Bike hire
Woodland cycling
City cycling
Resorts
When to go
When the term ‘holiday’ comes to mind, a lot of people will immediately think of hot sunny days by the beach in the South of Europe. But to a lot of people, their first thought is cold, muddy nights in rural Britain. This article is very much for the latter! If you love spending your time in the great outdoors then staying in the UK during the holiday seasons is one of the best options for you, as some of the best cycling areas can be found right on your doorstep.
Bike hire
Cycling holidays can be brilliant bonding experiences to get younger members of the family into cycling. If you were looking to get your children into cycling but didn’t want to fork out on a new bike, only for it to be used twice and sat in the corner of the garage collecting dust, then try a cycling holiday with a bike hire function nearby. Popular cycling areas might offer bike hire services for those looking to travel light, but they can also function as an introductory method to the world of cycling.
As well as bike hire, these services will also often offer accessories for hire such as helmets, gloves and other protective gear too for added peace of mind. Knowing your beginner cyclist is safe will go a long way to creating a more relaxed and stress-free environment for everyone on holiday.
Woodland cycling
A lot of cycling holidays in the UK are excellent avenues into exploring the great outdoors! If you live in an urban environment and do a lot of city cycling, it’s well worth taking a break from the bustling traffic life and enjoying a relaxed cycling experience in the peace of the woods whenever you can. As opposed to the everyday commute to the office, you can instead take your time and take in your surroundings to make cycling a pleasurable experience once again.
Woodland cycling holidays are also fantastic for family activities. Getting the kids involved in exercise in a stress-free and comfortable environment will help get them into the cycling lifestyle in a way that can be engaging and unique. As well as this, taking a bike ride through the woods can be an educational experience too, with the ability to teach your kids about nature and different animal/plant types which will help liven the mood of those who are not sold on the idea of a family bike ride! It’s certainly beneficial to take a break from standard cycling and taking your bike off the road.
City cycling
City breaks have become very popular recently due to the fact that if done right, they can be so cheap. With the rise of AirBnB’s and cheaper transportation, it’s now more affordable than ever to drop everything and book yourself in for a weekend away across the country. Cycling around in the city can be one of the best ways to travel around and sightsee in unknown locations, with it also being undeniably cheaper than public transport links! If you’re visiting somewhere like London, Cambridge or Portsmouth, then cycling is definitely the best method to get around with it being one of the most popular methods of travel with locals and tourists alike so you’ll never feel out of place!
Like I briefly mentioned, cycling is also far cheaper than taking public transport, which is normally an added expense on what can already be a pricey weekend away. Hiring a bike for the weekend or using any existing bike hire facilities will save you money and the stress of locating the right transport route and making timing another thing to worry about.
Resorts
If you’ve never been to a holiday resort, then it is a must try! While they can be expensive on the face of it, there’s no doubt you get a lot for your money in these types of holidays with the variety of activities that are typically offered. Sites like Center Parcs provide the whole with memories for life that include swimming, tennis, barbecues and, of course, cycling! The cycle centres at these parks allow for you to book bikes, helmets and locks to hire out for the duration of your stay to ensure you’re making the most of your time in the woods, and also serve as an accessible way to traverse the resort.
There are plenty of resorts dotted across the country, so you’d be sure to find one near you that can serve as a getaway for everyone. The general atmosphere of these places is really relaxing, making it a really fun environment for you to bond with your family and get some detoxing away from your busy everyday lives! If you’ve never been to a resort before, give it a go and you’ll soon see what a great option these places can be for UK based holidays with a heavy element of cycling thrown in too.
When to go
Depending on what you’re looking to get out of your cycling holiday, you’ll need to book your stay as early as possible. Whether it’s spending the week in the countryside or a quick break to the city, giving yourself time to research the nearby areas, hotels, facilities and parks will allow yourself to gather a real understanding of what you’re looking to get out of your trip. But also if you’re looking for a quick escape away and are not too decisive over what you’re going to be doing, then try looking at last minute hotels and AirBnB’s as these can often provide you with deals and savings that you won’t be able to find in pre-booked occasions.
Obviously the most popular time to go on holiday will be the summertime, so if you’re one of those people who enjoy getting away to soak in the very rare British sun, then you need to get in there first before you’re left with nothing. Plan out your excursions and trips too so you know what to expect when you get there too, because there’s nothing worse than heading away and realising that there’s nothing to do when you get to your destination! Prepare your holiday as early as possible to ensure you get the desired holiday, hotels and everything else exactly as you wanted, and use the time beforehand to set out planning your itinerary.
Cycling holidays can be some of the best holidays you will ever go on. They offer a different environment to cycle in that gets you away from the everyday stresses of life and takes you into a more relaxing atmosphere where you can bring the enjoyment back in your cycling. Resorts, city breaks and woodland based holidays can all serve as peaceful breaks jam packed with things to do and see, with facilities such as bike hiring making for money-safe options when travelling to big cities.
