Ride on! Cycling trips in the year of the bike

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle. Celebrate the year of the bike with these pedal-powered holidays

Welsh legends

Discover the history, myth and magic of south-west Wales on a new Legends Cycle Route. The 118-mile trip is designed to pedal you deep into the rugged landscapes and rich folklore of four of the country’s most historic counties: Neath Port Talbot, Swansea Bay, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire.

Visit King Arthur’s grave and the mystical Norman Kidwelly Castle, explore the birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas and enter, if you dare, Annwn, the gateway to the Celtic Underworld. The route is suitable for all levels and can be completed in four days or broken into smaller parts.

Download the guide for free at southwest.wales/legends/cycling

Cyclists in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. Image: visitpembrokeshire.com

Carpathian magic

Marvel at one of the last stretches of untouched wilderness in Europe on a four-day guided cycle in aid of The European Nature Trust. The Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania hold more than half of Europe’s remaining virgin forest and some of its richest biodiversity. Cycle through ancient woodlands, see bears in the wild, experience a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries and in doing so, help preserve this important ecosystem.

Visit here to find out more

Romania is home to Europe’s largest population of brown bears. Image: Christoph Promberger

Hop and roll

Home to a third of Germany’s breweries, visit Bavaria for beer gardens and historic sites on a seven-day bike holiday. Meander along the Beer Cycle Route in the Aisch with pit stops at Unesco heritage sites, magnificent castles and medieval beer cellars along the way. Learn about the area’s unique brewing traditions during a visit to the ‘beer capital’, Bamberg, where beer was first brewed in monasteries. Then, pedal along back roads and fields to the Franconian Open Air Museum where you’ll be welcomed with a home-brewed treat.

Visit utracks.com for more information

Medieval towns and lush landscapes make cycling around Bavaria memorable

Featured image: visitpembrokeshire.com


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