Green Jersey Cycling Tours

A visit here is likely to prove memorable as you get a flavour of what makes it so special. Proud of its maritime heritage, we take you to some beautiful coastlines with tiny sandy coves; inland, enchanted forests provide just some of the highlights of this western extremity of France. It is not unusual to see ladies dressed in traditional costume, speaking the Breton language. All this combines to make this a fascinating place to visit, and there is no better way than by bike. A longer and harder version of this tour is our Brittany 500 trip. 7 days' cycling; 7 nights’ half board with wine; luggage transport, full back-up and assistance throughout the day.

Our 'Coast to Coast and Back' starts in Whitehaven on the west coast and rides to Tynemouth via Hadrian's Wall, before turning south and returning via Durham, North Yorkshire and the Lake District. A feast of countryside, history and a bike friendly route makes this an experience not to be missed! Stay in historic and beautiful locations including Hexham, Tynemouth, Durham and Windermere.

Tour highlights include:
Hadrian's Wall
Beautiful Hexham
Tynemouth Abbey
Durham Cathedral
North Yorshire Moors
Lake District
Convenient transport - leave your car at start
Wide open spaces and quiet cycling routes
Buttertubs and Whinlatter Pass to test your legs

Taking time to enjoy the journey and to savour the experience. Our route passes many interesting and historic places in France and Germany and is truly a voyage of discovery.

Every ten years since 1634 the inhabitants of this small Bavarian village have performed a Passion Play, based around the events surrounding the death of Christ, to give thanks for being spared from the Black Death. The whole village is involved and the participants must all have been born in Oberammergau - but this is far from an amateur production, rather one of the highest quality. We rode this route in 2010, the last time the play was performed. Whether you wish to visit for religious reasons, or to see one the most historic cultural events in Europe, or to re-create the happenings in Jerome K Jerome's 'Three Men on a Pilgrimage', this is an event you will always remember. The route takes you north of Paris then across France to the southern Vosges, via Verdun, and into Germany passing the source of the Danube, Lake Constance and finally to the little village near the famous ski resort of Garmsich-Partenkirken. A true journey giving a real reason to travel. Not to be missed, this is why travel was invented!

1 July 1916 is etched on the national conscience and we examine the actions of that day, as well as the remainder of the battle which lasted into November 1916.

We have enhanced and extended this tour to give you a superb insight into the entirety of the Battle of the Somme. Along the way we will visit sites large and small, and hear a few war poems in the places they were written.

The terrain in the Somme region is ideal for cycling; this is chalk farmland and the hills are neither too steep nor too long. Many novice cyclists have happily ridden our routes here! Because of the amount to see the days can be long although the time on the bike can represent less than half of the time spent out and about. For this reason we've graded it moderate, not because the riding is hard. The support van will be in close contact so will ensure that you have everything you need, meaning you can travel light and benefit from all of its refreshments too!

Ride from the Bay of Biscay to Cape Trafalgar near the historic city of Cadiz on our epic two week ride south through Spain. This carefully crafted route embraces the best that this wonderful country has to offer and is timed to avoid the heat, instead enjoying the late summer warmth and offering a fantastic late season excursion to savour before hanging up the bike for winter!

Spain is a wonderful country for cycling with wide well maintained roads almost completely devoid of traffic; what little there is tends to be very courteous to cyclists.

Imagine the satisfaction of ending your ride gazing at Africa across the Straits of Gibraltar. For a true traveller there can be few more evocative endings to a fantastic journey!

Our new Spanish end to end ride will take you across fantastic countryside from the beautiful Picos de Europa in the north all the way to the south western tip at Cape Trafalgar, where you can wistfully gaze across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco on the other side. We will take you to some of the most sublime countryside, some of the best climbs, longest views and most impressive mediaeval towns along the way, passing some of the finest castles and fortresses and staying in historic palaces, monasteries and other interesting hotels – of which we are particularly proud on this trip. With an average of 71 miles a day over this 13-day epic you will climb some 17,000m (Elevation charts). It tends to take the format of a couple of harder days followed by a couple of easier ones.

