Wild Atlantic Cycling

This 14-day supported road tour takes riders from London to Barcelona across remarkably diverse landscapes. The journey opens on quiet Surrey lanes from Hampton Court to Portsmouth, followed by an overnight ferry to Caen in Normandy.

Through France, the route crosses four regions: Normandy's green farmland, the Loire Valley's vineyards and châteaux (crossing the river at Tours), the medieval villages and castles of Nouvelle Aquitaine, and the sun-baked countryside of Occitanie. A rest day is spent in the fortified UNESCO city of Carcassonne before the route climbs into the Pyrenean foothills.

The tour's centrepiece is the crossing into Spain via the 1,513 m Col d'Ares, a 52 km climb followed by a 32 km descent. From there, riders continue through Catalonia to Ripoll before a final day following the River Merlés into Barcelona, finishing on the city's dedicated cycleways at the Mediterranean.

They describe this as a challenging tour with several demanding climbing days, suited to riders who have trained specifically for the distance and elevation involved. A support van, tour leader and assistant accompany the group throughout, providing mechanical support, luggage transfer and refreshments en route.

Highlights:

• Overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
• Normandy farmland, Loire Valley châteaux and Dordogne countryside
• Rest day in the fortified UNESCO city of Carcassonne
• Crossing into Spain via the 1,513 m Col d'Ares (52 km climb, 32 km descent)
• Finish along Barcelona's dedicated cycleways to the Mediterranean

Surface and terrain:
Quiet country roads with some busier joining sections and town riding at the start and end of days. Well surfaced throughout, suitable for road bike tyres of 25 mm or more. Mountainous terrain through the Pyrenees.

Weather:
Runs in May. Average daily highs of 17-21°C, with daytime range up to 24°C. Generally sunny with low rainfall, though this varies between northern France and the coastal south.

Suitable for:
Classified as an "Avid" rider tour, for cyclists who are fit, experienced and specifically trained for long days and mountain climbing.

On our Portugal End to End tour you will cycle the length of this wonderful country from North to South mainly on the popular N2 route. The tour starts in Chaves - located in Northern Portugal, next to the shores of Tâmega river and only a few kilometres away from Spain, Chaves is a city that has both a natural beauty and an incomparable historical and cultural legacy. The tour is all on road.

The Portugal End-to-End ACTIVE tour is a moderate tour. Days vary, but generally the route has some climbs of medium difficulty. You will need to ensure you are fit enough to complete the distance and climbing.

It is approximately 75 km and 1,000 meters of climbing per day. The tour is primarily on quiet roads with a small number of joining sections on busier roads. Some cycling in towns and cities is necessary, particularly at the start and end of the day. Roads are generally well surfaced and suitable for road bike tires of 25 mm or more.

Starting in the Jewel of the Balkan Crown’ City of Dubrovnik we head south to the world famous Kotor Bay in Montenegro and onwards to Shkoder, known as the ‘Cycle City’ in Northern Albania. When you arrive you’ll know why! The bells ring here like the bicycles in Beijing! You have a day off and we miss cycling through the bustle of Tirana although you can opt to stop here for a few hours to explore the sights of Albania’s capital city. We stay over in Elbasan and you cycle across the border to the breath-taking beauty of Ohrid in North Macedonia. TWe head east through Bitola and Veles where you spend the night. In the morning it’s a short bus ride to Kochani to cycle over the mountain across the border at Delchevo into Bulgaria. From the University city of Blagoevgrad we then take you to the ski resort of Bansko at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. We breathe out here then head south freewheeling to the beach in Greece with a worthwhile detour to a ‘tour within a tour’ trip round the island of Thassos … from whence we make our last ride east across the Nestos Delta via Komotini and Alexandroupoli into Turkey and down the western side of the Dardanelles Strait ferrying to Cannakale then heading east to Can before taking a bus to bandirma to cross the Sea of Marmara by ferry to Istanbul, the historical bustling ‘gateway to the east’.

It is an exciting journey in this enthralling part of the world. Much of which is emerging slowly enough as tourist destinations so as to continue to retain much of the natural beauty, uniqueness and charm of the countryside and villages.

