Southwold Dunwich TOUR 5B 5 days (4 nights) Debenham Needham Market Ipswich Framlingham Snape Maltings Woodbridge TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Orford Shingle Street Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Green Overnight Framlingham Day 3 Through landscapes to seascapes Framlingham Dunwich Thorpeness Overnight Aldeburgh Day 4 Waves & warrior kings Aldeburgh Snape Orford Shingle Street Sutton Hoo Overnight Woodbridge Aldeburgh 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 38 Rec: 32 Min: 19 Max: 37 Rec: 37 Min: 16 Max: 43 Enjoy the wild variety of the unspoilt Suffolk coast and the county s best in bold and impressive castles. Dramatic stuff this. But gently does it. Drink in colourful heathlands, bird-filled marshes and the fruits of the local vineyard. Work up an appetite on riverside routes or watching fishermen land their catch on Aldeburgh beach. Experience landscapes and seascapes which inspired writers like P.D. James. Perhaps you will hear the bells of Dunwich s lost churches tolling beneath the waves? TOUR Settle into Suffolk in the small town of Needham Market before heading off towards historic Debenham. Follow streets lined with medieval houses to the renowned teapot pottery, or an antique shop perhaps? The white post mill at Saxtead Green sits just outside the market town of Framlingham. Drink in the castle, or save it for the morning accompanied by a glass or two at nearby Shawsgate Vineyard. Rural lanes lead on to haunting Dunwich. Now largely taken by the sea, it s good to find the village pub intact. Thorpeness has a strange horizon - could that be a house in the clouds? Row around Peter Pan s islands on the elegant Meare, but mind the crocodile or you won t get to Aldeburgh for the night! Composer, Benjamin Britten, leaves his legacy in Aldeburgh. At nearby Snape, The Maltings are home to more than just the famous festival. Stock up with local provisions before heading to Orford. The climb up the castle, the beauty of the Ness and Shingle Street and the amazing treasures at Sutton Hoo will all take your breath away. Relax in riverside Woodbridge, and prepare perhaps for some English country garden treats on your way back to Needham Market. Day 5 Rural return Woodbridge Helmingham Needham Market Rec: 17 Min: 17 Max: 28 TOP TIPS Look out for the fascinating tide mill sandwiched between the modern marina and historic quayside at Woodbridge. There are lovely walks from here along the banks of the River Deben. The Edwardian holiday village of Thorpeness has its very own House in the Clouds, as well as charming weather-boarded cottages and a white post mill. 22 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 5B call us on

23 Heritage Coast Tour Unspoilt beauty of the Suffolk coast TOUR 6D 6 days (5 nights) No tour of the Suffolk coast is really complete without a trip to timeless Southwold. Its gentle atmosphere somehow complements the wild dunes and crumbling cliffs of the enchanting Suffolk coast quite perfectly. Extending the Castles and Coastline Tour (5B) with a significant detour up to Covehithe, then dropping down from Southwold to Dunwich to rejoin the coasthugging route, this is a breath-taking tour not in terms of miles or terrain perhaps, but because of the stunning views of amazingly unspoilt coastline. TOUR Follow the first stages of the Castles & Coastline Tour (Tour 5B) from Needham Market via higgledy-piggledy Debenham to Saxtead Green s post mill and on to historic Framlingham with its curtain-walled castle overlooking a vast mere. From here, pedal on up through rolling rural countryside and villages like Peasenhall where historic houses form tight queues along single streets. At Covehithe the road ends abruptly at crumbling cliffs near the thatched church of St Andrews which sits amidst melancholic ruins of it enormous former medieval self. Led in by the lighthouse, things soon brighten up in Southwold with the colourful beach huts on the prom. Sit and sip a very local pint, amidst pantiled Georgian cottages and watch seaside life go by. Heading down the coast, Dunwich is haunting stuff. Little remains of East Anglia s former capital now apart from a cluster of cottages and priory ruins. The nearby heath boasts bright heathers and plenty of wildlife, then it s through the Minsmere RSPB reserve and Thorpeness and past Maggi Hamblin s famous scallop sculpture to Aldeburgh. Finally rejoin the Castles & Coastline Tour (Tour 5B) from the shingle straights of Aldeburgh to the wide Deben at Woodbridge and cross rural Suffolk to Needham Market. TOP TIPS Want to know more about Dunwich s sad fate? Don t miss the excellent little museum near the pub which tells of wealth gone by and devastating effects of the savage sea. For a really different view of Southwold and the Suffolk Coast, park up and jump aboard a powerboat at Southwold harbour for an exhilarating whizz up and down the coastline. To find out more and book Tour 6D call us on TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Overnight Framlingham Day 3 Huge churches & haunting coastline Framlingham Peasenhall Covehithe Overnight Southwold Day 4 Stylish resorts, cliffs & curlews Southwold Dunwich Minsmere Thorpeness Overnight Aldeburgh Day 5 Waves & warrior kings Aldeburgh Snape Orford Shingle Street Sutton Hoo Overnight Woodbridge Day 6 Rural return Woodbridge Helmingham Needham Market 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 38 Rec: 26 Min: 25 Max: 35 Rec: 21 Min: 21 Max: 28 Rec: 37 Min: 16 Max: 43 Rec: 17 Min: 17 Max: 28 cyclebreaks.com I 23

24 Castles, Coast & Constable TOUR 8A 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS 8A Castles, Coast & Constable Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Overnight Framlingham Day 3 Huge castles & haunting coastline Framlingham Dunwich Minsmere Overnight Aldeburgh Day 4 Scallop sculptures & shingle beaches A day at leisure Overnight Aldeburgh Day 5 Waves & warrior kings Aldeburgh Snape Orford Shingle Street Sutton Hoo Overnight Woodbridge Day 6 Weaving towards the wool towns Woodbridge Bealings Tuddenham Kersey Overnight Hadleigh Day 7 From Constable s inspiration to medieval masterpieces Hadleigh East Bergholt Flatford Stoke-by-Nayland Overnight Lavenham Day 8 Rural return Lavenham Needham Market 24 I cyclebreaks.com 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 38 Rec: 31 Min: 19 Max: 35 Rec: 37 Min: 16 Max: 43 Rec: 24 Min: 24 Max: 34 Rec: 30 Min: 12 Max: 35 Rec: 23 Min: 16 Max: 40 If you don t want to miss a Suffolk trick, this tour brings you an unbeatable touring combination: castles, cliffs, coastline both wild and cultured, Constable Country and the mellow moods of medieval treasure villages. The landscapes may be enormously varied, yet the cycling remains reassuringly leisurely. If you feel you might like to add Southwold to the equation, our slightly longer tour, Castles, Cliffs & Constable (Tour 9A), on page 25 is for you. TOUR MILES Stowmarket Lavenham Stoke-by- Nayland Kersey Hadleigh Relaxing into your two-wheeled ways across rolling Mid-Suffolk, your route starts by following our Castles and Coastline route (Tour 5B). Discover winding lanes and windmills, huge castles and haunting coastline, scallop sculptures and shingle beaches, and finally waves and warrior kings as you pedal via Framlingham to Dunwich, then down the coast to Aldeburgh and Snape and on via Orford and Shingle Street to Woodbridge. = 8A = 9A extension Flatford Needham Market Debenham Ipswich Framlingham Woodbridge Snape Maltings Shingle Street Orford Southwold Dunwich Aldeburgh Heading further inland you pedal through the picturesque villages of Bealings and Tuddenham on your way towards the wool towns. You ll know you ve really arrived when you whizz downhill to the watersplash at Kersey and reached historic Hadleigh with its three woolpacks on its town crest and impressive signs of medieval wealth. Drop down from the River Brett towards the Stour and the idyllic To find out more and book Tour 8A call us on

25 Fancy adding Southwold? Our 9 day/ 8 night option Castles, Cliffs & Constable (Tour 9A) includes a pedal up to Covehithe before two nights in Southwold. Unlike Tour 8A, it only includes one night in Aldeburgh. TOP TIPS TOUR English lowlands immortalised by Constable. Visit East Bergholt where the painter was born and had his studio and Flatford Mill where his father was miller and John painted the famous Haywain, pedalling on to Stoke-by-Nayland whose church tower featured in many of Constable s timeless landscapes. As if that wasn t picture-perfect enough, your last lingering stop before returning to Needham Market is Lavenham, brimful of leaning legacies and half-timbered all over. Don t miss St Edmund s Church in Southwold, one of the few survivors of the medieval town destroyed by two fires. Subsequent rebuilds included incorporating the distinctive town greens to act as fire breaks. TOUR FACTS 9A Castles, Cliffs & Constable Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight In or near Needham Market Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Needham Market Debenham Saxtead Overnight Framlingham Day 3 Huge castles & haunting coastline Framlingham Covehithe Overnight Southwold Day 4 Beach huts & benches A day at leisure Overnight Southwold Day 5 Stylish resorts, cliffs & curlews Southwold Dunwich Minsmere Overnight Aldeburgh Day 6 Waves & warrior kings Aldeburgh Snape Orford Shingle Street Sutton Hoo Overnight Woodbridge Day 7 Weaving towards the wool towns Woodbridge Bealings Tuddenham Kersey Overnight Hadleigh Day 8 From Constable s inspiration to medieval masterpieces Hadleigh East Bergholt Flatford Stoke-by-Nayland Overnight Lavenham Day 9 Rural return Lavenham Needham Market 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 21 Max: 38 Rec: 26 Min: 25 Max: 35 Rec: 21 Min: 21 Max: 28 Rec: 37 Min: 16 Max: 43 Rec: 24 Min: 24 Max: 34 Rec: 30 Min: 12 Max: 35 Rec: 23 Min: 16 Max: 40 To find out more and book Tour 9A call us on cyclebreaks.com I 25

26 cycling in Norfolk Outstretched landscapes and wrap-around skies. Pretty flint cottages and pine forests by the sea. Creeks and Staithes, and snug fishermen s harbours. Lobster pots and dressed Cromer crabs. Acres of sea lavender. Wildfowl flocking over misty salt marshes. Horatio s childhood haunts and lost, lonely churches. Bright Breckland heaths and Broads teeming with wildlife. Iceni villages and Neolithic flint mines. Bustling Georgian market towns and a Victorian Royal residence. Parklands full of rhododendrons and camellias. A Palladian mansion to remember. Poppy, after poppy, after poppy - amidst golden crops, by village greens, near seascape and steam train. Is that why they call Burnham Market Chelsea-on-Sea? Accommodation We are proud to share our superb selection of Norfolk hotels including converted flint-faced barns, an old inn on a leafy Georgian square, a hidden stately manor and pantiled pub gone warmly provençal. Each one has comfortable en-suite rooms to help you relax after your time in the saddle, good facilities, a warm welcome and each is also well-located for you to get the very best out of your gentle Norfolk adventure. All our accommodation is of a very high standard, with many hotels and B&Bs awarded 3 or more stars according to national classifications. We also feature a couple of 5 star B&Bs which have won the much-coveted gold award for quality. A thoroughly enjoyable break, lovely countryside, good exercise. Mr W. & party, Leeds

27 How to get there Get a taste of the place Our hotel stays are arranged on a bed and breakfast basis and in our route notes, we point out great places to stop for lunch, tea, a picnic or refreshing pint, encouraging you to try specialities such as Cromer crabs or salty samphire. We also give tips for evening meals, either at the hotel or nearby restaurants. What s included in the price En-suite hotel accommodation as described with full English breakfast Route notes and descriptions (we post these out to you approx. two weeks before departure) OS mapping with marked routes provided on arrival Luggage transfer Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment - cycles generally delivered after breakfast on day two of your tour Local assistance on call, although puncture repair is excluded The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area Rail to: Thetford / Attleborough, followed by a taxi transfer. By car: Free parking is available for the duration of your stay. Go on, spoil yourself Fancy a four-poster for the night in your historic inn, an award-winning boutique hotel experience with dining to die for, or simply a sea view to wake up to in the morning? Upgrades are available at a number of our hotels and, at some destinations we can arrange for you to stay, if you prefer, in especially sought-after establishments. We are also pleased to book additional nights at either at end of your tour, or along the way too, if applicable. For more details, please refer to our price insert, visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. To find out more and book a tour call us on cyclebreaks.com I 27

28 Royal Norfolk Nelson s County TOUR NR5 5 days (4 nights) TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Near Watton Day 2 From Neolithic miners to Tudor Queens Watton Oxburgh Hall (Grimes Graves) - Cockley Cley Overnight Swaffham Day 3 Country pleasures Swaffham West Acre Sandringham Bircham Overnight Great Bircham Day 4 Circular route options Gt Bircham The Burnhams Burnham Overy Staithe Holkham Estate Or Gt Bircham Sandringham Estate Overnight Great Bircham Day 5 Stop off for history Gt Bircham Houghton Hall Castle Acre Watton 28 I cyclebreaks.com 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 9 Max: 39 Rec: 30 Min: 18 Max: 41 Min: 25 Max: 37 Min: 18 Max: 30 Rec: 28 Min: 25 Max: 28 TOP TIPS England s first Prime Minister, Lord Nelson of Trafalgar, rebellious Boudica, even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth - all have left their mark on noble Norfolk. Your saddle is your country seat for a few days, to share and enjoy Norfolk s richest pickings. TOUR From your country house hotel near Watton, it s only a short cycle to the delightful Tudor Oxburgh Hall with its grand fortified gatehouse and impressive moat. Detour perhaps to go back in time to Grimes Graves, descending deep into a Neolithic flint mine, then push forward to Boudica s day and a reconstructed Iceni village at Cockley Cley. A Saxon church, medieval house and Swaffham graceful 18 th century buildings will take you further up the timeline. Choose West Acre s walled gardens or Sir Robert Walpoles s Houghton Hall, before entering the Royal Sandringham Estate. Take time out to visit this oh-so-homely royal residence, to wander the rose garden and admire the views of the house from across the lake. The museum in the stables is fascinating, fun and friendly too, with estate memorabilia and royal tour mementoes as well as Prince Charles smart pedal car and captivating curio cabinets. A short pedal further and Bircham Mill is a must, but a coast-bound detour and Snettisham deer park might be right up your country lane too. From Great Bircham, enjoy another day at Sandringham including the famous parish church with its silver altar and pulpit and magnificent royal memorials. Alternatively, take a circular route towards Nelson s native Burnhams and Burnham Overy Staithe s sleepy creek. Don t miss the endless sands at Holkham Bay, but Holkham Hall is a must-see Moated Oxburgh Hall sits in delightful gardens and woodlands. Its redbrick walls however harbour hidden secrets including a priest s hole and some exquisite needlework by Mary, Queen of Scots. To find out more and book Tour NR5 call us on Pedal down Lady Anne s Drive opposite the gates of the grand Holkham Estate to discover Holkham Bay, one of East Anglia s best-loved beach experiences.

