Discovery Travel

Meiringen is a popular and pretty village in the Bernese Oberland, close to the Reichenbach Waterfall made famous in the Sherlock Holmes adventures. From here you ride alongside the Lakes of Brienz and Thun and through the town of Interlaken. The scenery is spectacular as the high mountains of this region tower above you. Beyond Thun the countryside surrounding your riverside route becomes hilly rather than mountainous as you approach the Swiss capital, Bern. There is plenty to see here before continuing to the town of Biel and its lake. The route then takes you to the picturesque towns of Solothurn and Olten where it is fascinating to stroll through the narrow streets of the old parts of the towns. The River Aare is then followed further to your journey's end in Aarau.

Daily distances on this tour are short with the emphasis on allowing you plenty of time to explore the sights and the countryside along the way. Amongst the sights that your route passes are Beningbrough Hall, Shandy Hall, Byland Abbey, Helmsley Castle, Duncombe Park, Nunnington Hall, Castle Howard and Kirkham Priory. Add to that all there is to see in York and you will realise that there is something for everybody on this leisurely holiday.

From the Alps to The Adriatic, this cycling holiday really brings you the best of Slovenia. This small country is a land of contrasts and is rich in both scenery and history.The holiday begins in Bled, a true fairytale town complete with castle overlooking a beautiful lake, which itself has an island with a church. It is one of the most photogenic locations in Europe. Cycling away from here you are surrounded by the Julian Alps, dominated by Slovenia's highest mountain, Triglav. The route takes you to Ljubljana, the compact capital city, with its famous buildings and architecture. The next highlight is perhaps Postojna, where a visit to the world famous caves is thoroughly recommended. Continuing through Slovenian countryside you come to Lipica, home to the famous Lipizaner horses, associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. You have the option of detouring via the Italian city of Trieste to eventually reach the end of your holiday on the Adriatic coast at the port of Koper, which has an interesting old town.

The countryside of Apulia is ideal for an Italian cycling holiday, with flat or gently undulating farmland and a spectacular coastline. There are well-maintained towns and villages with whitewashed stone houses, beautiful palaces and churches. Ancient olive groves and long sandy beaches with a turquoise sea make it a lovely destination for a cycling holiday.

Less than an hour from the city of Salzburg lies the Salzkammergut region of Austria, which is essentially the Austrian lake district. The scenery here is truly magnificent. You are surrounded by beautiful lakes and mountains and many views framed by the towering, snow-capped Dachstein Mountains in the distance. However, this holiday offers very easy cycling, virtually all along cycle paths or quiet lanes. The route is circular so you start and finish at the same hotel in Salzburg. If you would like more time to explore this charming city we can arrange extra nights' accommodation for you in Salzburg at the beginning or end of this ride (or both!).

This Spanish cycling holiday has been specifically designed to reveal the best aspects of this beautiful part of Catalonia. You will cycle along the wild coast with its many miles of golden beaches. You will ride inland through the Aiguamolls Nature Reserve where multitudes of seabirds and songbirds have settled. You will cycle along stunning trails offering spectacular views sweeping far into the Pyrenees. You will have the chance to discover Romanesque and Gothic buildings, medieval villages, the region's acclaimed gastronomy, the wines produced by the vineyards you pass on your route and much more! We have carefully selected accommodations that fit the character of the holiday.

In the gardens of the castle a fountain and monument mark the start of the river. From here the route leaves the Black Forest and travels east through changing landscapes, passing Sigmaringen with its most impressive castle perched on a rocky outcrop. The valley widens and the route is predominantly flat as you continue to Ehingen. The last day is either an easy short ride alongside the Danube or a hillier but highly recommended route via Blaubeuren. Whichever you choose you should ensure you have time to explore the city of Ulm. The minster, dating from 1377 has the highest church tower in the world.

This classic ride has now become the Holy Grail of cycling for many leisure cyclists. It follows the Danube Cycle Path from the beautiful old town of Passau on the German border, alongside the Danube, to romantic Vienna and is Austrian cycling at its best. The cycling is undemanding as you cruise gently downwards by this famous river. This section of the Danube is probably the most attractive for cycling as the river cuts through the surrounding Austrian hills. Along the valley are many fascinating old towns and villages, including those where you will be spending the night.

As you cycle this route, high mountains are all around you including the well known Drei Zinnen, with its distinctive three towers of rock dominating the skyline. You then leave the mountains behind as you descend through ever widening valleys to the North Italian plains where you will stay in interesting old towns. Finally you reach the inspiring city of Venice.

The Dordogne River flows through the limestone plateaux or Causses of Quercy, in the Lot, before it reaches the Department which bears its name. The landscape is dramatic, chateaux tower on cliffs, the chasm or Gouffre of Padirac offers spectacular caves and an underground river to explore, and one highlight of the trip is the 9th Century pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, clinging to the side of a deeply-cleft gorge. The Dordogne was frequently the frontier between the English and French armies during the 100 years War and there are many picturesque bastides or fortified villages dating from the 13th century. The route broadly follows the Dordogne valley Westwards, sometimes beside the water, sometimes along the edge of the scarp with dramatic views of the river undulating lazily below.