ADVERTORIAL
Looking for a great way to burn calories while you enjoy a holiday in the UK? Look no further than your trusty bike and miles of great UK countryside with plenty of tracks, paths and roads to enjoy.
The Olympic road race success of Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Pooley has seen many of us reaching for our bikes whether it’s for the daily commute or a way to get outside at the weekend. Taking your two wheels on holiday is also a great way to see the gorgeous UK countryside so you can exercise while you explore. And while we’re not suggesting you aim to reach the same speeds as those Olympic heroes, working up a sweat certainly pays off with an hour’s steady cycling at only 10mph burning up to 500 calories.
So now it’s just a question of where to take your two wheels...
If last summer’s excitement got you in the mood for cycling, why not give Box Hill a go? Sure, you won’t be met by thousands of cycling fans waving Union Jacks but if it’s good enough for Olympians, it’s good enough for us! The zig zag route is certainly a challenge but weaving your way through stunning countryside more than makes up for it, we promise. Once you’ve reached the top you can either continue into Box Hill village and beyond or reward yourself by freewheeling back down.
With the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire in 2014, where better to turn the pedals before Wiggins and co make it to town? Try a route which winds through Mytholmroyd and takes in Cragg Vale, the longest unbroken ascent in the country, if you’re a keen cyclist looking for a real challenge. For a more sedate day, a section of the ‘Moor to Sea’ cycle path is perfect with stunning views of Whitby and Scarborough on offer.
The 15-mile stretch between Portreath and Devoran in Cornwall takes you from coast to coast along generally flat and traffic-free trails. This is a perfect way for new cyclists to get used to a longer day in the saddle and with stunning views aplenty, you won’t be disappointed. Those with young children will also find the routes suitable for little legs. What better way to celebrate reaching the end of the trail, which will feel like a real achievement, than with a delicious cream tea? You are on holiday after all!