29 Burnham Market Hunstanton Snettisham Great Bircham Sandringham Holkham Bay Holkham Hall MILES TOUR Palladian masterpiece. Slightly austere from the outside, the interiors and especially the entrance hall of the Earl of Leicester s historic home are breath-taking, likewise the vistas from the lake and rolling parklands. On route back to Watton, why not take a peek at Houghton Hall or Castle Acre which fittingly displays history in microcosm a tiny walled town, complete with castle, earthworks and the atmospheric ruins of a once wealthy priory. West Acre Castle Acre Swaffham Cockley Cley Watton Oxburgh Hall Grimes Graves This relaxing route tours tiny lanes and crosses stately parklands with a few more energetic options. To find out more and book Tour NR5 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 29

30 Brecks & Beaches TOUR N5 5 days (4 nights) TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Near Watton Day 2 From Neolithic miners to Tudor Queens Watton Oxburgh Hall Cockley Cley Overnight Swaffham Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages Swaffham Castle Acre Overnight Near Fakenham Day 4 Circular route options Walsingham / Wells-next-the-Sea / The Burnhams / Holkham Overnight Near Fakenham Day 5 Old ways & lost settlements Fakenham Gressenhall Godwick Watton 30 I cyclebreaks.com 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 9 Max: 36 Rec: 23 Min: 21 Max: 33 Min: 16 Max: 44 Rec: 27 Min: 27 Max: 35 Encounter amazing, unexpected gems of civilisation amidst the wildest woods, heaths and winding creeks of Norfolk s big sky landscapes. Historic Walsingham has attracted generations of pilgrims; today s Norfolk visitors tend to revere the stylish Burhams, aka Chelsea-on-Sea. Country houses fit for a queen, castles and priories, Palladian edifices and great market towns cycle through peaceful country lanes to see them all. TOUR Burnham Market MILES Castle Acre Oxburgh Hall Swaffham Cockley Cley Holkham Setting out from your country house hotel near Watton, take the first stage of the Royal Norfolk Nelson s County tour (Tour NR5) as far as Swaffham. Castle Acre will woo you next, a tiny town wrapped up by its walls in its own timeless Wells existence. Don t miss the abbey site, charming medieval centre and castle earthworks. The tour then spans the roof of Norfolk through peaceful countryside to Fakenham by the River Wensum. Walsingham Heading up to the coast, take the pilgrimage route of your choice: the historic approach including Little Walsingham and Wells-nextthe-Sea, or a more contemporary combination of stylish flint Fakenham cottages, little shops and galleries and Palladian masterpieces at The Burhams and Holkham Estate. Steam along to the coast perhaps on the Walsingham-Wells railway, or pedal on down to Wells ancient quay to try your hand at the art of crabbing, or simply to enjoy some truly great fish and chips. Leaving Fakenham for Watton, sample Norfolk s rural bygone days at Gressenhall s living museum with its heavy horses and grisly tales Watton of workhouse life, or turn detective and discover the Saxon village of Godwick through its well-preserved earthworks. Grimes Graves To find out more and book Tour N5 call us on

31 Brecks to Broads TOUR N8TN 8 days (7 nights) From haunting Iceni heathlands to the county s captivating capital of Norwich and the beautiful Broads, our new Norfolk tour is full of bright contrasts under one enormous sky. Cruise by bike past far-reaching farmlands, redbrick mansions and silvery flint cottages to creeks and coastline before finding haven in the Broads National Park. The low-lying landscapes make for relaxed cycling on small roads, quiet country lanes or the traffic-free paths of the Marriot s Way - one of Dr Beeching s Norfolk legacies. TOUR Hunstanton Holkham Burnham Market Swaffham Cockley Cley Oxburgh Hall Grimes Graves Castle Acre Watton Thetford Pedal out from ancient Thetford through the timeless Norfolk Brecks - dry sandy heathlands punctuated by processions of scots pine and swathes of thick woodland. Boudica hailed from here, paths pay homage to Hereward the Wake and pilgrims once trailed northwards to Walsingham. After Tudor Oxburgh Hall and Georgian Swaffham, and medieval Castle Acre, the market town of Fakenham reveals the River Wensum on its way to Norwich and the Broads. But the coast is calling and circular routes lead pedalling pilgrims to Little Walsingham, beyond to Blakeney Wells-next-the-Sea, or away to Holkham s Palladian palace Sheringham Cromer and the stylish flint retreats of the Burnhams. Wells Holt Little Walsingham Fakenham Gressenhall Blickling Dereham Wymondham Steam Railways MILES Aylsham Wroxham and The Broads Norwich Squeeze in the tiny fishing village of Blakeney and relax in refined Holt before reaching Aylsham, near Blickling Hall and from where it s plain sailing by bike across to The Broads. Head for Wroxham to explore this watery wonderland by boat, or follow shady lanes through picturesque estate villages for more waterside flora and fauna. With the Marriot s Way you re soon on track for Norwich, where cafés and culture, cathedrals and an outstanding castle vie with the very best retail therapy, inspiring museums and walks by the Wensum. To find out more and book Tour N8TN call us on TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Thetford Day 2 Time-honoured pathways of discovery Thetford Oxburgh Hall Cockley Cley Overnight Swaffham Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages Swaffham Castle Acre Overnight Fakenham Day 4 Choice of circular rides Fakenham Burnham Market Holkham Wells Overnight Fakenham Day 5 Fishing heritage & Georgian gems Fakenham Blakeney Holt Overnight Aylsham Day 6 Circular route Bright & beautiful Broads Aylsham Wroxham & the Broads Overnight Aylsham 2 3 Rec: 36 Min: 26 Max: 36 Rec: 32 Min: 26 Max: 35 Rec: 32 Min: 0 Max: 44 Rec: 37 Min: 28 Max: 43 Rec: 25 Min: 0 Max: 25 Day 7 Heading to the big city Rec: 25 Aylsham Salle Reepham Min: 25 Overnight Norwich Max: 32 Day 8 Depart after breakfast Don t forget you can book additional nights in Norwich to enjoy extra time in the Broads or to experience the rich cultural offerings of this fine historic city. cyclebreaks.com I 31

32 Norfolk Coast & Countryside TOUR N8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Near Watton Day 2 From Neolithic miners to Tudor Queens Watton Oxburgh Hall Cockley Cley Overnight Swaffham Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages Swaffham Castle Acre Gressenhall Godwick Overnight Near Fakenham Day 4 Circular route options Walsingham / Wells-next-the-Sea / Holkham / The Burnhams Overnight Near Fakenham Day 5 Fishing heritage & Georgian gems Fakenham Blakeney Holt Overnight Aylsham Day 6 Circular route options Aylsham Wroxham (Norfolk Broads) or Aylsham Blickling Overnight Aylsham Day 7 Along the Marriot s Way Aylsham Blickling Reepham Overnight Dereham Day 8 Winding ways & wonders Dereham Wymondham Watton 32 I cyclebreaks.com 2 3 Rec: 22 Min: 9 Max: 39 Rec: 33 Min: 26 Max: 34 Min: 19 Max: 45 Rec: 37 Min: 28 Max: 43 Min: 7 Max: 25 Rec: 21 Min: 16 Max: 23 Rec: 32 Min: 16 Max: 34 TOP TIPS Watch rugged heaths, far-reaching farmlands, creeks and coastline unfold under your two wheels and one enormous Norfolk sky. Admire the boats on rivers, sea and Broads, but cruise by bike through charming hamlets, past redbrick Jacobean mansions, silvery flint cottages, vibrant village greens or market squares lined with smart Georgian façades. With low-lying landscapes, small roads, quiet country lanes or traffic-free pathways like the Marriot s Way, this Norfolk tour makes for really relaxed cycling. TOUR Setting out from your country house hotel near Watton in Breckland s natural woods and heathlands, take the first three stages of the Brecks and Beaches tour via Tudor Oxburgh Hall and Cockley Cley to Swaffham, then on to Fakenham including Castle Acre, the Norfolk Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall and the deserted village of Godwick. Finally you choose from circular route options to set off coastward through the medieval pilgrimage town of Little Walsingham, via Nelson s smart stomping and sailing grounds, past the elegant Palladian edifice of Holkham Hall or up to the salty shrimping vessels at Wells-next-the-Sea. Heading out again from Fakenham, the ancient quays and tiny flint cottages at Blakeney are the next charming stop. So typically Norfolk, the huge church whispers tales of wealthy times past and is well worth a visit. Back inland, Holt s little cottages rub shoulders with haughty Georgian fronts. The smart little shops, galleries and delicatessens here cannot fail to please. For a real nostalgic treat though, hop aboard the Poppyline steam train from Holt to seaside Sheringham. Win a few extra hours on and around the man-made lakes and waterways of The Broads by taking the narrow gauge railway back to Aylsham. Wymondham s wealthy twin-towered abbey church dominates a modest, yet characterful market town. Be sure to step inside to see the 12 th century nave arcades, the angel roof and the gold and glorious 10 th century altar-screen. To find out more and book Tour N8 call us on

33 TOUR Aylsham makes a great base to explore the Jacobean mansion at Blickling Hall, Anne Boleyn s (Bullen) ancestral home. It s also plain-sailing by bike across to The Broads. Once in Wroxham, exploring is best by boat to get even closer to the amazing flora and fauna. Moving on to Dereham, there s another chance to wonder how they cut Blickling Hall s huge yew hedges, before pedalling parts of the peaceful Marriot s Way towards Georgian Reepham. Windmills, great churches, small villages galore and a wonderful discovery in Wymondham make for a pretty ride back to Watton. Hunstanton Holkham Burnham Market Wells Blakeney Sheringham Holt Little Walsingham Cromer Fakenham Blickling Aylsham Castle Acre Gressenhall Dereham Wroxham and The Broads Oxburgh Hall Swaffham Cockley Cley Watton Grimes Graves Wymondham Norwich Steam Railways MILES To find out more and book Tour N8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 33

34 cycling in France Avenues of twisted plane trees. Bikes, berets and crispy baguettes. Ripe cheeses straight from farmhouse to market place. Foie gras and big hanging bunches of Herbes de Provence. Cobbled alleys and half-timbered, honey-coloured houses. Loire châteaux by the score, each magnificent and masterful. The rich flavours of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The clang of the local patois dialect and the clink of pétanque balls. Freewheeling fun down rolling vineyard slopes. Climbing the craggy peaks like pilgrims-past to gaze down on the Dordogne river. Caves covered in prehistoric paintings or brimful of bottles. Fresh-tasting Côtes du Rhône and Mediterranean magic of a fishy Bouillabaisse. Well organised trip, bikes & instructions very good. Mr & Mrs T., Bromley, Kent

35 Accommodation Family-run auberges and inns, comfortable city centre hotels or places with plenty of modern flair the properties we ve selected for our tours around three very special regions of France are simply very French in flavour. Good hospitality and great restaurants either at the hotels or nearby mean that on some of these tours, we include dinner for you to enjoy every evening. With pleasant terraces, inviting courtyards, river views or practically brushing shoulders with a château, all the hotels are well-located and rated 2 or 3 star according to local classifications. On many of our standard itineraries in the Loire region, we now also offer an upgrade to 3 star accommodation throughout, just to allow that extra little indulgence. What s included in the price En-suite hotel accommodation as described with continental breakfast and a three or four course dinner each evening at the hotel or in a nearby restaurant (on Loire and Dordogne tours only) Information pack with detailed joining instructions and daily route overviews sent out approx. two weeks before departure Detailed route notes and maps with marked routes (IGN extract maps 1:100,000; 1:75,000 map book for Provence) will be provided on arrival Luggage transfer Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment - cycles generally available for collection on day two of your tour Local assistance on call, although puncture repair is excluded Electric bikes available on selected tours where indicated, bookable in advance and at a supplement The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area To find out more and book a tour call us on We want to be up front... As much as we might like to, we can t cut ourselves into pieces and welcome you personally all around Europe. We work in partnership with local experts who share our commitment to quality, service and great cycling. Together, we ensure that the route notes provided are fully up-to-date and that accommodation continues to meet our high standards. We are proud of our partners and delighted that you will be welcomed by friends. How to get there We are pleased to share knowledge on all travel arrangements, including transfers from stations and parking for your vehicle. On the following pages, we include brief information about how to reach our selected regions of France by rail, ferry or tunnel and air. For contact details of relevant transportation operators and information regarding which airlines serve the different airports, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. cyclebreaks.com I 35

36 cycling in the Loire A flamboyant palace of a hunting lodge. A tiny island of a château. Opulence stretching arch after arch across the lazy water. Cool classical façades and the firmest medieval fortifications. 16 th century gardens dripping roses. Rolling hillsides regimented with vines. Stories of salamanders, meaningful monograms and the great Joan of Arc. Medieval masterpieces and Leonardo s legacies. Romantic brushes with the past at the Son et Lumière. Childhood revisited at Sleeping Beauty s castle. The heady taste of sparkling Saumur or the effervescence of a Vouvray. Cellars and caves carved out of soft limestone. Delicious mushrooms, freshly harvested from their troglodyte home and hearty game from the Sologne forests.