Highlights include:
The coastline of Cantabria
Stunning Picos de Europa mountains
Hotels of huge character in former monasteries, convents and historic manor houses
Wonderful Segovia with its Roman Aquaduct and famous Alcazar
Amazing architecture and castles of Avila, Penafiel and Trujillo
Sherry and tapas in Jerez
Beautiful Andalucia
Perfect climate for end of season holiday
Quiet traffic free roads with good surfaces
Cake & Coffee stops

You will ride through Normandy, the Loire Valley, the ancient Poitou region, Cognac, Dordogne and Gascony before traversing the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied de Port, for centuries the crossing point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago to Compostella. Five days in Spain will end in Santander, in the Cantabria region,  where the ferry return with take you back to where you began two weeks earlier - you may even spot some whales in the Bay of Biscay as you relax on deck. Spectacular scenery is guaranteed!

The ride is graded 'expert' as to ride for 15 days in a row is a big ask for most people - even the pros on the Tour de France don't do this. The route gets more challenging as you ride south with the Spanish section offering some good climbs; however the gradients are mostly shallower than many hills back home and it should be within the grasp of all regular cyclists. For those who like a challenge there is also the opportunity to climb the mighty Col du Tourmalet.

Daily distances range from 41 miles to 80 miles with the great majority being in the 60 - 70 mile range (see daily descriptions for details of individual daily distances). If you have never done a ride like this before the key, as always, is steady progress at your own pace and we will ensure that you are looked after by our support team. As the ride progresses you will find out what routine suits you and adapt your speed or strategy accordingly; we have great experience and one of the most satisfying aspects of the job is helping people to achieve a ride across France successfully. 

Highlights include:
Beautiful lush Normandy and its produce
The Loire Valley and its chateaux
Cognac, an elegant town known the world over
Beautiful unspoilt Gascony
Pau, a civilised town at the gateway to the impressive Pyrenees
Optional Col du Tourmalet ascent
The tranquility of the Pyrenees
Sublime scenery of the Basque country
Sophisticated Santander
Hotels of character & quality
Cruise back at leisure to Portsmouth
Cake & Coffee stops

This tour is a mixture of picture postcard villages on the Rhine plain, and some days spent in this beautiful area. You may see the grape harvest or the turning of the leaves in the forests and on the vines, both marvellous sights. A couple of hilly days mean that this tour is rated as difficult, but by no means beyond the reach of the regular recreational cyclist. 7 days' cycling; 7 nights’ half board; 1 night dinner not included; luggage transport, full back-up and assistance throughout the day.

Highlights include:
Virtually no traffic
Varied landscape with some hilly days
Fabulous views of the Rhine plain and Vosges
Mediaeval castles dotted along the route
Hearty food and local beer and wine
Immaculate vineyards
Character hotels in historic towns
Picture postcard villages

A 5 day tour of delightful villages, hidden coves and excellent food, giving a real taste of what the region has to offer.

Brittany has a varied terrain and is not flat, although neither is it mountainous!

This 15 day voyage will leave you with a great impression of France as you see the landscape and architecture change as you head south. An average of 60 miles a day means this is a ride most cyclists can achieve, and there are some flat days to enjoy along the way as well as an option to climb Mont Ventoux.

Highlights include:
Vimy Ridge
Historic Laon
Epernay and the Champagne vineyards
The mediaeval half-timbered city of Troyes
Dijon, capital of Burgundy
Beaune
Mont Ventoux (from afar, or option to climb!)
Gorges de Verdon
Promenade des Anglais in Nice

A couple of shorter days and a few longer ones combine to make this a memorable journey through the very best of France suitable for all recreational cyclists, passing through simply stunning countryside and seeing some of the most famous sights of all France. There is the added attraction (to some!) of an optional ascent of the iconic Mont Ventoux.

Highlights include:
Mont St Michel
Mediaeval fortresses of Fougeres and Vitre
Loire Valley vineyards and chateaux
Wonderful Chinon and its cobbled streets
Beautiful Creuse region
The Massif Central
Mont Ventoux ascent (optional)
Tarn, Ardeche and Verdon Gorges - breathtaking!
Descent into Nice