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Holidays on two wheels get a boost

26th June 2013 Print
Cycling

Cycling is back in the spotlight as the 100th Tour de France starts next weekend, with Mark Cavendish and Chris Frome chasing glory.

Last year’s British success in the Tour de France and at the Olympics means cycling holidays have been selling fast.  According to specialist activity holiday firm Macs Adventure, bookings for its self-guided cycling holidays are more than 300 per cent up since last year. 

Nationwide events such as the SkyRide and National Bike Week have encouraged the public to fall in love with cycling again, with hundreds of thousands taking part throughout the UK.

Neil Lapping, chief adventure officer, Macs Adventure, said: “Most people can ride a bike, but we’re now seeing many adults who haven’t owned a bike since childhood getting back into the saddle and feeling the benefits.  Manufacturers and retailers have responded by offering an excellent range of quality but comfortable bikes, meaning cycling is more accessible than ever before.”

He added: “But there’s nothing quite like cycling in the sunshine through beautiful countryside, which is why we’re seeing huge demand for our European holidays.  Holidays on two wheels give people a chance to see some of the best scenery close up and they come back tanned, fitter and feeling a sense of achievement.  Once people have been on one cycling holiday, more often than not they book another - a high percentage of our customers are repeat bookers.”

E-bikes, or electric bikes, are also becoming more popular.  This puts cycling holidays in reach of those who aren’t as fit as they’d like to be.  Macs Adventure has e-bikes available on a number of tours including The Danube Path, Tuscany and Austrian Cycle Tours.

New self-guided cycling tours from Macs Adventure include:

Champagne Cycling  Relaxed cycling through the magical Champagne countryside exploring the vineyards, valleys, châteaux and cellars of Champagne, a region that is also home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites.  This seven-day, six-night self-guided cycling tour starts in the historic city of Reims and starts from £695 per person, which includes accommodation in handpicked hotels, breakfast, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel each day, maps and route plans.   Travel to and from Reims is not included but the Macs Adventure team can advise best value travel options at the time of booking. 

Chateaux of the Loire Valley in Style Known as the "Garden of France" and the “Land of Castles”, the Loire Valley boasts a wealth of fine historical buildings and a treasure trove of fabulous landscaping, and this six-day, five-night trip is a great way to explore the region.   This trip includes stays each night at luxury handpicked chateau hotels with a reputation for first class service and traditional French hospitality combined with excellent dining.   The trip costs from £1,335 per person which includes accommodation in handpicked hotels, breakfast, dinner (most evenings), luggage transfer from hotel to hotel each day, maps and route plans.

Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall Cycling Explore England’s Lake District National Park, the wide open spaces of the North Pennines and Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site by bike on this eight-day, seven-night trip.  This new self-guided cycling tour takes in the best landscapes, villages, towns and historic sites in the North of England.

Starting in Carlisle, you head south west through the Lake District National Park to the beautifully preserved town of Cockermouth, where you join the sea-to-sea cycle route heading west to Keswick.  The trip costs from £595 per person and includes accommodation in handpicked hotels, breakfast, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel each day, maps and route plans.

Cycling Tour of the Cairngorms Explore Scotland at its best on this self-guided cycling trip through the Cairngorms National Park. Highland towns, historic castles, Speyside malt whiskies, Jacobite battlefields and beautiful highland scenery are the highlights of this eight-day, seven-night self-guided trip.

Starting in Inverness, the capital of the highlands, you cycle south past Culloden Battlefield to Aviemore, the centre of the Cairngorms adventure sports industry and gateway to the National Park.   The holiday covers 277 miles and costs £696 per person and includes accommodation in handpicked hotels, breakfast, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel each day, maps and route plans.

Macs Adventure can arrange bike hire if required at the time of booking.  To book any of the above trips visit Macs Adventure at macsadventure.com.

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Cycling