British Cyclists smash world records at Track World Cup

Fantastic news  &  well done to Victoria & Jessica & all the team – but what’s that got to do with Wheely Wonderful Cycling holidays?  Well, we hope it inspired you to get on your bike.  A track event looks like a million miles away from the leafy lanes and views of the Welsh borders.  But all track cyclists started their cycling careers on short country rides.   The enjoyment of the sheer physical experience of cycling – exercise combined with changing scenery, the smell of hot pine & honeysuckle, the feeling of wind & sun are what inspire cyclists to keep on cycling.  And some of course, take it all the way to the Olympics, others take it as an excuse to eat more cake!

If you are wanting to start out try our Black and White Villages Cycle Tour

The New Inn on the Black & White Villages cycle tour - its only 600 years old

And if you want to push yourself a bit more – try our Radnor Ring Challenge

Its all downhill after this. Classic road cycling on the Radnor Ring Cycle Tour.

New Cycling and Walking holiday brochure for 2012

We’ve just published our 2012 Cycling and Walking holiday brochure.  If you would like a copy, just leave us details on our website order form.  As well as all our old favourites, we have two new weeklong holidays; a Grand “Country House Cycle Tour” and perhaps our easiest tour yet, a week long “Family Farmhouse Cycle Tour”.

Over 50 great cycling and walking holidays in the UK

We’ve won the Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme Award

Had a great barbecue last night at the National Trust’s Cardingmill Valley at the foot of the Long Mynd.  And as a total surprise – we won an award …. THE SHROPSHIRE HILLS SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SCHEME ACHIEVER AWARD 2011….for all the work we were doing on reducing the impact of our cycling & walking holidays’  on the environment.  It was a great honour & felt like the perfect end to a great summer of cycling and walking holidays.

We won an award - Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme

The barbecue was to  celebrate the work of the Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme.   A long title for a group of very diverse businesses based in the Shropshire Hills, who are keen to make sure that their customers & guests have a wonderful time exploring the area & eating & drinking the equally wonderful produce from this area.

All the members of the Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme have to demonstrate their green credentials & pledge to reduce their environmental impact on this wonderful  landscape.  We of course think that the best way to do this is to explore by bike.  So come & find out – by trying one of our Shropshire Cycle tours…

Cycling around the Shropshire Hills on the Shropshire Castles Tour

Art in the Sticks – Herefordshire’s H.Art week starting 10 September

From 10-18 September, Herefordshire & the Welsh border’s thriving arts & crafts community open up their workshops & studios to visitors.  Many of the artists have chosen to live, work & be inspired by local landscapes, which means that their studios are tucked away down tiny lanes, well off the beaten track.

Last year when I cycled around the studios my first port of call was Edward Ball’s studio  - sound sculpting, perspex and the latest computers. It all seemed a million miles away from the country lane with grass in the middle that I had just cycled along – very exciting.  The next stop was the complete opposite.  Underneath the arches of the Knucklas’ viaduct and close to the ruins of Knucklas Castle, Will & Lottie O’Leary’s stone carving barn, did have electric light – but that was the only modern feature.  The carvings were outstanding.

 This year’s selection of artist’s are just as diverse and cycling is definitely the best way to get to see these studios.  This year I’m looking forward to visiting the wood carver – Andy Pearson  & his new”Earthship” Studio,

Erasmus's First attempt at the Computer - Andy Pearson

and having tea & cakes at Mistletoe House Gallery.

Evenhay Valley - Tania Pearson

Try cycling round the studios yourself.  Our Welsh Borders Cycle tour enables you to visit up to 20 studios over 2 days .  Full details in this Borderspdf

Hopton Castle is now open to visitors

For the last few hundred years (since the English Civil War to be precise), Hopton Castle has gradually become more ruinous.  The crumbling ruins have also hidden the story of the gory siege during the Civil War…but now after a great deal of fundraising by the local community and a visit from TV’s Time Team – its open to everyone.  And you can read all about it – on the Hopton Castle website

It makes a great ride from our Explorer’s Country House Cycle Escape cycling holiday.

 

Hopton Castle open for visitors

Then when you have admired the Castle & its history cycle to nearby Rocke Cottage Tearoom – which has just been voted the UK’s best tearoom.  What more could a cyclist want – idyllic country lanes, a bit of history and a great big slice of chocolate cake?

Tour of Britain starts on Sunday

All the excitement of the Tour de France – including the presence of Mark Cavendish, Green jersey winner of  the French tour – but in the UK.  Here’s the link to the official site - which shows you when it is coming to your area.  We’ll be going to watch it at the spectacular Powis Castle – the start of the Welsh stage – visiting many of the highlights of our Lon Las Cymru Cycle Tour.

You won’t need to cycle as fast as the Tour…. or go up all the hills featured – our routes follow the valleys – but the scenery is fantastic.  Full details of this holiday can be found on.Lon Laspdf

National Bike Week in Shropshire 18th – 26 June

Loads of great events going on during this week – all to encourage  you to get back on your bike & start cycling.

There are easy cycle rides like the “Tour de Ludlow”

a great cycle ride - part of our Ludlow Country Estates cycle tour.

and Castle Cyclists (from Bishops Castle) have a whole week of rides mapped out.  And if you want to get going before this the Sun Inn is running another ride on 12 June. On’Yer Bike Sun June 12 2011  Why not hire a bike to take part in one of these events

At the beginning of the week – is the wonderful Shropshire Hills Highland Challenge – not for the fainthearted – 500 cyclists riding 66 miles and climbing 6,000 feet.  Our cycle holidays try to avoid all those hills!

If you’d still like to take part in a challenge – there are still spaces on the unique (only one in the world)  Bishops Castle Tandem Triathlon on Saturday 2 July – closing date for entries 10th June….. but you do need a tandem!