37 Wonderfully organised from start to finish, leaving us to enjoy all the best bits that France has to offer... Paris Railway To Paris Orléans Mr & Mrs M., London Blois Chambord la Maine Angers Railway (TGV) To Paris Chaumont-sur-Loire la Loire Tours Amboise Langeais le Cher MILES KMS Saumur la Thouet Fontevraud Chinon la Vienne Azay-le-Rideau l Indre Railway (TGV) To Poitiers Chenonceau Accommodation Inviting family-run auberges, cosy corner hotels, modern city centre rooms and even a beamed beauty from the 15 th century our hotels in the Loire Valley are comfortable, often full of character and welllocated maybe close to the château, river or bustling city centre. To help you make the most of the delicious regional cuisine, we ve included a three or four course dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant in the tour price. Our Loire hotels are rated at least 2 star according to local classifications. Many of our standard itineraries here blend 2 and 3 star accommodation to create what we believe to be a great balance between comfort, location, character, quality and value for money. If you would like to treat yourself just that little bit more, we now offer an optional upgrade to 3 star hotels throughout... well, it is a holiday, isn t it? How to get there Rail to: Tours, Blois, Saumur, Orléans Ferry or tunnel: Long term parking can usually be arranged Fly to: Tours, Poitiers, Paris For information regarding airlines serving these airports and contact details of relevant transportation operators, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. To find out more call us on cyclebreaks.com I 37

38 From Orléans to Tours Heroines and hunting lodges TOUR FLOT6 6 days (5 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Any day Accommodation upgrade is an option EB Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Orléans Day 2 From saints to scents Orléans - Meung-sur-Loire Overnight Beaugency Day 3 The folly of François I Beaugency Chambord Overnight Blois Day 4 Loire & Leonardo Blois Chaumont Overnight Amboise Day 5 From vineyards to Vieille Ville Amboise Montlouis-sur-Loire Overnight Tours Day 6 Depart after breakfast Please note that the train fare to Orléans (if required) is not included in the price of the tour (single fare = approx. 19 euros) 2 Miles: 17 Kms: 28 Miles: 29 Kms: 46 Miles: 27 Kms: 44 Miles: Kms: TOP TIPS Saints, bishops, kings, dukes, even a mighty musketeer or three you d be hard pushed to be in greater company on this château-rich, river-hugging tour of some of the Loire s best bits. But rest assured, there s no need for too much pressure on the pedals: the riverside tracks and quiet lanes lead you gently through the green fields of the Beaunce area near Orléans to the pastures, ponds and rich forest of the Sologne. Chambord, Amboise and Blois are just some of the château turrets and towers which grace this rather majestic linear tour. TOUR Before you take to the saddle and set about conquering any kilometres, spend some time in Orléans, home of France s greatest heroine, Joan of Arc. There s plenty of bustle beneath the Neo-gothic towers of the Cathédrale de Ste Croix, but the Saint s statue takes pride of Place on the main square. Just as it was for Joan after liberating Orléans, Meung-sur-Loire is the next stop. The sprawling château suggests its rather chequered history with the pink stucco walls of the 18th century Bishop s Palace nestling in the protection of sterner towered fortifications. Alexander Dumas had fictional d Artagnan flourishing his sword at the Comte de Rochefort here; meanwhile further downstream floral flourishes are today s hallmark of historic Beaugency. Another constant battleground in the 100 Years War, it s a miracle that all 26 arches of the massive medieval bridge survived. Leaving the riverside, the call of perhaps the greatest royal hunting lodge of all time leads to the forest and the exuberance of the Renaissance Château de Chambord. Little can prepare for the overwhelming scale of both château and grounds. When you eventually The Château de Chambord contains over 400 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases! Don t miss Joan of Arc s reconstructed 15th century house in Orléans and her place of prayer in the chapel of Notre- Dame-des-Miracles in St Paul s church. 38 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour FLOT6 call us on

39 Paris Railway To Paris Orléans Beaugency Meungsur-loire TOUR escape, there s the Houdini Museum as well as further château treats in store back on the river at historic Blois. The delightful country route leads onwards to Chaumont-sur-Loire with its squat, fortified château sitting up above the town and river. Further on, lively Amboise has fascinating connections with Leonardo de Vinci, but it s hard to imagine that the huge royal château is only a fifth of its original size. Château de la Bordelaisière, the Duchess place by the vineyards of Montlouis-sur-Loire, is petite in contrast, a pleasant find en route to the busy city of Tours with its charming half-timbered historic centre and imposing cathedral. Railway (TGV) To Paris Tours Amboise Montlouis-sur-Loire Blois Chambord Chaumont-sur-Loire MILES KMS Can t get enough of the lazy Loire and its châteaux? Our Orléans to Angers Tour FLOA10 (10 days/9 nights - Grade 3) joins our two linear Loire routes together to make one great Loire Valley experience. Accommodation upgrade is also an option. To find out more and book Tour FLOT6 or FLOA10 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 39

40 From Tours to Angers A tale of five rivers along the Loire TOUR FLTA6 6 days (5 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Any day Accommodation upgrade is an option Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Tours Day 2 Loire, Cher and Indre Tours Château de Villandry Saché Overnight Azay-le-Rideau Day 3 Fairytales and film sets Azay-le-Rideau Langeais Château d Ussé Overnight Chinon Day 4 Vienne & vineyards Chinon Fontevraud Overnight Saumur Day 5 Along the Loire & Maine Saumur St Hilaire les Grottes Gennes St Mathurin-sur-Loire Overnight Angers 40 I cyclebreaks.com EB Day 6 Depart after breakfast Please note that the train fare to Tours is not included in the price of the tour (single fare = approx 17 euros) 2 3 Miles: 27 Kms: 43 Miles: 26 Kms: 41 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 38 Kms: 62 TOP TIPS Countless wonderful wines, eight inspiring châteaux, five winding rivers, two outstanding cities - one winning formula. Cycle from Tours to cross the Cher and skirt the Indre s watery meadows. Migrate from the castle-clad banks of the Vienne to the richest vineyards and love the Loire all the way to Angers. Flat riverside tracks and quiet lanes are combined with undulating countryside on this linear tour which reveals the Loire Valley s sparkle through its waters and its wines. TOUR Before you take to your bike, sip and savour the very special atmosphere of historic Tours in Place Plumereau, where half-timbered buildings squeeze past courtyards and crooked towers to peer into the bustling square. Take a look at the magnificent Cathédrale St-Gatien too and the medieval trappings of Vieux Tours. Once in the saddle, your attentions turn to châteaux: Villandry with its spectacular Renaissance gardens near the Cher, Saché (fine retreat of novelist, Balzac) on the Indre and the exquisite boat-of-a-castle at Azay-le-Rideau. The fortress at Langeais is fiercely feudal yet, only a few kilometres further on, Château d Ussé somehow seems a million miles away in some fairytale world. Its white turrets inspired Charles Perrault s Sleeping Beauty, and even next stop, Chinon, feels film set-like with medieval streets and castle stretching out along the river bank. Cross the river Vienne and the route to Saumur seems just one great vineyard. The 12 th century Abbey at Fontevraud, the largest in France, is worth a stop before you head for Saumur and lessons in the local methode champenoise which produces delightful Saumur s rock caverns are not just the home to fine wines, but mushroom production and many of the locals too! The château here is superb. There s every reason to stay a while longer in Angers... explore the stunning château, visit one of France s finest medieval tapestries, the Apocalypse, or even do a spot of shopping at Galeries Lafayette. To find out more and book Tour FLTA6 call us on

41 la Maine Angers Railway (TGV) To Paris Les Pontsde-Cé la Loire St Mathurin Tours MILES KMS Saumur Langeais Ch.d Ussé le Cher Villandry Azay-le-Rideau l Indre Saché Fontevraud Chinon la Vienne Railway (TGV) To Poitiers TOUR sparkling wines. St Hilaire des Grottes, as its name suggests, has many a cave and cellar in the hillside overlooking the Loire. Pedal on via Cunault with its Romanesque church to charming little Gennes, before crossing the river at St Mathurin-sur-Loire and following the picturesque cycle route along the river Maine into the heart of Angers. Here, you can get a glimpse of one last château, before jumping on the train if you are returning to Tours. Like to spend a little more time along the Loire? Our Orléans to Angers Tour FLOA10 (10 days/9 nights - Grade 3) joins our two linear Loire routes together to make one great Loire Valley experience. Accommodation upgrade is also an option. To find out more and book Tour FLTA6 or FLOA10 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 41

42 The Royal Châteaux of the Loire TOUR FLB8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Any day Accommodation upgrade is an option Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Blois Day 2 A day for royal intrigue Blois Chaumont-sur-Loire Overnight Amboise Day 3 Get a taste for Amboise Circular ride option Montlouis Vineyards Overnight Amboise Day 4 On the river Amboise Château de Chenonceau (Château de Montpoupon) Overnight Chenonceaux Day 5 Abbeys & fortresses Chenonceaux Pontlevoy Fougères-sur-Bièvre Overnight Chitenay Day 6 Little gems - circular rides Choice of Châteaux (Troussay / Cheverny / Beauregard) Overnight Chitenay 42 I cyclebreaks.com EB Day 7 The grand finale Chitenay Troussay Cheverny Château de Villesain Château de Chambord Overnight Blois Day 8 Depart after breakfast 2 Miles: 27 Kms: 44 Miles: 20 Kms: 32 Miles: Kms: Miles: 25 Kms: 40 Miles: Kms: Miles: 31 Kms: 50 TOP TIPS It s the sheer magnificence of the châteaux, not the pedalling which will take your breath away on this most enjoyable circular tour of the Loire Valley. Staying two nights in Blois, Amboise and Chitenay, there s plenty of time to get acquainted with the Loire s firm favourites and discover a whole valley full of lesser known castle gems. Our relaxing route gives both direction and detours, so you can pick and choose, making the rest truly up to you. TOUR Overflowing with steep, twisting medieval streets, the ancient royal domain of Blois on the Loire s north bank sets the perfect scene for your grand tour. Its château has a famous twist too: an open spiral staircase with three floors of opulent balconies. Heading south-west through the forest, castle number two across the Loire overlooks town and river at Chaumont-sur-Loire. Did Catherine de Medici really force Diane de Poitiers into exchanging it for the Château de Chenonceau? Muse on as you pedal to Amboise. Here the château home to Louis XI and Charles VIII sits majestically on the rocky spur, its gardens offering great views of the river. Leonardo da Vinci finished his life at the Clos Lucé manor in the François I s 1518 hunting lodge, Chambord, has to be the Versailles of the Loire. Don t miss the amazing double helix staircase. Railway (TGV) To Lille and Paris La Loire Tours MILES KMS To find out more and book Tour FLB8 call us on Montrichard Montlouissur-Loire Chenonceaux Chaumontsur Loire Fougères-sur-Bièvre Amboise Pontlevoy (TGV) to Poitiers Montpoupon Chitenay Blois Villesavin Beauregard Cheverny La Cher Troussay Gué-Péan Chambord

43 TOUR town s centre. Take time to visit models of his fabulous machines, or drink in Amboise atmosphere at a terrace café. Alternatively, a circular ride through the vineyards of Montlouis will give you a taste for the fruity Pineau de la Loire. Cross the Forêt d Amboise and the Château de Chenonceau stretches out over the Cher floating on air and water (Flaubert). Dream on with a riverside ride to Montrichard and castle number six, or if you re energetic and inspired, glimpse Gothic gables at Château de Montpoupon first. More vineyards lead past Pontlevoy s early Benedictine Abbey to the fortress at Fougères-sur-Bièvre. Sleepy Chitenay is a great base for clocking up more châteaux on circular routes Troussay (small and classic), Cheverny (more imposing), Beauregard (fantastic portrait gallery) or wheel your way through the game-rich Sologne woodlands. Before heading back to Blois, Château de Villesavin, complete with a three thousand bird dovecote, builds the crescendo to a fitting finale: the awe-inspiring Château de Chambord. TOUR FACTS FLB6 The Royal Châteaux of the Loire Arrival Day Any day Accommodation upgrade is an option Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Blois Day 2 A day for royal intrigue Blois Chaumont-sur-Loire Overnight Amboise Day 3 On the river Amboise Château de Chenonceau (Château de Montpoupon) Overnight Chenonceaux Day 4 Abbeys & fortresses Chenonceaux Pontlevoy Fougères-sur-Bièvre Overnight Chitenay EB 2 Miles: 27 Kms: 44 Miles: Kms: Miles: 25 Kms: 40 Go on, why not treat yourself? We now offer an upgrade to 3 star accommodation throughout this tour, just to make that extra little indulgence a real option. Like the idea, but fancy a shorter tour? Our 6 day / 5 night option (FLB6) omits the circular route days (day 3 and day 6) and still clocks up 11 châteaux! Day 5 The grand finale Chitenay Troussay Cheverny Château de Villesain Château de Chambord Overnight Blois Day 6 Depart after breakfast Miles: 31 Kms: 50 To find out more and book Tour FLB8 and FLB6 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 43

