Auxerre Based on my vast experience of about half a dozen days in the region, mostly in transit, I have to say that Burgundy is one of my favourite regions of France. It’s hard to say exactly why. The countryside is a solid seven out of ten throughout. It is usually nice, occasionally drab, and … Continue reading Bourgogne
Travel
Timanfaya
I've been riding on the Rouvy for almost a year now, and I love it. If you're unfamiliar with the training platform, it's basically a glorified exercise bike hooked up to a monitor. As you pedal, the scenery changes, simulating a ride through a real life cycling route. The resistance reflects the gradient in front … Continue reading Timanfaya
Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Earlier this year, we talked about taking on a big challenge this summer and, while my initial ideas of backpacking around west Wales or taking on the South Downs Way haven’t come off yet, yesterday we tackled something I’ve wanted to do for a while - the Dragon’s Back. I adore the Brecon Beacons - … Continue reading Waun Fach and the Dragon’s Back
Morning out in the Malverns
Here’s a new one. For the last week or so, I have been completely fed up of my bike. Since New Year I’ve been training fairly hard for the Paris-Nice trip, and therein lies the problem. I’ve lost 8kg and I’m fitter than I have been for a while. Actually, realistically, I’m as fit as … Continue reading Morning out in the Malverns
The Great Eastern Pingo Trail
On camping trips, I usually enjoy planning days out walking from the campsite. In most places, there will be a couple of footpaths or bridlepaths leading out into the unknown, whether just to the next village or pub or linking into networks to take me far further afield. Our Norfolk campsite is disappointing in this … Continue reading The Great Eastern Pingo Trail
Morning out in South Norfolk
This morning, I left the family snoozing in our tent and took myself off for an early morning ride around the nearby villages. Our campsite is right next to Banham zoo and so far on our holiday it has been too cold to sit outside in the evening and enjoy the sounds emanating from the … Continue reading Morning out in South Norfolk
The Long Way Home
At last it’s that time of year again! The sun is out, the sky is blue, conditions are absolutely perfect for cycling, and up and down the country the same conversations are taking place in cyclists’ households. When is the best time for me to go out for a ride this weekend? It isn’t always … Continue reading The Long Way Home
Paris-Nice 2026 – the DIY version
We're going to Nice! Find out about our plans for our epic ride across France on vintage Peugeot bikes, to celebrate our joint 50th birthdays. With a nod to Laurent Fignon and an eye on cheese-munching, here's the route we've planned and why we're doing it.
Marans, Charante-Maritime
Our first impression of Marans was not a positive one. We had only booked the campsite there because La Rochelle was, predictably for an August weekend, already full and Marans was conveniently close for day trips. We arrived after a hot four-hour drive from our beautiful lakeside pitch at St-Yrieix-la-Perche, and were not immediately impressed. … Continue reading Marans, Charante-Maritime
Constantine Bay and Trevose Head
As someone who lives just 30 miles or so from the Tamar, you'd be amazed at how infrequently I visit Cornwall. We go to Dorset multiple times a year, but a trip out west is as rare as hen's teeth. Aside from a cricket tour, a bike ride and the obligatory geology field trip or … Continue reading Constantine Bay and Trevose Head
A Lovely Bunch of Trekkers
Machu Picchu seen from the Sun Gate at dawn, September 2000 Last weekend, I went away to Hay-on-Wye with a small but wonderful group of people. People who, I have realised over the last couple of weeks, are very special to me. Back in September 2000, I was part of a group of about 40 … Continue reading A Lovely Bunch of Trekkers
Cycling the Dorset Coast Audax
This blog post is available as an audio file via the player above - simply click to play the audio, and please excuse the large number of 'um's and 'you know's. It's all a bit of an experiment! This year, my friend Graeme and I have started cycling a type of event called an audax. … Continue reading Cycling the Dorset Coast Audax
Warren House Inn
Outside the Warren House Inn. The Warren House Inn is one of Dartmoor’s best-known and loved pubs, and at 434m altitude is the highest pub in southern England. It sits alongside the B3212 road a full 3km from the nearest hamlet at Postbridge, in a very isolated and exposed part of the moor. Grim in … Continue reading Warren House Inn
Quantocks in Autumn
Yesterday I took a short stroll in the Quantocks with my Mum. The tops were covered in cloud for the most part so we missed most of the views, but I took a few photos between Lydeard Hill and Wills Neck that I was pretty pleased with. I didn’t quite come across the right scenes … Continue reading Quantocks in Autumn
Wicken Fen
The ongoing travel restrictions have left us, like many people, looking for alternative plans for the school holidays. We couldn’t hop over the Channel with our trusty bell tent this year, but instead have taken the opportunity to visit a few old haunts and relatives around the country whom we haven’t seen for a while. … Continue reading Wicken Fen