HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area: As Britain is an island you are never more than a few days ride from the sea, and as a result there has always been a great deal of interest in journeys that cross the country from one coast to another. There are several published cycle routes for coast to coast rides, but most of these are relatively short and pass through much the same sort of landscape each day. Our aim was to produce a route that would take you through as many different landscapes as possible along the way, and take about a week to complete. The result is our 'Coast to Coast' ride, which starts at the most easterly point of the British mainland on the edge of the North Sea, crosses the central heart of England, and ends on the Pembrokeshire coast, on the shore of the Irish Sea. The nearby little town of St Davids is actually the smallest city in the UK, and as well as an impressive cathedral is home to the ruined Bishops Palace. It has been a popular pilgrimage destination since the middle ages.

The Tour: This trip is designed to offer you the challenge of riding from 'Coast to Coast'. You should note that this trip is not recommended for inexperienced cyclists. Although the first part of the route is fairly level, there are some hilly sections and you need to be prepared for this. The hardest part of the trip is the final couple of days in Wales, where there is a lot of up and down, but most people do find that they get fitter during the tour. You should ensure that the holiday is within your capabilities based on the information provided. You are responsible for ensuring that you reach the accommodation at the end of the day, and no refunds will be given should you fail to complete a day's ride. The trip starts on the coast of Norfolk at the seaside resort of Lowestoft and heads west through the wetlands of the Norfolk Broads and across the flat fens of Cambridgeshire. The route then weaves its way across the rolling countryside of Central England, avoiding built up areas as much as possible. You pass through historic Stratford on Avon, the 'home' of William Shakespeare, and continue west, crossing the River Severn to the north of Worcester. The countryside becomes increasingly hilly as you head across northern Herefordshire, and, after you cross the border into Wales at Knighton there are some strenuous climbs. This is the most beautiful part of the route. You pass through the attractive old Victorian spa town of Llandrindod Wells (where there is an excellent cycle museum) and continue on some wonderful wild and lonely roads that eventually lead you to Whitesands Bay, a long sandy beach that lies beneath the cliffs of St David's Head.

Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small hotels, guest houses and B&B's. All the accommodation is privately owned and run, and as such does vary. There are some wonderful old historic houses, farmhouses, small cottages and Edwardian town houses. Some are in the centre of towns or villages, others are in small hamlets with few local amenities. We have tried where possible to mix types of accommodation so that you will get to try various different styles on each trip. Note: If you are booking a trip by yourself, or are part of a group but have requested a single room each night, there is an additional supplement of £20.00 per night. In most establishments en-suite facilities are standard and we include these where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed. Breakfast is included at all the accommodation. Most establishments offer a full 'English' (or 'Welsh') breakfast, but will be happy to adapt this to suit you. No other meals or drinks are included in the cost of the trip. The accommodation has been chosen so that there will be somewhere nearby for a meal in the evening. While riding there are frequent small villages in most areas and so finding somewhere to stop for a drink or some food is not usually a problem, although in some parts of the country, particularly through Wales, settlements can be quite a long way apart.

The Start/Finish: The trip starts at Lowestoft Ness and finishes at Whitesands Bay. However unless you have a willing friend or family member who will drive you to Lowestoft and back from St Davids, you will have to ride some additional miles at the beginning and end of the trip. The easiest way to get to the start and back from the finish of the holiday is by train. Lowestoft is served by Intercity trains from London and various other cities in the UK, and the station is only a mile from Lowestoft Ness.
The nearest railway station to St Davids is at Haverfordwest. Depending on the time you reach Whitesands Bay it is possible to start your journey home that day, however you should note that it is a 16 mile ride from St Davids to Haverfordwest, and the road is hilly with several steep climbs. You should make sure that you allow time for this. However most people spend the night at St Davids and begin their journey home the following day. There is plenty of accommodation in St Davids, although it does get busy in the middle of summer and can be hard to find a room if you do not have a reservation. Note: Accommodation is not included for the night before the start of the holiday or at the end of the holiday (ie at Lowestoft or St Davids). We can book this accommodation for you if required but you must inform us at least two weeks before the start of your holiday.

Documents: Insurance is optional on this holiday for UK residents. Non UK residents are required to have suitable insurance cover for the duration of the holiday.

Bikes & Cycling: The type of bicycle that you bring for this tour is entirely up to you. Some people take mountain bikes, others touring machines. The most important thing is that your bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. You should make sure that your bike has suitable gears for this sort of trip. Parts of the route are hilly, with some steep climbs. Do not forget that you will be carrying your luggage, which may mean that you need a lower gear than you would normally use. Most people will find that they are most comfortable with a bottom gear of about 25 inches, which will usually mean having a triple chainring.

Weather: Nobody needs telling that the weather in the UK is notoriously unreliable. However visitors may be surprised to learn that hot summer days are not uncommon, and there are often prolonged dry periods. Average summer temperatures are usually in the high teens or low twenties in the midlands area of England and southern Wales. The weather in May and June is (statistically at least!) the most reliable, and this is also usually the driest time of the year. Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed and you should be prepared for wet weather whenever you go (particularly in Wales - the west coast of Wales does receive some of the highest rainfall in the UK).