44 TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore Dinner Menu du jour Day 2 Take delivery of bikes Choice of circular rides Dinner Menu Supérieur Day 3 Choice of circular rides Dinner Menu du Terroir Day 4 Choice of circular rides Dinner Menu Gastronomique Day 5 Depart after breakfast Overnights Chitenay EB 1 Miles: 9-31 Kms: Miles: 9-31 Kms: Miles: 9-31 Kms: Make the delightful village of Chitenay the centre of your universe for a few days. Pedal out on circular day routes to different points and discover châteaux treasures, gardens, vineyards and the verdant scenery of the Sologne Forest: it s a really relaxing way to sample the great variety of this famous region. Our special programme of delicious dinners means that the tasty treats just get better and better to reward your days in the saddle or to complement a day at your leisure. TOUR The Loire Star Single Centre Break TOUR FLC5 5 days (4 nights) Arrive in Chitenay at your leisure and relax into a gentler pace of life with a pre-dinner pastis on the terrace perhaps, or glass of something so very local from one of the Loire s many vineyards. Get a taste for mulling over the menu: there are more choices in the morning when you take to the saddle and head out in search of châteaux. With seven different routes to choose from you can go with the flow of your energy levels down to the Loire maybe, to Chaumont or Blois; head into the Sologne Forest and stop at a vineyard or two to tickle the palate with Cheverny blanc, or track down Chambord, the most amazing royal hunting lodge imaginable. Don t miss the Château de Beauregard - it s a real picture: a French castle with Englishinspired grounds and a world-renowned portrait gallery. A day out exploring the refined Renaissance château at Troussay along with Cheverny s sumptuous château apartments is hard to beat too, then there s always the thought of weaving out through the vineyards to the feudal solidity of Fougères-sur-Bièvre with its charmingly rustic village and medieval château. Whether you re new to the saddle, just want to take things gently or fancy the challenge and flexibility of heading out for a morning and conquering another point of the Loire Star after lunch, this a real break with wow factor: wonderful châteaux to visit, great gentle cycling and, to top it all, really delicious and well-deserved dinners. 44 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tours FLC5 call us on

45 Your hotel The appropriately named Auberge du Centre sits in the peaceful rural village of Chitenay at the heart of one of the Loire s most inviting châteaux clusters. Creeper-clad and traditional yet contemporary, it s a friendly, 3 star inn whose cosy lounge and relaxing garden immediately put its guests at ease. Thanks to the village setting and quality of the regional cuisine offered by chef, Gilles Martinet, dining al fresco here is a real delight and a true favourite with visitors and locals alike. MILES KMS Tours Chaumontsur Loire Blois Chitenay Fougères-sur-Bièvre La Loire Troussay Sologne Forest Chambord Beauregard Cheverny Well-deserved dinners You ll be enjoying the variety of different châteaux each day, so we thought you d appreciate tasting different local flavours every night! Progress from the menu du jour via something a little more supérieur and terroir to the grand finale of the menu gastronomique. Need a slightly shorter break away? Our 4 day/ 3 night option (Tour FLC4) means you might have harder choices when it comes to which routes to select, but we ll still reward you with gastronomic delights on the last night! To find out more and book Tours FLC5 or FLC4 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 45

46 Châteaux, Abbeys & Vineyards TOUR FLS6 6 days (5 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Saumur Day 2 Red wines and royal abbeys Saumur - Brézé Overnight Fontevraud Day 3 From Plantagenets to power houses Circular tour to Montreuil-Bellay Overnight Fontevraud Day 4 Legends and legacies Fontevraud - Rivau Overnight Chinon Day 5 Colleges and caves Chinon Candes-St-Martin Montsoreau Overnight Saumur Day 6 Depart after breakfast 46 I cyclebreaks.com EB 1 2 Miles: 25 Kms: 40 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 22 Kms: 35 Miles: 22 Kms: 35 TOP TIPS Red, white or maybe rosé; clean, crisp, fruity or pleasantly pétillant the delightful thing about Loire wines is that there is simply something for everyone and the vineyard slopes from which they hail make for excellent cycling country too! Blended with a generous helping of history from poets to Plantagenets, feisty fortresses to glorious gardens and the ever-charming collection of châteaux, the gentle wine region around Saumur, Fontevraud and Chinon is an intoxicating destination, just ripe for a short circular cycling break to enjoy with family or friends. TOUR There s something rather refined about Saumur. The 14 th century castle with its high octagonal towers and mullion windows sits strangely aloof of the Loire. At the National Riding School some of the world s most talented horsemen perform distinguished dressage displays. Even the local white wine aspires to the sparkling products of France s Champagne region. Why not celebrate your arrival in style then ponder the soon-to-bediscovered, rosier hues of the Saumur Champigny vineyards and the vast impressive tunnels and cellars of Château de Brézé on the next day s horizon. Fontevraud, the next stop beyond the vines, is a real labyrinth too. One of the greatest monastic cities in Europe, the Romanesque Abbey is vast, intact and the haunting resting place of the great and good of the Plantagenet dynasty including Richard the Lionheart. From here an excursion out to the fortified village of Montreuil Bellay with its powerful château is a treat to remember. The royal fortress of Chinon promises another formidable encounter as you glide on further towards the River Vienne. En route though, there s a chance to be charmed by Surrounded by vineyards, Château de Brézé might look like just another huddle of Renaissance turrets, but just inside there s a whole kilometre of underground caves which are home to everything from a bakery to bottles and even an icehouse! To find out more and book Tour FLS6 call us on Don t miss the sheer massive spectacle of Montreuil Bellay. The château has vast stretches of walls with 13 interlocking towers.

47 TOUR the fairytale gardens and legendary stables at the Château de Rivau and sample the long revered red wines from Chinon s vineyards: the renowned poet, Rabelais, sung their praises centuries before bikes were even thought of. Magnificent collegiate churches are on the menu next at Candes-Saint-Martin before making it back to the Loire at Montsoreau where another mighty château-bastide has its toes in the water. The ride leads back along the Loire to Saumur, past troglodyte sites which are home to everything from the locals to Saumur Champigny and even champignons! Angers la Loire MILES KMS Tours Saumur Brézé Montsoreau Candes-Saint-Martin Montreuil- Bellay la Thouet Fontevraud- L Abbaye Chinon Château de Riveau la Vienne To find out more and book Tour FLS6 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 47

48 cycling in the Dordogne Clambering cliff-top castles and clinging villages. Patchwork fields and square-towered pigeonniers. Eagles soaring over the Alzou gorge and greedy grey geese standing watch at the farmhouse gate. Beautiful bastides, prehistoric caves, a river full of reflections. Everywhere a picture. Canoes and kids enjoying a summer s day splash. Vézère Valley vineyards. Slopes of sweet chestnuts. Walls of Walnut trees. Rocamadour s carved Black Virgin and pigs snuffling for truffles. Sarlat s sprawling squares and cobbled alleyways. Markets full of flavoursome fruits and menus rich with magrets and foie gras, or a hearty Cassoulet to wash down with a spicy glass of Cahors. Bikes excellent. Choice of locations perfect. Thoroughly good holiday. Mr & Mrs C., Bristol

49 Accommodation Our characterful hotels in the Dordogne give a real flavour of the region - in more ways than one. We ve included a three or four course dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant in the tour price. Sometimes alongside the river, in an historic, honey-coloured stone building, maybe with cosy shutters and shaded restaurant street terrace, the hotels are all well-positioned and are rated at least 2 star according to local classifications. How to get there Rail to: Souillac Ferry or tunnel: Long term parking can usually be arranged Fly to: Brive, Limoges, Paris For information regarding airlines serving these airports and contact details of relevant transportation operators, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. To find out more and book a tour call us on cyclebreaks.com I 49

50 Cycling through History TOUR FDS8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Souillac 4 Day 2 Caves & crags Miles: 20 Souillac Lacave Overnight Rocamadour Kms: 32 Day 3 Rolling hills & rich forests Miles: 21 Rocamadour Couzou Le Vigan Kms: 34 Overnight Gourdon Day 4 The most beautiful place Miles: 20 in France? Gourdon Domme Kms: 32 Overnight La Roque Gageac Day 5 The cradle of prehistory Miles: 34 La Roque Gageac Marqueyssac Beynac Kms: 54 Overnight Les Eyzies Day 6 World famous sites Miles: 34 Les Eyzies Montignac Lascaux Overnight Sarlat Kms: 54 Day 7 Relaxed routes & Miles: wonderful views Kms: Sarlat (Château de Fénelon) Overnight Souillac Day 8 Depart after breakfast... but you re welcome to stay longer TOP TIPS From the prehistoric caves at Vézère Valley and Lascaux to the turreted châteaux and fortified Bastide towns, in the Dordogne there is history around every corner. Dramatic crags and breath-taking panoramas, rolling hills and thick forests make for the widest scope of landscapes all within a short pedal of the famous river valley. Cycling gently along flat riverside lanes, or climbing higher to picnic above the rooftops, this is a circular tour where every effort is very richly rewarded. TOUR A gastronomic treat or glass of the local Cahors wine is a fine way to settle into Souillac and the pleasures of the Dordogne. Do explore the town and the 12 th century monastery though before you cycle the riverbank south-east to visit the Grottes de Lacave or Parc Préhistorique. Deviate next from the Dordogne, heading up to the lofty and precariously perched Rocamadour, a place of pilgrimage to the miracle-working Black Virgin (walnut carving) since the 12 th century. The most spectacular village views are yours en route to the forest and hills of the nature area, Causse de Quercy and beyond to Couzou, Le Vigan and Gourdon. You ll meet up with the Dordogne again at Domme, another rocky outcrop crowned with a royal Bastide and hailed as one of the most beautiful places in France. To get a great view of the stone houses clinging to the cliffs, why not take a trip by Gabare from the ancient quay of La Roque Gageac? Next up, you can choose to visit the lovely gardens of the Château de Marqueyssac, or the fortress Château at Beynac, towering over a huddle of houses on the river bend. The village of Rocamadour perches high above the valley. In the gentle evening light you might glimpse eagles soaring over the gorge of Alzou. On your final stretch to Souillac, the 14 th century Château de Fénelon is beautifully furnished and has wonderful views - surely worth one last detour? 50 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour FDS8 call us on

51 TOUR There s a superb abbey to discover at Buisson-de-Cadouin if you fancy a detour too. At the confluence with the Vezère, track the tributary to where it meets the Beaune. Here Les Eyzies, known as the prehistoric centre of France, huddles beneath limestone cliffs. Follow the Vézère north-east to Montignac and the renowned Lascaux cave paintings before veering south across rolling countryside to the bustling medieval market town of Sarlat. Finally there s a gentle pedal along the route of a disused railway line to rejoin the Dordogne towards Souillac. Montignac La Vézère Lascaux Caves Limoges Brive Bergerac Le Bugue Buisson-de- Cadouin Belvès Tursac Les Eyzies St-Cyprien Beynac la Roque Gageac Domme MILES KMS Sarlat-la-Canéda La Dordogne Carsac-Aillac Souillac Lacave Rocamadour Gourdon To find out more and book Tour FDS8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 51

52 cycling in Provence Russet roofs against cobalt skies. Ribbons of the richest purple lavender. A sea of golden sunflowers. Ancient Orange. Wheels turning in the warmth of Mediterranean sunshine. Sun-ripened tomatoes. Markets full of melons and fragrant herbs. Pink flamingos and wild white horses by the whispering bulrushes of the Camargue. Black bulls and flamboyant Matadors in the Arles Roman arena. Massive aquaducts and triumphal arches. Tremendous terracotta bowls, brimful of every olive imaginable at Carpentras market. Cobbled streets and vineyard slopes. Little blue shutters and a huge honeycoloured papal palace. Craggy limestone spurs crowned with ruins. Tales of Troubadours. All washed down with ruby-red Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Colourful stuff, Provence. Excellent area to cycle in & well organised. Mr W., Banchory, Aberdeenshire

53 Accommodation From a villa-style property with a pool and a stone house complete with predictable blue shutters alongside an inviting courtyard, to the most modern boutique chic right in the heart of historic town, our hotels in Provence are well-located and full of local character. Many have lovely outside dining opportunities and all are rated at least 2 star according to local classifications. How to get there Rail to: Orange Ferry or tunnel: Long term parking can usually be arranged Fly to: Nîmes, Avignon, Marseilles, Paris For information regarding airlines serving these airports and contact details of relevant transportation operators, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. To find out more and book a tour call us on cyclebreaks.com I 53

54 Provence & the Camargue TOUR FPC8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Saturday & Monday Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Orange Day 2 Bouquets & bridges Orange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Overnight Avignon Day 3 Around the Alpilles Avignon Graveson St Rémy Les Baux Overnight Arles Day 4 A wild day out Circular trip into the Camargue Overnight Arles Day 5 Abbeys & castles Arles St Gilles Overnight Tarascon Day 6 The awesome aqueduct Tarascon Jonquières Pont-du-Gard Overnight Uzès Day 7 The Huguenot path homeward Uzès Bastide d Engras Cavillargues - Caderrouse Overnight Orange Day 8 Depart after breakfast... or stay and savour the flavours just a little longer 54 I cyclebreaks.com EB 3 4 Miles: 31 Kms: 50 Miles: 34 Kms: 55 Miles: Kms: Miles: 31 Kms: 50 Miles: 31 Kms: 50 Miles: 34 Kms: 55 TOP TIPS Drink in timeless views and the occasional glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Feel the thrill of seeing wild white horses and flocks of flamingos out on the brackish lagoons of the haunting Camargue. This part of Provence has a way of filling the soul. Its river paths and quiet roads which pass awesome Roman architecture and sun-baked farmsteads make for simply great cycling. TOUR Fancy mellowing into Mediterranean life from day one? No better place than the street cafés in Orange s old town. Once in the saddle, you traverse the world famous vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape before your virtually traffic-free cycle route into Avignon. Head down to the Rhône to pay homage to the Pont d Avignon (Pont St- Bénézet) of song fame, or stroll through the cobbled streets past the Pope s palace. Fortified Graveson, the shade of Maillane s plane trees and Petit Crau de St Rémy s fertile fields lead you on to the cooling fountains of St Rémy. Here, contemplate your next move, plumping perhaps for the flat route around the Alpilles, or maybe you ll take the challenging climb into the Alpilles for stunning views of rocky Les Baux? Finally, as you approach van Gogh s former home of Arles, an ancient aqueduct pre-empts the impressive Roman treats to come. At this point, a day s circular tour of the unique Camargue is simply a must. Follow the white horses and black bulls, possibly getting close up to the flamingos with a short detour to the water s edge, or a small electric railway ride near Mejanes. Take inspiration from the Ancients in Orange: as well as a splendid triumphal arch, there s an impressive 10,000 seater Roman theatre which is still in use today. Spectacular Les Baux has a lower living village and a deserted upper village carved from the solid rock of a natural rock island. To find out more and book Tour FPC8 call us on

