July means the start of the Tour De France, so get on your bike at your UK holiday home
June 29th sees the start of the 111th Tour de France. Setting off from Vienna, riders will reach Nice on July 21st.
You don’t have to leap into the saddle and take on such a challenge, but a major event like the Tour does remind us of how great an activity cycling is. It’s one of those things that you can do at several levels; from pottering along byways and lanes to powering along against the clock. And it’s absolutely something you can do around your UK holiday home.
Redcar Beach, North Yorkshire is a good place to start
Redcar Beach is a great place to start thinking about as a location for your own seaside holiday home. Long, lovely beaches typify the coastline and you’re close to the wonderful North Yorkshire Moors. With so much to see and varying terrain to test you, it’s ideal cycling territory.
Check out the Struggle Moors event on July 3rd. It starts in picturesque Ampleforth Abbey, which is well worth a visit anyway and about an hours drive from Redcar. The ride might not be for those looking for an easy pedal but it’s doable. Or you could just map out your own route and bike around where and when it suits you. That’s the sort of freedom that makes having your own seaside holiday home a very good idea.
Map out some cycling around Mablethorpe Park, Lincolnshire
The Lincolnshire Wolds are on the doorstep of Mablethorpe Chalet & Caravan Park, and you’re very close to the beach too. It’s that variety of scenery and landscape that makes Lincolnshire so attractive. When it comes to cycling you’ll find that the briefest of online searches will show you loads of great routes and ideas.
Ideas like The Pathfinder rides. Scheduled for July 23 this year, and suitable for all abilities, this event provides all sorts of facilities. Best of all, the proceeds from the entry fee go to The International Bomber Command Centre. Based in Lincoln, the Centre is a world famous facility commemorates those who served in Bomber Command in World War Two and is part of the county’s rich historical heritage.
North Denes, Suffolk. They say it’s a cyclist’s paradise
Suffolk is ideal for cycling - as a county it’s flat compared to some northern areas, of course. Although to be honest, Suffolk and legendarily ‘flat’ Norfolk have rather more hills than you thought. But it’s the sheer scope of the place that appeals to us when it comes to two wheels.
North Denes is the perfect base to discover the rolling river valleys, beautiful beaches and of course there’s Constable country. There’s even a cycle route linked to Suffolk’s art - 69 miles of it. The Painter’s Trail is a circular ride leading you through Dedham Vale and the Stour Valley - you can download the Painter’s Trail route so you have a map and notes.
Suffolk is seriously linked to cycling, staging parts of the Tour of Britain and hosts charity cycling too. The Edge Cycle Ride is on July 17 and offers different routes but one clear purpose - raising funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care. The rides end at the Maglio Rosso Cycling Centre in Hawstead, a famous cyclist’s cafe & shop. Step in and you’ll see more cycling kit and accessories than you’d ever imagined. It’s perhaps another reason why Suffolk is a cyclist’s paradise.
The Waveney River Centre is in neighbouring Norfolk
And that makes it another superb base for cycling. As we have ‘fessed up to already, Norfolk isn’t necessarily as flat as people say. It’s a factor to consider when cycling, but do not be put off. The Norfolk Broads are world renowned and pedalling around this magical landscape is a real joy and not too demanding.
Because the Waveney River Centre is so close to the Suffolk border, you’re still within cycling distance of all that the valley offers; tiny towns, charming villages, wildlife, birdwatching and fabulous views. Did we mention St Peters’ Brewery in Bungay - you’ve got to take a break from the bike sometime haven’t you?
Caldecott Hall Country Park - still in Norfolk with even more to do
As a holiday home location, Caldecott Hall Country Park is somewhere that ticks so many boxes. A woodland setting with amazing facilities for golfers and within easy reach of the eastern parts of Norfolk.
Famously safe for cycling and quite flat (honest), it’s a part of the country that despite its growing popularity as a holiday home location, remains remarkably unspoiled. From here you can play a round of golf in the morning and cycle around the area in the afternoon. With access to a pool and jacuzzi, you can chill out after your cycling session too.
Cycling to do you good and feel good about yourself. Facilities to make you feel good when you’ve done it. What’s not to love about that?
Cycling is a an activity that’s growing more popular by the day. We realise more than ever that we need to get fit and stay fit. We’ve learned that savouring the countryside and seaside, taking our time, and taking time to look around are good for our mental health. We know too that looking after our planet is a top priority. Cycling helps us tick all of those boxes!
Owning your own UK holiday home helps you do all those things too. In fact, cycling and UK holiday homes go together rather well. A perfect pairing, July or anytime.