Highlights

• Kotor Bay and The Serpentine Climb in Montenegro
• Views from hotel in Shkoder and the hills in the north of Albania
• The beautiful Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia
• The Ciflik Winery in Bitola
• The Climb from Delchevo to the Bulgarian Border crossing
• The mountain town of Bansko in Bulgaria
• The freewheel down the River Mesta towards the Greek Border and into Gotse Delchev
• Thassos Island
• The ride through the Nestos Delta in Thrace national Park in Northeastern Greece
• Crossing the Turkish Border
• The Ancient City of Troy in Canakkale
• Crossing from ;The East' to 'The West' then 'West' to 'East' by ferry on our final day in Gelibolu (Gallipoli)
• Our hotel with its terrace overlooking Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

The first 6 days are the toughest from Dubrovnik to Ohrid with an average of 99 km and 1,877 metres of climbing per day.
The 11 days from Ohrid to Istanbul (Bus and ferry transfer to Istanbul from Gelibolu) average 96 km and 987 metres of climbing per day

From glittering San Sebastián with its world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurants and tapas bars to the ancient medieval city of Girona and on to Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava. Experience “Wild Espana”. A Spain Coast to Coast cycle adventure taking in the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain from the wildness of the Atlantic to the blue warm waters of the Mediterranean. Daily averages are approximately 70 km and 1,000 meters of climbing per day. By comparison our Mizen to Malin Ireland End-to-End tour is 87 km and 800 meters over 12 days of cycling. If you fit the profile of our 'Active' cyclist (explore your rider style here), then our unique Spain Coast to Coast cycle tour will be a fabulous experience for you! All the thrills of northern Spain and the Pyrenees mountains in a gentler and more leisurely tour. Cycle high mountain passes one day, lush green valleys the next. Quintessential mountain-top villages, quiet, smooth roads meandering alongside steep river gorges, warm people, wholesome food and cold beer. All with the attentive support and easy-going encouragement of the Wild Atlantic Cycling team.

The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends and a thirst for more!

There is no better way to explore the wild beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way from Mizen Head to Malin Head than from the saddle. The grandeur of the Cork and Kerry mountains. The warmth and joy of a night in a Galway pub. The lunar like landscape of the Burren. The packed mountain ranges dominating the horizon of the Connemara National Park. The giant Sea Loughs of the Inishowen Peninsula. Your end-to-end journey of seven days has a breath-taking finish on the rocky promontory of Malin Head.

Suitable for the 'Avid' Rider.

For a more leisurely ride check out the Mizmal Relaxed tour

#wildatlanticway #eurovelo1 #EV1

The journey starts at Ireland’s most south-westerly point and finishes at its most northerly - a distance of approximately 960km. This inspiring and unique journey takes you through breath-taking landscapes and quintessential towns.

Wild Atlantic Cycling is based in Ireland! The only Irish company successfully running the Ireland End-to-End! We invented MizMal®!

The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends and a thirst for more! There is no better way to explore the wild beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way than from the saddle. The grandeur of the Cork and Kerry mountains. The warmth and joy of a night in a Galway pub. The lunar like landscape of the Burren. The packed mountain ranges dominating the horizon of the Connemara National Park. The giant Sea Loughs of the Inishowen Peninsula. Your Ireland end-to-end journey of 12 days has a breath-taking finish on the rocky promontory of Malin Head.

For a more challenging ride check out the Mizmal Ireland End to End tour.

#wildatlanticway #eurovelo1 #EV1

From San Sebastian to Girona (Cap de Creus) in 7 Days along the Pyrenees

Experience “Wild Espana”. A journey through the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain. Unlike the French side our Spanish Pyrenees cycle tour is kinder! Climbs are not as challenging. Some days are tougher than others of course, and some are only "severely undulating" as opposed to mountainous. However you will still enjoy a Pyrenees cycling challenge with amazing mountain scenery and glorious sweeping descents.

Our unique Spain Coast to Coast takes you from the wildness of the Atlantic to the blue warm waters of the Mediterranean. A journey with new colours at every turn. Cycle high mountain passes one day, lush green valleys the next. Quintessential mountain-top villages rising out of nowhere on the road ahead. Lose yourself as you pedal mile upon mile of quiet, smooth roads meandering alongside steep river gorges, decked with colourful flora. On the Spain Coast to Coast you will enjoy warm people, wholesome food and cold beer. Each stopover different from the last. Glittering San Sebastián with its world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurants and tapas bars. Buzzing Pamplona - a meeting point for walkers enjoying the Camino de Santiago. The cosmopolitan city of Jaca. The ancient medieval city of Girona. A mecca for discerning cyclists. The unforgettable landscape of the finish - the spectacular Cap de Creus. Here you can celebrate your achievement with an authentic Spanish meal and a cold beer.

Riding a bike in warm and scenic Southern Spain should be experienced by every cyclist! This is one that will challenge you physically, but reward you hugely for your efforts! The route is both inland and coastal with that feeling of each day being better than the one before. The route winds its way from Seville to the coastal city of Valencia. We pass through many National Parks including La Sierra de Grazalema with the amazing town of Ronda where we stop and stay after day one. We spend a night in the buzzing city of Granada before cycling the northern regions of the Sierra Nevada mountain range - famous for pro cycling training camps. You won't feel alone on two wheels!