55 MILES KMS Pont-du- Gard Nîmes Uzès St Gilles The Camargue Railway (TGV) To Lille and Paris le Gardon Roquemaure Arles le Rhône Tarascon Orange I Ouvèze Avignon St Rémy Les Baux Châteauneuf -du-pape la Durance TOUR From Arles to Tarascon, you cross the Little Camargue to visit St Gilles 8 th century Abbey before being greeted by King René s imposing castle. Over the Rhône, past Jonquières, the massive Pontdu-Gard Roman aqueduct will surely stop you in your cycle tracks. Find out the facts at the heritage centre, then sample it for yourself as you cycle over the River Gardon on the way to medieval Uzès. The hills are ever green with Kermes Oaks as you head back to Orange. Past the Bastide d Engras and the river Tave, pick up an old Huguenot path towards sleepy Cavillargues. Finally vineyards and orchards lead you back to the Rhône, Caderousse and the familiar city of Orange. Marseille Love the tour but think you need a bit more power behind your pedals? Our electric bikes are sure to help you on your way. To find out more and book Tour FPC8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 55

56 Classic Provence TOUR FP8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Saturday & Monday Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Orange Day 2 Popes & palates - circular route Châteauneuf-du-Pape Overnight Orange Day 3 Vineyards & vistas Orange St Cécile les Vignes Overnight Vaison-la-Romaine Day 4 Water & wealth Vaison-la-Romaine Sablet Gigondas Overnight Carpentras Day 5 Springs & sources Carpentras Pernes-les-Fontaines Velleron Fontaine-de-Vaulcluse Overnight L Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Day 6 Castles & caves L Isle-sur-Sorgue Le Thor Pont-du-Gard Overnight Avignon Day 7 Wine, women & song Avignon Roquemaure Overnight Orange Day 8 Depart after breakfast... or stay and savour the flavours just a little longer 56 I cyclebreaks.com EB 3 4 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 31 Kms: 50 Miles: 31 Kms: 50 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 22 Kms: 35 TOP TIPS Turn your attentions to water, then to wine in this great tour of rivers and fountains, famous vineyards and celebrated cellars. With Roman legacies, Italian influences, and even kissing festivals(!), there is something miraculous and rather romantic about this part of Provence. The quiet country lanes and river paths make for measured cycling, so you can really enjoy getting a taste for what Provence has to offer. TOUR Arrive in Orange to take in the remarkable Roman theatre, graze the shops and markets or simply sit back and sip in some café on the cobbles. The world famous Châteauneufdu-Pape is on the wine menu in the morning as you sample the seven hundred year old vineyards on a circular cycle tour. Wander round the village too, one-time summer residence of Pope Jean XXII, and visit fortified Couthezon before returning to the city. Time next for a mouth-watering ride through l Aigues valley. Picturesque St Cécile des Vignes and then the other charming villages of the Côtes du Rhône certainly offer plenty to tickle the tastebuds. After the Romanesque Cathédrale Notre Dame de Nazareth and Roman ruins at Vaisonla-Romaine, it s off to the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Sablet will charm you with shady lanes and refreshing fountains whereas higher up, Gigondas, once famous for its water, is now a firm favourite with wine-lovers. Your next stop on the other hand - rich and Italianate Carpentras - now trades in earthy truffles! Pernes-les-Fontaines has water in abundance, but pedal on to Velleron, then Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to see the river Sorgue s amazing source and stay, fittingly enough, close to bridges and old water wheels on the island town of L Isle-sur-Sorgue. Roquemaure, home to the relics of St Valentine, is known as the Capital of Lovers. Every year 20,000 gather there for the annual Fête du Baiser (Kissing Festival!). Perhaps the local wine is a love potion..? To find out more and book Tour FP8 call us on Pernes-les-Fontaines gives itself away by its name: more than 36 fountains are fed from a large natural spring, including Fontaine de Cormoron with its outspread wings.

57 TOUR At nearby Le Thor, the Douzabas gate greets you, complete with town clock and campanile. A medieval château and the church of Notre Dame du Lac add to the charm, and a little further on, at Thouzon, there s an impressive cave to visit. Small roads and cycle paths lead on to Avignon and the spectacular Palais des Papes. When you finally leave the city, there s a chance to view the famous Pont d Avignon and perhaps sing a fond French farewell? Your route follows the Rhône valley to romantic Roquemaure and back to Orange. Railway (TGV) To Lille and Paris MILES KMS le Rhône Orange I Ouvéze Vaison-la-Romaine Gigondas Châteauneuf-du-Pape le Gardon Roquemaure Avignon Carpentras Pernes Fontaine-de- Vaucluse L Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Nîmes la Durance To find out more and book Tour FP8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 57

58 cycling in Germany Baroque swirls and Bavarian bands. Watzmann mountain peaks and the freshest green valleys. Glockenspiel-induced silence on Munich s Marienplatz. Oktoberfest Steine frothing over in the fun. Feathers in local caps. Local Tracht and Lederhosen. Biergärtl, Berchtesgaden; an Eagle s Nest and Passau s three rivers. Lavish castles and little churches. Towering maypoles bright with flowers. Würstchen with sweet mustard. Salt springs. Elegant spa towns bursting with civic pride, offering Kaffee und Kuchen on the Kurgarten terrace. Reflective moments by the great Bavarian Sea and haunting echoes on the Königssee. Accommodation Great 'Gasthofe', convenient town centre hotels or relaxed lakeside properties: our German hotels are rated 3 and 4 star according to local classifications. Some hotels have saunas and swimming pools. For details about what is included in the price of our German tours, our partnership with local experts and how to get to Germany, please refer to information on page 61. A wonderfully scenic route including impressive lakes and awe-inspiring views of rocky peaks... Mr H., Ipswich, Suffolk

59 The Best of Bavaria Munich to Salzburg TOUR GMS8 8 days (7 nights) Isar Isar Sylvensteinsee From Munich, the city of colourful clocks, music boxes and Oktoberfest, this heart-warming tour takes in the timeless beauty of the Bavarian lakes with its smart spa towns, inspiring alpine backdrops and wonderful hospitality en route to Austria s musical masterpiece: Salzburg. Packed full of Bavaria s best bits together with stays in comfortable 4 or superior 3 star hotels, highlights also include Bad Tölz, Chiemsee and Berchestgaden with its famous Sankt Bartholomä church on the Königssee lake. TOUR Bad Tölz Munich Make the most of vibrant Munich, washed down with a litre of refreshing and appropriately frothy Bavarian welcome before heading down ancient salt routes to the proud spa town of Bad Tölz. The greenest pastures by lakes Tegensee and Schliersee inspire colourful vistas and, past Bad Feilnbach, fruit orchards give way to peat plots near the foot of the Chiemgau Alps. At Lake Chiemsee, the sparkling Bavarian Sea stretches out by the mountains, so too the enchanting and comfortingly flat moorland around Bergen under the Hochfelln. Unbelievably, the spa towns here become even more picturesque as if trying to rival the breathtaking scenery. Inzell reaches amazing heights in more ways than one, with its wonderful painted houses excelling in the local floral decorative art of Lüftlmalerei. GERMANY Bad Feilnbach Inn Approx 5 MILES 8 KM Inn Alz Chiemsee Traun Inzell Bad Reichenhall Berchtesgaden AUSTRIA Salzburg Salzach An emerald valley ride along The Saalach leads to Bavaria s spa town jewels. Bad Reichenhall is mighty, but Berchtesgaden home to castles, salt springs, the historic Eagle s Nest and stunning steep-sided Königsee steals the show. Looping round the lake, past caves and cable cars, Austria is just a pedal push away. Baroque treats beckon at Castle Heilbrunn before the final cultural flourish: Mozart s Salzburg. To find out more and book Tour GMS8 or GMS9 call us on TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Saturday Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Munich EB Day 2 Down the Isar to Bad Tölz Munich Grünwald - Wolfratshausen - Geretsried Overnight Bad Tölz Day 3 Pastures & panoramas Bad Tölz Tegensee Gmund Schliersee Overnight Bad Feilnbach Day 4 From peat to port Bad Feilnbach River Inn Neubeuern Frasdorf Overnight Lake Chiemsee Day 5 Moors & Malerei Lake Chiemsee Bergen Bad Adelholzen Siegsdorf Overnight Inzell Day 6 Down the Alpenstrasse to beautiful Berchtesgaden Inzell Schneitzelreuth Bad Reichenhall Overnight Berchtesgaden Day 7 Up & over the border Berchtesgaden Lake Königsee Heilbrunn Overnight Salzburg Day 8 Depart after breakfast... but you re welcome stay a little longer - ask us about our GMS9 Tour 4 Miles: 37 Kms: 60 Miles: 40 Kms: 65 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 22 Kms: 35 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 cyclebreaks.com I 59

60 cycling in Austria Dreamy Danube days. The clearest lakeland waters. Massive monasteries, mega-mountains and Mur Valley magic. Scenery simply more dramatic than the mood swings of The Sound of Music. Real alpine muesli at breakfast time. A well-deserved glass of crisp, cooling Riesling. Schlogen sunsets. The broadest gables and narrowest church spires. Balconies cascading with colourful Geraniums. Alpine Carnations and Edelweiss. Music from Salzburg s Mozart, Beethoven and beyond. Sugarcraft swirls around Baroque doorways. Imposing imperial monuments. Linz s golden statues and Richard the Lionhart s Durnstein dungeon. Bike ferries and horse-drawn carriages. Strudel on the lakeside terrace. And, perhaps most deliciously of all, a palate-full of the local Grüner Veltliner s pure, minerally perfection. The scenery is amazing & the hotels were great. Mr & Mrs N., King s Lynn, Norfolk

61 Accommodation From creeper-clad chalets to town centre Gasthof, relaxed lakeside properties to pastel-washed places with a cosy Biergarten, our Austrian hotels are mainly rated 4 star according to local classifications, although our Ten Lakes Tour (ALS8) does include some 3 star properties. Most hotels have saunas; some have swimming pools and some even offer the option of a relaxing massage - something else to look forward at the end of the day as well as that cold beer, glass of local wine and a guilt-free pastry! What s included in the price (applicable to Austrian and German tours) En-suite hotel accommodation as described with continental breakfast Information pack with detailed joining instructions and daily route overviews sent out approx. two weeks before departure Detailed route notes and maps with marked routes (Danube: 1:50,000 map book / Ten Lakes / Mur Cycle Path and Best of Bavaria (Munich to Salzburg): 1:75,000 map book) will be provided on arrival Luggage transfer Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment - cycles generally available for collection on day two of your tour Local assistance on call, although puncture repair is excluded Electric bikes available on selected tours where indicated, bookable in advance and at a supplement Boat and train transfers and excursions where noted in the itinerary as included The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area To find out more and book a tour call us on We want to be up front... As much as we might like to, we can t cut ourselves into pieces and welcome you personally all around Europe. In Austria and Germany, we work in partnership with local experts who share our commitment to quality, service and great cycling. Together, we ensure that the route notes prepared during our own latest experiences are fully up-to-date and that accommodation continues to meet our high standards. We are proud of our partners and delighted that you will be welcomed by friends. How to get there Rail to: Ferry or tunnel: Passau, Salzburg, Munich or Graz Long term parking can usually be arranged (we can advise likely charges) Fly to: Salzburg, Linz (closest to Passau), Munich, Graz, Vienna The excellent rail network in the area is the best option for transfers to/from Passau, Vienna, Munich, Salzburg and Graz as required. For information regarding airlines serving these airports and contact details of relevant transportation operators, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. cyclebreaks.com I 61

62 The Danube Cycle Tour TOUR ADPV8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore three great rivers Overnight Passau (Germany) Day 2 Heading into Austria Miles: 27 Passau Engelhartszell (bike ferry fare included) Kms: 43 Overnight Schlogen Day 3 Capital cycling Miles: 35 Schlogen Aschach Overnight Linz Kms: 56 Day 4 Austria s allotment Miles: Linz (St Florian) (Enns) Lehen Kms: Overnight Grein Day 5 Pilgrimage sites & panoramas Grein Persenbeug Marbach Miles: (Transfer with bikes up out of Kms: river valley included) Overnight Maria Taferl Day 6 World Heritage Site highlights Miles: 32 Maria Taferl Melk Durnstein Overnight Krems Kms: 52 Day 7 Flower city & Miles: Viennese grandeur Krems Tulln Vienna Kms: (Return bikes at Tulln and take train to Vienna recommended - trains run half hourly, fare approx. 7 euros) Overnight Vienna Day 8 Depart after breakfast... but you re welcome to stay longer 62 I cyclebreaks.com EB 2-3 TOP TIPS Why not indulge in a comfortable cruise on a bike? We re convinced that this classic cycle route has to be one of the best in Europe. The valley itself and the vineyards make for the most amazing scenery. The cycling is mainly traffic-free with bike ferries allowing you to skip between the paths on both sides of the famous River. And if you fancy a day out of the saddle, that s no problem thanks to the numerous boats and river-hugging, cycle-friendly railway. TOUR Your adventure starts in historic Passau, Germany s City of Three Rivers at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz where you pick up your bikes. Passau has to be one of the most beautiful cities in Germany: we don t want you to miss out, so be sure to get there early and maybe take a Three Rivers boat trip to enjoy spectacular views from the water. Next morning as you leave along the north bank of the Danube, you re soon in Austria at Engelhartszell, home to Austria s only Trappist monastery. At Schlogen, the Danube meets granite, deviating your signal to take the bike ferry across to the south bank and relax on the hotel terrace, drinking in the river activity below. On the way to Aschach before you reach Upper Austria s capital, Linz, the tightest river bends reveal stunning views. Picturesque Grein with its imposing Greinburg Castle is the next overnight stop reached through Lehen with its reconstructed Celtic village and the area known as Austria s vegetable garden. Our suggested detours include St Florian (Baroque-style Augustine monastery) and Enns (Austria s oldest city), but if you prefer, there are always the boats and trains to help you on your way. Don t miss Melk - gateway to the vineyards and apricot orchards of the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to a magnificient Benedictine monastery. As well as having saunas and swimming pools some of our specially selected hotels also offer a relaxing massage to help you unwind. To find out more and book Tour ADPV8 call us on

