New cycling and canoeing holiday

Our most popular holiday combines a 2 day cycling holiday, with a day’s Canadian canoeing…but to pack all this excitement into the 3 days, we’ve had to use cars to get you between activities.

So this year we’ve introduced a new holiday to get over this.  Now you just pedal and paddle your way through Herefordshire and the Wye Valley on our Wye Valley Cycling and Canoeing Holiday.  You can leave your car behind for 4 days and move at an altogether slower pace.

Paddling gently down the River Wye in search of kingfishers, herons & sandmartins

Some Big Bike Events coming up in Shropshire and the Welsh Borders in 2013

Here are some great challenges for cyclists…. and if you want something easier , whilst your partner does the challenge we can organise a great cycling weekend for you around the event.

Shropshire Highlands Challenge – Sunday 16th June 2013.

- Not a race, but a challenging 65 mile ride at your own pace all on quiet roads and lanes among the beautiful Shropshire Hills.

Try our Explorers Country House Cycle Escape  – close to the start and you don’t have to go over any hills at all

 

Cycling in the Teme Valley near Ludlow

The Tandem Triathlon – Saturday 6 July 2013

- the only tandem triathlon in the world.  You need access to a tandem – but this is great fun.   One team member swims 1k, both then cycle the 30k on road route, the other team member then runs a cross country 10k. The event offers a challenging course for serious competitors but one that is also easily manageable, albeit in perhaps longer time, for those who want to try a more relaxed event.

The rest of the family can try The Quietest Family Farmhouse Cycle Tour and can cycle up to meet you at Bury Ditches to cheer you on.

Family Farmhouse cycling holiday in Shropshire

Wiggle Shropshire Mynd Sportive - Sunday, 15 September 2013

A 101 mile sportive– It’s called the secret county because it’s full of scenic gems and known for being off the beaten track. The routes criss-cross the English / Welsh border so riders have the opportunity of climbing both Long Mynd (in England) and Long Mountain (in Wales). Kerry Hill features on the long route which is so long brings it rides almost like a typical European climb. The area is also steeped in history with fierce battles and the infamous 177 mile Offa’s Dyke which the route follows as you head towards Long Mountain.

While they go up the hills the wrong way (the steepest way), you can do a similar route  the best way following river valleys up the easier gradients  on the Shropshire Castle Tour.

Cycling up the Long Mynd the easy way – the view from the top

 

Cycle ride around the Elan Valley

We don’t often get a day off during the summer months – we are usually too busy handing out bikes and moving luggage.  But when we do there is nothing we like better than getting out on our bikes

On this ride, we joined up a few routes we’d already been on, to make a circular day trip from Rhayader near the Elan Valley.  Rhayader is where you stay on our Welsh National Cycle Route holiday.  you spend two days here – you can either have a rest & watch the Red Kites overhead – or cycle up to the Elan Valley reservoirs.  This trip we did is about to join the “rest day” options!

Up the River Wye, following National Cycle route 8 through a magical nature reserve, towering hills all around.

Wye valley near Rhayader

Stopped at Llangurig to refuel – the teashop has closed, but the village shop had lots of supplies and the Bluebell Inn is the perfect place for lunch, especially if you snuggle into the wooden settle next to the fire.  A perfect Welsh pub.

Then up and up onto the moors and forest above the Elan Valley.  much puffing and panting here.  A wonderful picnic stop by the river as the forest road deteriorated into a stony track & then we were at the top.  The moorland of the upper Elan Valley & fantastic views all around.

Route 818

Downhill next, all the way down to the reservoirs – its just like being in the Lake District – forest, mountains & water.  The reservoirs were full, so the water was flowing over the dams.  The Victorian builders of the dams added jutting stones in the face of the dams – to make the water fall look even more spectacular.  The Victorians always made a great job of making their grand engineering projects look good as well as work well.

Élan valley

Then the best reward of all, the tea room at Penbont House was open.  So scones & jam & cream all round.

Tea at the elan Valley

We finished the day, by following the beautiful cycle track alongside the Garreg-ddu and Caban coch reservoirs.  Mountain Ash, and late summer flowers & buterflies, and the wacky sculptures made this even more special.

And back home to write it all up.

Special offer – Last minute holiday

 The snow has gone (nearly) & the sun has been shining.  Make the most of the rest of Easter holiday by booking our Explorer’s Country House Cycle Escape. Easy cycle rides, log fires, afternoon teas, a great place to stay and wonderful 3 course evening meals. 

3 days/ 2 nights £310pp (inc. evening meals) (normal price £340pp, this offer is for holidays taken by 13.4.13)

Details & book

Cycling season about to start

I’ve just cleaned the bike yard, put up the canopy & am halfway through sorting out the flower beds…..it must be time to open up for business.  We officially open at Easter, but a few hardy souls are starting their cycling holidays next week.  If you’d like to join them….have a look at our new cycling holidays for 2013.

Take a look at our new cycling and walking holidays

Cider Cycling tour … in Dutch

Welkom bij Engeland, voor prachtige fietsvakanties

We were very pleased to welcome the journalist Kim van Dam of the cycling magazine “FietsActive” to Herefordshire to cycle our Cider Cycling Tour,  here is the article she wrote about it.  Our English readers might just have to look at the photos – but I hope it will encourage our Dutch readers to come cycling in the English/ Welsh borderlands.

Welkom bij Engeland, voor prachtige fietsvakanties

Cider Cycling Tour

Welkom bij Engeland, voor prachtige fietsvakanties

Welkom bij Engeland, voor prachtige fietsvakanties

Welkom bij Engeland, voor prachtige fietsvakanties

Cider Cycling Tour

Bespoke Cycling Holidays in the English Welsh borders

We’ve just designed a new holiday for a client – who wanted to cycle 50 miles plus each day.  He was very specific about what he wanted; 50 miles a day, a “rest” day canoeing after two days cycling, guesthouse accommodation…..  We were happy to oblige.

We’ve cycled nearly every road in the area – so always know the best routes to recommend and of course we know where all the places to eat & stay are too…. so that you can be guaranteed that any holiday we design will be great fun, with excellent accommodation.

Any one can have a holiday designed for them – you can add days to any of our listed tours, combine two tours or add activities.  Just ask our advice. 01568 770755.

This is the holiday we designed for our client – we’re so pleased with it, we’re planning to add it into our brochure next year.

Australians on The Shropshire Castles Tour

We love it when our customers send us photos… or even better write up their experiences on their blogs.  The Adamson’s from Brisbane – wrote about their tour in the Brisbane Bicycle Touring Association’s newsletter “Cycling Times”.  Here it is, with our thanks to Rob & Libby (and the BBTA) for their permission to reprint.

(Just one note – the Adamson’s purchased their holiday through one of our agents – you can click here  to see full details of our Shropshire Castles holiday and book direct)

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