We enjoy an incredibly beautiful single climb day in the glorious and pristine Sierra Espuña range with a glorious descent and 26 flowing switchbacks! Our final push to Valencia takes us through La Serra de Mariola with its tree-lined slopes. Ride across plains and steep mountain passes with flowing descents for miles on end. Pedal through fertile valleys sprinkled with white-washed villages. Push yourself on long, quiet, smooth roads surrounded on all sides by green sloped mountains with flowing rivers. This tour is for experienced road cyclists not afraid to work hard and who welcome climbing and descending each day.

Highlights

• The historic and spectacular city of Ronda
• Sierra Maria mountains
• Granada and the Sierra Nevada range
• The turquoise reservoirs of Andalucia
• Climbing famous cols such as Puerto del Viento and Puerto de Los Blancares
• Sierra Espuña - a must-do for any serious cyclist visiting Spain
• The Megalithic Park of Gorafe and the Gor River canyon
• The "world's most dangerous walkway" - El Caminito del Rey in the El Chorro gorge
• The warmth of the people and the cold beer

The NC 500 - North Coast 500 cycle tour is a breathtakingly scenic route that loops around the northern Highlands of Scotland, covering approximately 500 miles of rugged coastline, majestic mountains, and charming villages. Our NC500 cycle tour offers a unique way to experience this stunning region, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the natural beauty and rich culture of the Scottish Highlands.

This tour is designed with the ‘avid’ rider in mind as it has some testing terrain and the added uncertainty of changeable weather conditions too! We recommend you come prepared.

The NC 500 cycle tour is a challenging tour with some longer days in the saddle. Days vary, but generally the route has some climbs of medium difficulty and a few which are challenging such as the well-known climb of Bealach na Bà on day 2. A winding single track road through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula.

You will most likely need to train for the event and ensure you are fit enough to complete the distance and climbing.

Highlights

• Muir of Ord Whisky distillery (we do pass many others but we have incorporated ‘tasting time’ here into Day One)
• The infamous climb up Beelach Na Ba to Applecross
• Lochinver Larder - The World Famous Scottish Pie Shop
• The Lochinver Pass
• Smoo Cave
• Sandside Bay and the nearby world famous beaches of Achmelvich, Clachtoll, Oldshoremore and Sandwood Bay
• Loch Loyal
• EU funded Timber Haulage Route from Thurso
• The ‘Falls of Shin’ at Lairg
• Johnny Foxes Bar in Inverness (We start and end here. You may remember the start)

Our Croatia cycle tour is an adventurous journey on the Dalmatia Coast spanning 380km from Split in the north to Dubrovnik in the south. Our unique route has exhilarating mountain and coastal cycling on the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, and the Peljesac Peninsula. The total climbing is 6,600 meters.

The Dalmatian islands of Croatia make for an exhilarating cycle tour. And we all know that there are no exhilarating cycling experiences on flat land! Every island has a challenging hill (or two) opening up to incredible panoramic views in many cases and those glorious long descents into harbours. This is one of our tougher Active Tours but we've classified it as such because the distances together with what can be a challenging climb, still allow for more time in the afternoon and evening to enjoy a swim and relax into island life. Several of our Mallorca stalwart clients have been blown away with our routes on this tour and the quality of the cycling involved.

Highlights

• The fishing village of Pucisca on Brac
• The port of Hvar
• View of Velo Grbalje on the Malo Grbalje Cycle Route
• Korcula Old Town
• Racisce Fishing Village, Brac
• The climb to the Church of St Nicholas on the Peljsac Peninsula
• The spectacular descent into the beautiful village of Trpanj
• The unbeatable memory of the Dingac Tunnel descent into Trstenik to finish

Without busy mainland traffic the beautifully maintained tarmac roads of Dalmatia are a joy to ride with climbs that open up at every corner with a glorious vista. The clear water in all of the bays in Croatia viewed from on high are absolutely spectacular! We explore the southern Islands of Croatia’s extensive and world renowned archipelago staying in comfortable and convenient hotels many of which have pools. We spend two nights in the same hotel on Hvar and two nights in the same hotel on Korcula. There are 7 nights in total and 6 days of cycling. All hotels have pools.
Our Croatia cycle tour has been carefully designed for you with the right combination of holiday and fitness fun; enough cycling to feel a wonderful sense of achievement and the satisfaction of being able to see the islands from an eco-friendly vantage point!