63 TOUR En route to the ancient pilgrimage centre of Maria Taferl, you ll head through picturesque Persenbeug and Marbach at the entrance of the famed Nibelungengau. Here you re transferred up out of the valley and win magnificent views from high above the river at Maria Taferl. Next morning, it s back down to the Danube, with a chance to visit the World Heritage Site of the Wachau and see Durnstein s castle before arriving at the old town of Krems. Your last day s cycling takes you to the flower city of Tulln, then on into marvellous Vienna, capital city of the Habsburg Empire, for your last night in Austria. We recommend that this final stage is made by train but if you have plenty of energy left, maps and route details are provided for the long cycle ride into Vienna centre. River Ilz River Inn Munich Obernzell Passau Schlogen Linz Danube Enns Maria Taferl Grein Marbach Melk Krems Spitz Tulln Vienna Approx 100 MILES 160 KM To find out more and book Tour ADPV8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 63

64 TOUR FACTS Arrival day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Salzburg EB Day 2 Chapels & abbeys Miles: 28 Salzburg Oberndorf Michaelbeuern Abbey Kms: 45 Overnight Seeham Day 3 Green & pleasant pastures Miles: 30 Seeham Schleedorf Wallersee Zellersee Kms: 49 Overnight Mondsee Day 4 Ceramics, castles & cruises Miles: 37* Mondsee Unterach (boat transfer on Lake Attersee included) Kms: 59 Weyregg Gmunden - Castle Ort Overnight Traunkirchen Day 5 Natural beauty in abundance Traunkirchen (train Miles: transfer included) Obertraun Kms: Hallstatt Overnight Bad Goisern/Bad Ischl Day 6 Running short of superlatives yet? Bad Goisern / Bad Ischl Miles: Wolfgangsee Overnight Abersee/St Wolfgang Kms: Day 7 Up & nearly all over Miles: 29 Abersee / Wolfgangsee St Gilgen Kms: 47 (transfer of bikes up hill included) Kuhleiten Hintersee Strubklamm Gorge Overnight Salzburg Day 8 Depart after breakfast Unless you d prefer to stay an extra night or two...? *Please note: Ferry on lake Attersee only available mid-may to mid-september. Outside this period, the route has 10 miles additional cycling. 3 If stunning scenery and time for reflection are for you, then this special tour of Austria s Lake District, the Salzkammergut, has to be right up your cycle path. The circular route from Salzburg blends everything from culture to caves, roofscapes and landscapes, sheer confection and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Flat lakeside tracks and quiet country lanes across rolling hills make for great cycling and we even ensure that the boat and train take the strain in places. Extra nights can be added anywhere on this tour, if you wish. TOUR The Ten Lakes Tour TOUR ALS8 8 days (7 nights) Settle into Salzburg, a cultural gem brimful of musical connections. Explore for a while before bikes and briefing then, in the morning, follow the river Salzach north west to Oberndorf, and the famous Stille Nacht (Silent Night) Kapelle. Michaelbeuren Abbey is on the menu too before the lakeside village of Seeham. Once past the Egel Lakes and nature reserve, the route rolls through green pastures by the lakes Wallersee, Zellersee and on to Mondsee. At Unterach take your cycles for a cruise along the Attersee to Weyregg. From here the picturesque Aurachtal leads to Lake Traunsee and historic Gmunden of salt-trading and ceramics fame. With the awesome mountain backdrop, everything has a lost-in-time dreaminess: Traunkirchen is idyllic and Castle Ort floats in splendid isolation out on the Traunsee. Nicely mellow from such natural beauty, continue to relax with a train transfer to Obertraun and the next lake, Hallstattersee. Skirt along the water s edge beneath imposing mountains to Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perhaps even visit the caves, On this route all train and boat transfers for you and your bike, plus uphill bike transportation detailed in the tour are included in the tour price. 64 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour ALS8 call us on

65 TOUR before taking the new cycle path to St Agatha and Bad Goisern or onto inspiring Bad Ischl. Heading across to more lakeland water, best to brace yourself for the most amazing vistas as you reach Wolfgangsee, reputedly the warmest and prettiest lake in the Salzkammergut. There s time for more lovely views at St Wolfgang or Abersee, then on to St Gilgen for something a little bit different. Here, take a short 2km uphill hike, leaving your bikes to be transported. Once reunited at Kuhleiten, you can enjoy some freewheeling fun down to the Hintersee and the Strubklamm Gorge, before the final short stretch across the Salzachtal valley into Salzburg. Michaelbeuem Oberndorf Mattsee Seeham Salzburg Munich River Salzach MILES 5 10 Linz KMS Gmunden Weyregg Mondsee Traunkirchen St Gilgen Unterach Ebensee St Wolfgang Bad Ischl Abersee Bad Goisern Hallstatt Obertraun TOP TIPS Bad Ischl boasts Emperor Franz Joseph s summer residence home and breath-taking panoramic views on cable-car rides. Fallen in love with the tour, but think you need a bit more power behind your pedals? Our electric bikes are sure to help you on your way. To find out more and book Tour ALS8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 65

66 The Mur Cycle Path Austria s best kept cycling secret TOUR AMC8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Any day Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Salzburg Day 2 Heading down to the Mur Valley Salzburg St Michael im Lungau (Muhr / River Mur source ) Overnight St Michael im Lungau Day 3 Through the woods & over the bridge St Michael im Lungau (Muhr) Tamsweg Moosham Mauterndorf Overnight Murau Day 4 Ruins & ragged peaks Murau Frojach Teufenbach Frauenburg Overnight Judenburg Day 5 More beer & mushroom towers Judenburg Knittelfeld Göss Leoben Oberaich Overnight Bruck an der Mur Day 6 From great grottos & Graz Bruck an der Mur Frohnleiten Judendorf Overnight Graz Day 7 Wheeling your way down the wine road Graz Kalsdorf Overnight Mureck Day 8 Depart after breakfast 2-3 Miles: 34 Kms: 55 Miles: 40 Kms: 65 Miles: 37 Kms: 60 Miles: 37 Kms: 60 Miles: 40 Kms: 65 Please note that the train fare to Graz airport is not inlcuded in the price of the tour (single fare = approx. 9 euros) 66 I cyclebreaks.com EB Head south from Salzburg, deep into Austria s Little Canada, land of high mountain peaks and green pastures, to meet the River Mur and your trusty two-wheeled steed in St Michael im Lungau. Pedal via a National Park rich with birdlife to the buzz of Graz, Styria s lively capital. Forests, farms and fertile plains accompany the river right down to the Slovenian border. Enjoy cycling mainly on a dedicated cycle path through countryside which is practically downhill all the way and relax in especially selected 4 and some 3 star accommodation. TOUR From Salzburg - that city of culture so melodious with Mozart - let the postbus deliver you into a world which couldn t be more in tune with nature, a valley of great dynamics and colourful contrasts. Meet the Mur at St Michael im Lungau where the river s lofty source (1898m!) and picture-book village of Muhr are only a short ride and walk away, then watch the greenest, freshest mountain landscapes unfold before your handlebars - dense woodlands, verdant pastures, ragged Niedere Tauern peaks; then castle after medieval castle with attendant tales of troubadours, endless places of pilgrimage and brewery museums in abundance. The splendours of Judenburg and Bruck s castle mountain herald the historic treasures of Graz, but 2003 s European Capital of Culture has contemporary surprises too: hunt out To find out more and book Tour AMC8 call us on

67 TOUR the spaceship (the Kunsthaus) and the silver snail - a mid-mur steel amphitheatre island and café! As if the champagne air isn t enough, the South Styrian Wine Road promises more heady delights. Valley slopes trail with vineyards and yet more castles harbour time-honoured cellars. Finally as the Mur winds down towards Slovenia s borderlands, so you wind up in charming Mureck famed for its unique riverside mill. To find out more and book Tour AMC8, AMC7 or AMC9 call us on Looking for a shorter stay? Our 7 day/ 6 night option (AMC7) finishes up at wonderfully cultural city of Graz. Or a longer one? Stay an extra night and snuggle right up to the Slovenian border. Our 9 day/8 night tour (AMC9 - Grade 2-3) includes an extension and final overnight in amazing Bad Radkersburg (Gornja Radgona). This town doesn t really have a castle - it is one! The Herberstorff Renaissance Palace is a must-see and there are renowned thermal springs close by. cyclebreaks.com I 67

68 cycling in Italy Scooping gondolas and skyward-stretching campaniles. Redbrick crenulations and grey-green domes. Jagged Dolomite peaks. Vineyard hills, rolling as softly as the local language itself. Verona, Vicenza, Venezia, Veneto, each one their own frisson of excitement. Medieval arcades bustling with shoppers. Mario s market boat on the water. A good glass of light Schiava sunshine, washing down fresh pizza on the piazza. Olive trees and magnolias on the mild, almost Mediterranean, Lago di Garda. Pisa s tottering tower. Juliet s balcony. The effortless flourish of Florence and the freedom of freewheeling to Torbole. Romanesque cloisters and grand arenas. Fading shuttered facades in reddy-brown, green and white - somehow so elegantly Italian. Colourful glass gifts, fascinating frescoes and the peachy sparkle of the finest chilled Prosecco. Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Loved the personal directions fantastic. Mr & Mrs F., Arbirlot, Scotland

69 Accommodation Our Italian hotels have plenty of character from façades flowing with flowers or adorned with red and white shutters to 19 th century Neo-classical treats with elegant terraces, to bright modern properties in cheerful colours or with tinted glass fronts. They are rated 4 or 3 star according to local classifications, although our Treasures of Tuscany tour (ITP8) does include one very good 2 star hotel. Some hotels have pool facilities and rooms with balconies. What s included in the price En-suite hotel accommodation as described with continental breakfast Information pack with detailed joining instructions and daily route overviews sent out approx. two weeks before departure Detailed route notes and maps with marked routes (1:75,000 map books, with Tuscany map book also including some 1:50,000 mapping) will be provided on arrival Luggage transfer Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment - cycles generally available for collection on day two of your tour Local assistance on call, although puncture repair is excluded Electric bikes available on selected tours where indicated, bookable in advance and at a supplement Boat and train transfers and excursions where noted in the itinerary as included The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area To To find out more and book a tour call us on We want to be up front... As much as we might like to, we can t cut ourselves into pieces and welcome you personally all around Europe. In Italy, we work in partnership with local experts who share our commitment to quality, service and great cycling. Together, we ensure that the route notes prepared during our own latest experiences are fully up-to-date and that accommodation continues to meet our high standards. We are proud of our partners and delighted that you will be welcomed by friends. How to get there Rail to: Verona, Venice (Mestre), Bolzano and Pisa Ferry or tunnel: Long term parking can usually be arranged (we can advise likely charges) Fly to: Venice, Treviso, Verona, Innsbruck, Pisa and Florence For information regarding airlines serving these airports and contact details of relevant transportation operators, please visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call. cyclebreaks.com I 49 69

70 Treasures of Tuscany Pisa to Florence TOUR ITP8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Saturday (and Monday July only) Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Pisa Day 2 Along the River Serchio Pisa Overnight Lucca Day 3 Walled town or watery retreats? Lucca - (Lago di Massaciuccoli) Overnight Lucca Day 4 Pinocchio & Palazzos Lucca Collodi - Pescia Overnight Montecatini Terme Day 5 Spa town treats or a spot of genius Montecatini Terme Vinci Overnight Montecatini Terme Day 6 Divine duomos & galleria greats Montecatini Terme Pistoia (optional train fare to Pistoia not included single fare 2 euros) Overnight Florence Day 7 Along the Arno Florence Empoli (40 kms by train train fare not included single fare 4 euros) Overnight Pisa Day 8 Depart after breakfast but you re welcome to stay longer 3 Miles: 19 Kms: 30 Miles: 25 Kms: 40 Miles: 28 Kms: 45 Miles: 37 Kms: 60 Miles: Kms: Miles: 40 Kms: 65 TOP TIPS Pisa, Lucca, Firenze the famous places on this tour just seem to flow like Chianti being freed from the bottle. Tuscany s world-renowned art and wine treasures are hardly a secret, but these are the lands of Leonardo, the inspiration of passionate Puccini and cheeky little Pinocchio too. Riverside routes and country lanes introduce undulating vineyards and stunning vistas, grandmasters and gallerias, transforming every unsuspecting piazza, ponte or palazzo into Tuscan treasures all of their own. TOUR It would be a miracle in itself if you weren t drawn to the Piazza dei Miracoli on arrival in Pisa, but the lively university city has more to tempt than just the cathedral s leaning bell tower. Away from the Duomo hot spot, historic via lead to cool café terraces and many more miraculous legacies. Once in the saddle, follow the River Serchio northwards on a gentle countryside route which skirts Monti Pisani. At the foot of the Apuan Alps, Lucca boasts the best preserved Renaissance town walls in Europe - a marvellous tree-lined park to pedal round. Stay around Lucca s red roofs, Roman amphitheatre and the white church confections or spend a day looping out coastwards to Puccini s favourite hunting grounds at Lago di Massaciuccoli. A panoramic ride leads on to Pinocchio Park in picturesque Collodi, but the aristocratic Villa Garzoni there might be more up your Tuscan street. Pescia is packed full of palaces, more churches, mansions and a flourishing flower market, then there s time to mooch around the famous spa town of Montecatini Terme for a day, taking the cable car up to the old city or alternatively weaving through olive groves and vineyards past Medici villas Giacomo Puccini, the great opera composer, hailed from Lucca and enjoyed hunting trips from his beautiful lakeside villa at Lago di Massaciuccoli. The lake is now a nature reserve and Torre del Lago Puccini is named in his honour. 70 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour ITP8 call us on

