On your bike for a Gastronomic tour of South Somerset

To coincide with the start of the South Somerset Food Festival, Carefree Cycling Tours, the West Country cycling holiday specialists, are inviting food loving cyclists to join them on a two-day tour combining a leisurely ride with the best local produce.

This delicious weekend starts at the Boat & Anchor pub, Huntworth (M5 junction 24) at 10am; riders can bring their own bikes or use one of Carefree’s fleet. All 19 miles on the first day, and 17 miles on the second, are fully-guided and vehicle-supported throughout. After each day’s cycling everyone is driven back to the start.

The first day’s cycling follows the River Parrett to Langport with lunch at Brown & Forrest's Smokery in Hambridge. Try the eel on rye bread with salad, served with a squeeze of fresh lemon, black pepper & horseradish & beetroot pickle. A stop is made at the National Trust’s Barrington Court before visiting the Somerset Cider Distillery at Burrow Hill. Forty vintage varieties of apples set in 150 acres of lush orchards make this one of the weekend's many highlights. Yet more sleepy villages before The Rose & Crown, Huish Episcopi, a classic Somerset country pub with a uniquely pleasurable quirkiness and charm.

Sunday’s ride also begins at 10am outside the Ilchester Arms hotel in Somerset’s ancient former capital. This is stunning cycling country over wild wetlands and moors with the mournful song of curlews as backdrop. More welcome refreshment at the Half Way House Pub in Pitney before cycling past the ruined Abbey at Mulcheney visiting the John Leach Pottery and a local organic farm prior to arrival at East Lambrook Manor Gardens for lunch in its award-winning tea shop.

Pre-booking is essential, to reserve a place visit Carefreecyclingtours.co.uk. The cost for each day is £25 per person or £35 including bike hire from Carefree.

The full list of festival events can be viewed on Southsomersetfoodfestival.com.

For those staying overnight, the South Somerset Country Breaks Guide has accommodation suggestions, log on to Visitsouthsomerset.com.