71 TOUR to Leonardo s home town of Vinci. A short train ride is an option to reach Pistoia and its entrancing cathedral square, with time for one more marvellous Medici villa at Poggio a Caiano before a glide along the flatlands of Firenze to land in the very cradle of the Renaissance. There are never moments enough in the company of Botticelli, Donatello or Michaelangelo, but whichever way you turn, Florence just can t fail to please. Be sure to make time though for an evening passeggiata across the Ponte Vecchio where shuttered shop windows gleam with gold like a row of open treasure chests. With a short train ride to Empoli for more piazzas and palazzos, the tour finishes as it started by pedalling riverside paths, this time along the flood plains of the River Arno back to Pisa. Want more time to spend pottering near the Ponte Vecchio or gallery grazing in fantastic Firenze? We d be pleased to organise you an extra night or two in Florence before you either continue your cycle tour or return by train directly to Pisa. If you d like to talk through these or other options, please call us to discuss your requirements. To find out more and book Tour ITP8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 71

72 Bolzano to Verona TOUR IBV7 7 days (6 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Friday Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Bolzano EB 2 3 Day 2 Pretty villages & Miles: peaceful lakes Bolzano St Pauls Eppan Kms: Overnight Lake Caldaro / Ora Day 3 Cobbled streets & castles Miles: Lake Caldaro / Ora Kms: Overnight Trento Day 4 Discovering Lake Garda Miles: 31 Trento Rovereto Mori Kms: 50 Torbole Riva del Garda (Ferry transfer included to overnight lakeside destination) Overnight Sirmione / Desenzano Day 5 From riverside to romance Miles: 31 Sirmione / Desenzano - Verona Kms: 50 Overnight Verona Day 6 Meandering with the Miles: 40 River Mincio Verona Borghetto Mantua Kms: 65 (Return to Verona by train fare included) Overnight Verona Day 7 Depart after breakfast... but you are welcome to stay longer TOP TIPS From Kaffee und Kuchen to Prosecco e Proscuitio this tour offers a taste of two cultures linked by the most amazing scenery. Much of the route has the dramatic Dolomites as backdrop and uses dedicated cycle paths along the River Adige from sophisticated Bolzano (or Bozen - the capital of German-speaking South Tyrol) towards romantic Verona, setting for Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet. Elsewhere vineyards, orchards, even a ferry trip the length of Lake Garda take centre stage. TOUR A colourful street market, smart shops and pavement cafés just made for stopping for Strudel are all only a short stroll from your hotel in central Bolzano, the impressive old trading town where North meets South. Dedicated cycle paths lead you out of the city in the morning, heading through orchards, vineyards and characterful villages like St Pauls and Eppan to the tranquillity of Lake Caldaro and the charming village of Ora. You re still practising your German in this area for one last night, but following the Adige cycle path south through the Dolomites will lead you into Italian-speaking Trentino tomorrow. The river-hugging route takes you to the heart of historic Trento, with its castle, charming cobbled streets and impressive fountain and 16 th century frescoes in the Piazza Duomo. The ancient fortress town of Rovereto boasts another castle and the picturesque village of Mori completes the river route. The cycle path then follows an old railway line through a nature reserve, opening up wonderful vistas of Lake Garda. Enjoy the freewheeling wind in your hair on the descent to Torbole, then stay lakeside until The Arena di Verona, renowned venue for the cultural festival, is an amazing must-see 30,000 seater Roman amphitheatre. Don t miss the famous Otzi museum in Bolzano, home to the 5,000 year old man found preserved in ice on a nearby glacier. 72 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour IBV7 call us on

73 TOUR Riva del Garda. Here you cruise the lake by ferry (included), landing to overnight at the delightful resorts of Sirmione or Desenzano. Trebbian vines line the gently rolling Veronese hills as, leaving the lake behind, you follow riverside paths to rich, romantic Verona. Who can resist looking up at Juliet s Balcony, or treading in Julius Caesar s footsteps on the Ponte Pietra? Take a day to explore or pedal out to Borghetto, a quaint mill village on the River Mincio, then south to ancient Mantua, Romeo s supposed place of exile, before heading back with your bicycle by train into Verona. Need a bit more power behind your pedals? Ask us about our electric bike service. To find out more and book Tour IBV7 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 73

74 Venice, Veneto & Vaporetti TOUR IVen8 8 days (7 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival day Saturday Day 1 Arrive & explore Overnight Mestre Day 2 Island hopping Mestre Venice Pellestina Chioggia (fares for two ferries and one vaporetto included) Overnight Sottomarina Day 3 Mellow landscapes Chioggia - Rovigo Overnight Rovigo Day 4 Olive groves & rolling hills Rovigo Monselice (by train, rail fare included) Arquà Petrarca Monti Berici Overnight Vicenza Day 5 Inspiration all round Vicenza (Lake Fimon) Overnight Vicenza Day 6 Time to unwind Vicenza Abano Terme Overnight Abano Terme Day 7 More culture & canals Abano Terme- Padua Overnight Mestre Day 8 Depart after breakfast... but you are welcome to stay longer 74 I cyclebreaks.com EB 3 Miles: 23 Kms: 37 Miles: 41 Kms: 66 Miles: 34 Kms: 55 Miles: 0-22 Kms: 0-35 Miles: 22 Kms: 35 Miles: 31 Kms: 50 TOP TIPS Venice is a true carnival of bustle and colour at any time of year. Gondalas and vaporetti, towering buildings and tiny alleyways, one amazing architectural eyeful. Take your fill on this tour and add to it the magic of historic Padua and Palladio s Vicenza, plus surrounding soft hills and green riverside routes, Adriatic beaches, charming clustered villages and heart-warming thermal spas. If you haven t got a taste for Italy after this, we ll want to know why. TOUR What s it to be first the Grand Canal, the Campanile, or the original Bridge of Sighs? After checking in at your hotel in Mestre, hop on a nearby bus for the fifteen minute ride to Piazzalle Roma, jump aboard a vaporetti and watch Venice unfold before your eyes. You ll be riding across the Freedom Bridge in the morning to pick up a ferry to the famous Lido di Venezia. The views from here back across the lagoon towards dreamy Venice warrant a stop, an ice-cream, perhaps even a celebratory dip in the Adriatic? After the little ferry ride to island number two, narrow and gentle Pellestrina, full-on Venice seems simply miles away. From the island s southern tip, another vaporetto lands you in Chioggia, a charming old fishing village, before you cycle on to Sottomarina on the shores of the Adriatic. Time to head inland and follow quiet roads along canals and rivers. Cycle past melon plantations and fertile fields, through solitary villages and on to the friendly little historic city of Rovigo with it s octagonal church La Rotunda and 10 th century castle ruins. From palaces to Piazzas, and campaniles to canals, Venice has so much to explore - why not extend your stay with some extra nights in nearby Mestre? Designed for elegant entertainment, Palladio s classical Venetian villas were the height of fashion in the 16 th century. Don t miss Villa Rotunda as you pedal out of Vicenza! To find out more and book Tour IVen8 call us on

75 TOUR Monselice is the next stop, reached by a short train journey. From here it s the olive groves of the rolling Euganese hills all the way to medieval Arquà Petrarca, resting place of the poet and scholar, Petrarch, then little used roads around the beautiful Monti Berici to the fine architectural fanfare of Vicenza. The Basilica Palladiana, the Teatro Olimpico... pick off the sights or take an optional cycle ride through the Berici Hills to admire Lake Fimon s waterlilies, both breath-taking challenges. Wind south along the route which hugs the Bacchiglione River, to unwind at length in Abano Terme, the famous thermal spa. Treat yourself to a well deserved spa experience or rest up in the pool. Padua is promised for the morning, an ancient university city brimful of culture and oozing Italian charm. Finally, canal-side paths lead a level route back to Mestre through fields and pastures. Treviso Vicenza Brenta Adige Lake Fimon Monteselice Abano Terme Padua Mestre Venice Po Rovigo Chioggia/ Sottomarina MILES KMS To find out more and book Tour IVen8 call us on cyclebreaks.com I 75

76 walking in Suffolk and Norfolk Paths which lead to new gentle adventures. The endless stretch of Cley salt marshes. Sea-breezes and a sense of space. The winding creeks of Nelson s childhood sailing grounds. The meanders of the Stour and slopes of Dedham Vale on young Constable s school run. Huge flint churches with the finest-ever flushwork. Pastel-washed cottages and beam upon beam of Lavenham s medieval magic. Stiles and kissing gates. The greenest fields dotted with poppy-reds, the biggest, bluest skies speckled with flocking birds. A house in the clouds on the Thorpeness horizon. A huge scallop on Aldeburgh beach. A half-pint of Orford smoked prawns. Maltings and mills. Market towns and memories. So many reasons to walk this way again. Accommodation Our well-located, comfortable hotels in Suffolk and Norfolk are places offering a warm welcome and pleasant atmosphere, where you can feel at home and put your feet up. All our accommodation is of a very high standard, with many hotels and B&Bs awarded three or more stars according to national classifications. Each is very different in character, for example: a half-timbered coaching inn or converted flint-faced barn; fine dining restaurants with rooms and a seafront hotel in Aldeburgh. The scenery & the route were exceptionally beautiful. Mr & Mrs N, Ottawa, Canada

77 How to get there Get a taste of the place Our hotel stays are arranged on a bed and breakfast basis and in our route notes, we are sure to point out great places to stop for lunch, tea, a picnic or refreshing pint, encouraging you to try specialities such as Cromer crabs or salty samphire. We also give tips for evening meals, either at the hotel or nearby restaurants. What s included in the price En-suite hotel accommodation with full English breakfast Route notes and descriptions and OS mapping with marked routes (we post these out to you approx. two weeks before departure) Luggage transfer Taxi transfers where noted in the itinerary as included The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area Rail to: Saxmundham, Manningtree, Stowmarket, King s Lynn (depending on the tour selected) followed by a taxi transfer. By car: Free parking is available for the duration of your stay Go on, spoil yourself Fancy a four-poster for the night in your halftimbered inn, a little additional luxury or waking up to wonderful view across the beach to the crashing waves? Upgrades are available at a number of our hotels, and at some destinations we can arrange for you to stay, if you prefer, in especially sought-after establishments. We are also pleased to book additional nights at either at end of your tour, or along the way too, if available. For more details, please refer to our price insert, visit walkingbreaks.com or give us a call To find out more and book a tour call us on walkingbreaks.com I 77

78 TOUR FACTS Heritage Coast Walk TOUR C4 Day 1 Arrive & explore Southwold Covehithe (optional) Overnight Southwold 78 I walkingbreaks.com 3 Min: 0 Max: 9 Day 2 From beach huts to fishing boats Min: 15 Southwold Dunwich Dunwich Max: 15 Heath Minsmere Thorpeness Overnight Aldeburgh Day 3 Creeks and castles Min: 14 Aldeburgh Snape Overnight Orford Max: 18 Day 4 Martello towers & tiny ferries Min: 13 Orford (Butley ferry, subject to availability, not included) Shingle Max: 17 Street Bawdsey / Felixstowe Ferry (Taxi transfer back to Southwold/a railway station) Gentle Heritage Coast Walk TOUR CG7 Day 1 Arrive & explore Southwold Covehithe (optional) Overnight Southwold Day 2 Heading for heathers Southwold to Dunwich Heath Overnight Return by taxi to Southwold Day 3 Marsh harriers & a house in the clouds 2 Min: 0 Max: 9 Min: 9 Max: 9 Min: 6.5 Taxi to Dunwich. Walk to Aldeburgh Max: 6.5 Overnight Aldeburgh Day 4 Britten s inspiration Min: 0 Aldeburgh to Snape Overnight Return by taxi to Aldeburgh Max: 6.5 Day 5 From creeks to castles Min: 7.5 Taxi to Snape. Walk to Orford Max: 11 Overnight Orford Day 6 Tales of the riverbank Min: 7.5 Orford to Shingle Street Overnight Return by taxi to Orford Max: 11.5 Day 7 Martello towers & more Min: 4.5 Taxi to Shingle Street. Walk to Bawdsey/Felixstowe Ferry (Taxi Max: 4.5 transfer back to Southwold/a railway station) Orwell TOP TIPS MILES Woodbridge Deben Tunstall Forest Snape Maltings Shingle Street Suffolk Heritage Coast Walk TOUR C4 4 days (3 nights) Orford Southwold Dunwich Covehithe Walberswick Minsmere Reserve Sizewell Thorpeness Aldeburgh Bawdsey Felixstowe Ferry Bursting with birdlife, this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is certainly one for always having the binoculars to hand. Don t miss RSPB Minsmere for a real twitcher s treat. A stunning stretch of the Suffolk coast - enjoy quiet countryside, heaths, cliffs and marshes where wildlife abounds plus the fashionable elegance and gentle nostalgia of charming seaside towns such as Southwold, Aldeburgh and castle-topped Orford to finish in Felixstowe Ferry. A coastline which has inspired generations of writers, composers and artists such as P.D. James, Benjamin Britten and modern day Maggi Hamblin, the seascapes and landscapes are truly breath-taking. There are plenty of benches too and a couple of little ferry crossings to rest up your boots. TOUR To find out more and book Tours C4 & CG7 call us on Take a stroll and settle into Southwold. Enjoy a really local pint or peruse the pier with its wacky water clock. If you feel like exploring, follow the path up to Covehithe to discover an amazing church within a church is a great start to your gentle walking adventure. From stylish Southwold head south to the harbour and over the River Blyth through the reed beds to Dunwich. Visit the eerie ruins of the Greyfriars which edge year by year further towards the sea, then on to the colourful heathlands and the renowned RSPB reserve at Minsmere where bitterns may boom and marsh harriers sometimes swoop. From

79 TOUR Sizewell, there s a cliff-side walk to bizarre Edwardian Thorpeness, the holiday village brimful of seaside idylls and cottage charm. Fishermen still land their catch on the shores of Aldeburgh and model yachts set sail on the boating lake by the medieval moot hall. Britten loved the sea here, but wander on, if you like, to Snape Maltings where his famous legacy, the Aldeburgh Festival, has its home. Riverside or forest route next? You choose for your walk down towards the oysterbeds of sleepy Orford. At Butley, the smallest licensed ferry in Europe may carry you over the water, or alternatively the path heads inland, then meets the banks of the Ore to Shingle Street where river meets the sea. Wander along the seawall past Martello towers and old gun emplacements to Bawdsey. Take the foot ferry across the Deben to the quaint cluster of boats, pubs, cafés and cottages which makes up Felixstowe Ferry, before your taxi back to Southwold (included in the tour price). Coastal encounters of the northern kind... We re not suggesting that you might like doing things by halves, but our northernstretch-only tour, the Northern Coastal Tour (Tour C3 3 days (2 nights)), is back by popular demand. Concentrating on the Southwold to Snape section only of the Heritage Coast Walk (Tour C4), it makes an excellent inspirational break along the hauntingly beautiful historic coastline with great birdwatching potential. TOP TIPS Fancy exploring at a gentler pace? Our Gentle Heritage Coast Walk (Tour CG7) splits the Heritage Coast Walk (Tour C4) days into two, with additional taxi transfers taking the strain (included in the price, see Tour Facts for details). Our Gentle Northern Coastal Walk (Tour CG4) gives you an extra day to enjoy the Southwold to Aldeburgh stretch of the Northern Coastal Tour (Tour C3). To find out more and book Tours C3 & CG4 call us on TOUR FACTS Northern Coastal Tour TOUR C3 Day 1 Arrive & explore Southwold Covehithe (optional) Overnight Southwold Day 2 From beach huts to fishing boats Southwold Dunwich Dunwich Heath - Minsmere - Thorpeness Overnight Aldeburgh Day 3 Creeks and concert halls Aldeburgh Snape (Taxi return to Southwold / Saxmundham station) Gentle Northern Coastal Walk TOUR CG4 Day 1 Arrive & explore Southwold Covehithe (optional) Overnight Southwold Day 2 From beach huts to bitterns Southwold to Dunwich Heath (Taxi transfer back to Southwold) Overnight Southwold Day 3 From ferns to fishing boats Taxi to Dunwich Heath. Walk to Aldeburgh Overnight Aldeburgh Day 4 Creeks & concert halls Aldeburgh to Snape (Taxi return to Southwold / Saxmundham station) 3 Min: 0 Max: 9 Min: 15 Max: 15 Min: 0 Max: 6 2 Min: 0 Max: 9 Min: 9 Max: 9 Min: 6.5 Max: 6.5 Min: 0 Max: 6 walkingbreaks.com I 79

80 Constable Country Walk TOUR CC4:3 4 days (3 nights) MILES Stoke-by-Nayland Club Hotel Stoke-by-Nayland Nayland Dedham Railway to London TOUR FACTS Day 1 Arrive & explore: Constable s homelands Dedham Flatford East Bergholt Overnight Dedham Day 2 Beckoning towers Dedham Stoke-by-Nayland Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland Day 3 Timeless villages Stoke-by-Nayland Nayland Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland Day 4 Rural (re-)treat Stoke-by-Nayland Nayland Langham Dedham Don t miss Dedham s beautiful medieval church complete with its own Constable painting, The Ascension, or Nayland church s famed Constable altar piece. 80 I walkingbreaks.com East Bergholt Flatford Mill Manningtree 2 Rec: 22 Min: 4 Min: 21 Max: 6.5 Max: 38 Min: 8 Max: Rec: 832 Min: 19 Min: 8 Max: 37 Max: 8 Min: Rec: 8 37 Max: Min: 8 16 Max: 43 TOP TIPS Mellow and quintessentially English, the landscapes of the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley on the Essex/Suffolk borders are as timeless as they are beautiful: grazing cattle on water-meadows, dancing dragonflies and bridges where time just seems to stand still with you. Add to this halftimbered villages, impressive flint churches and the very same vistas which inspired the great 18 th century landscape painter himself, it s simply a perfect combination for a few days away. TOUR Start with a stroll along the riverside path into charming Dedham. Nose in the antique shops perhaps, before you accompany the River Stour to Flatford Mill. These days, there s no haywain soaking its wheels in the mill pond, but you can discover this and six other famous Constable scenes on a short guided walk. Wander further, if you wish, before returning to Dedham: a climb out of the gentle Vale rewards you with the treasures of East Bergholt, Constable s birthplace with its medieval church and unique bell cage. Not surprisingly, sights are set firmly on Stoke-by-Nayland next: the village s church tower, which often featured in Constable s landscapes, can be seen for miles. Meander along the Stour Valley Path before rising from the Vale. As well as medieval gems, Stokeby-Nayland welcomes you with modern leisure facilities at your hotel, so you may choose to explore nearby Nayland and notch up another painting, or perhaps just enjoy the pool and golf course. Finally, let your feet take you south on the St Edmunds Way, crossing the Stour at Nayland and leading you east on the Essex Way. Like Constable himself, you ll find inspiring views at Langham by the church, before you arrive back in Dedham. Less time to spare? Or maybe need a little more time to relax? Our two night option (Tour CC3:2 Grade 2) offers one night at Dedham and one at Stoke-by-Nayland omitting the circular walk to Nayland, whereas our four night option (Tour CC4:4 Grade 2) includes an extra night in Dedham at either the beginning or end of your stay. To find out more and book Tour CC4:3, CC3:2 or CC4:4 call us on

81 Lavenham & the Wool Towns Walk TOUR WTW3 3 days (2 nights) Lavenham Chelsworth Bildeston Pink-washed cottages, half-timbered guildhalls ornate with carvings, enormous medieval churches and winding streets clustered with pargetted confections of houses: the Suffolk Wool Towns are the richest of legacies courtesy of enterprising weavers and medieval merchants. Beautifully restored hamlets and villages line this very gentle and special walk which is so steeped in history. TOUR Jettied half-timbered houses jostling around a proud clock tower greet you in Bildeston. Take a wander around the little streets before you head through wooded glades and shady lanes to the country garden heaven of Chelsworth. The higgledy-piggledy rooftops and collection of gabled, thatched and colour-wash cottages give just a taste of the Tudor treats to come in labyrinthine Lavenham. Here, there are half-timbered streets twisting wherever you turn, a mind-blowing medieval guildhall or two and a church which would surely buy any well-meaning merchant his place in heaven. Enjoy the views over the town as you head across rolling rural landscapes, past ancient farmhouses and churches through the little villages of Preston and Hitcham as you return to Bildeston. TOUR FACTS Tour WTW3 Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Bildeston Kersey MILES Day 2 Glades, gardens & guildhalls Bildeston Chelsworth Overnight Lavenham Day 3 Highlights, hamlets & home Lavenham Preston Bildeston Hadleigh 1 Min: 6.5 Max: 8 Min: 7 Max: 7 TOP TIPS Why not relax and reward yourself even more? If you can spare the time, our alternative route, Tour WTW4, is only slightly more stretching on the legs, but adds even more exquisite history and extra special views. After enjoying Bildeston, a countryside walk via Ash Street leads to Hadleigh, a fine wool town famed for its triptych of Tudor gatehouse, guildhall and magnificent medieval church. Kersey is next up literally, but in a gentle sort of way. Stand high by the church for amazing views down the half-timbered lane to the watersplash. Head on down, and there s a refreshing inn to stop at on the walk back up. All this will whet your appetite for Lavenham s medieval maze of crooked houses and tiny streets. Finally you return to Bildeston via the green lanes of the Brett Vale and charming Chelsworth. Tour WTW4 Day 1 Arrive & relax Overnight Bildeston Day 2 From clock tower to church spire Bildeston Ash Street Overnight Hadleigh Day 3 Medieval masterpieces Hadleigh Kersey Overnight Lavenham Day 4 The garden path home Lavenham Chelsworth Bildeston 2 Min: 6.5 Max: 10 Min: 10.5 Max: 10.5 Min: 7 Max: 7 To find out more and book Tour WTW3 or its longer alternative Tour WTW4 call us on walkingbreaks.com I 81

82 Norfolk Coast Walk TOUR NC6 6 days (5 nights) TOUR FACTS Arrival Day Usually Sunday Day 1 Arrive & explore Thornham Titchwell or circular coast & countryside walk (optional) Overnight Thornham Day 2 Horatio s homelands Thornham Brancaster or Brancaster The Burnhams (Taxi transfer to start Brancaster included if pre-arranged) Overnight Burnham Market Day 3 Creeks, pines & Palladian creations Burnham Market Burnham Overy Staithe Holkham Bay (Holkham Hall) Overnight Wells-next-the-Sea Day 4 Historic harbours & flint fishing villages Wells-next-the-Sea Morston Overnight Blakeney Day 5 From windmills to wild azaleas Blakeney Cley-next-the-Sea Sheringham Park (Taxi transfer to start Cley-next-the-Sea included if pre-arranged) Overnight Upper Sheringham Day 6 Depart after breakfast... Options provided to stroll into Sheringham Park or Sheringham town, but you may prefer to stay a little longer 82 I walkingbreaks.com 2 Min: 0 Max: 7.5 Min: 6.9 Max: 11.3 Rec: 17 Min: 17 Max: 28 Min: 9.5 Max: 12.3 Min: 7.9 Max: 7.9 Min: 9.4 Max: 10.6 Min: 0 Max: 6 Encounter meandering creeks, sandy bays, marshlands teeming with wildlife and pretty fishing villages full of flint cottages. From little Thornham close to the Wash to the haunting openness of the Cley Marshes and the seaside resort of Sheringham, the Norfolk Coast Path is bursting with contrasts, breath-taking vistas and inspiring seascapes. Have your binoculars ready, for this is both drop-in centre and happening holiday destination for so many amazing birds that even the most unlikely ornithologist just can t help twitching. Whether you choose to coast this route over our suggested six days, or prefer to stay a little longer, this is a gentle walking experience with plenty of local character and some mouth-watering seafood treats. TOUR Nestle into Norfolk by gently exploring the ancient creeks around Thornham from the coast path, or taking a circular coast and countryside walk unless you re itching to twitch from day one at nearby RSPB Titchwell, of course! From Thornham, head out through rich farmland to Brancaster, or taxi straight there if preferred. From these very shores where Lord Nelson learnt to sail, you step inland to The Burnhams, the villages where the Trafalgar hero grew up. Burnham Market (aka Chelsea-on-Sea ) is a lovely find with plenty of charm and good hospitality. Rejoin the coastal path at Burnham Overy Staithe to walk the Holkham National Nature Reserve and breathe in space on the wild sandy expanses of Holkham Bay. From Holkham Gap, it s worth finding energy enough for a detour (2.8 miles) to the awe-inspiring Palladian style mansion, Holkham Hall, home of the Earl of Leicester. Then Titchwell RSPB Thornham Wells Hunstanton Holkham Brancaster Burnham Hall Market KING S LYNN & RAIL CONNECTIONS Blakeney Cley MILES Sheringham Cromer Upper Sheringham RAIL CONNECTION TO NORWICH & LONDON

83 TOUR there s a pine-sheltered route to the sands of Wells-next-the-Sea where beach huts teeter on stilts. Walk on in to the historic fishing village, or arrive in style by treating your feet to a ride on the miniature railway. Taste the salt on your lips along the sea wall path as you walk along the marsh edge to the creek at Morston. Do take a boat trip out from here, or next stop Blakeney, to view the seal colony at the National Nature Reserve on Blakeney Point. Head out from the flint cottages of Blakeney, or taxi it to start walking from Cley-nextthe-Sea with its famed redbrick tower mill. From here, the path hugs the shoreline, whilst on the landward side, another nature reserve brims with birdlife. In summer, the timeless country landscapes which fall away towards the sea are littered with poppies. For the very best views though, muster up the energy to climb the gazebo which towers high over the tree canopy at Sheringham Park. You won t be disappointed, and it might fire you for the last steps to Upper Sheringham and make you wish you were staying a while longer after all... Fancy more time by the coast? Our Gentle Norfolk Coast Walk (Tour NC7) gives you an extra overnight in Thornham at the beginning of your tour. Relax into your break an additional day to enjoy some binocular time at Titchwell s RSPB reserve or get into practice for the days to come by putting your best foot forward on an outing towards Hunstanton. TOP TIPS Sheringham Park is renowned for its rhododendrons and camellias, but keep an eye out towards the coast too for the steam trails of the Poppyline trains which chuff between Holt and Sheringham. To find out more and book Tour NC6 & NC7 call us on walkingbreaks.com I 83

84 Superb cycling holidays, perfectly organised, another great experience with Cycle Breaks. Mr S. & party, Udligenswil, Switzerland How to make a booking If you have any questions about any of our tours, do get in touch by phone or . We ll gladly help you plan your holiday, making sure it meets your requirements. You can contact us by phone, fax or to make your booking, post us the form within our price insert, or book online. We will confirm back by phone or , usually within 24 hours (Mon- Fri), followed by written confirmation and joining instructions. Additional tours & short breaks For more details about the tours featured in this brochure and other cycling and walking breaks which we just simply couldn t squeeze in this time around, do check out our websites: Call us on or us at bookings@cyclebreaks.com bookings@walkingbreaks.com A wonderful tailor-made holiday with excellent friendly service & support. Mrs C. & party, Southampton, Hampshire... the bikes are excellent, the routes are great, the scenery wonderful and the holiday very reasonably priced. Mrs M. & party, London cyclebreaks.com walkingbreaks.com Bradfield Hall Barn, Alder Carr Farm, PO Box 82, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8BW T: F: e: bookings@cyclebreaks.com e: bookings@walkingbreaks.com cyclebreaks.com... an ideal holiday for families... Mr & Mrs O. & family, Bracknell, Berkshire