Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays

The northwest corner of Wales is a dramatic mixture of Celtic culture and coastal spectacle, set against a backdrop of rugged mountain scenery.Some of our rides explore the gently-undulating lanes of the Lleyn Peninsula, and are rarely more than a few miles from the sea. We cycle alongside the Menai Strait through the castellated town of Caernarfon, past the broad sandy expanse of Dinas Dinlle beach, and to the 'mediterranean' seaside town of Criccieth.On other days we dip into the western edge of Snowdonia, visiting Llanberis, Beddgelert and the panoramic drovers' road to Prenteg.For 2018 we're making a few changes to the routes. If you've been before, you can expect to see a few new sights, travel some unfamiliar lanes and find a new perspective on some familiar places. Of course we've also kept the classic rides that regular Beanoers know and love.Wednesday is an optional cycle-free day: you could visit the fantasy village of Portmeirion where the cult TV series The Prisoner was filmed; go up Snowdon; cycle to a nearby beach; or laze by the clear waters of the lake. Or of course we'll have an extra ride available for you if you want to cycle every day!

Our base for the rides is Pegs Farm, a large Grade II Listed farmhouse in the classic “black-and-white” Herefordshire style, dating back to the 13th century. The accommodation is split between the house itself and the converted barn next door. Both have been modernised sympathetically with comfortable twin- and double-bedded rooms, some with ensuite bath or shower rooms. There are comfortable lounges and gardens with views across to the mountains. We’ve space for 20 or more people in this venue.

Doing the catering for us will be Pot & Page, the renowned vegan café and bookshop in nearby Ledbury. They specialise in delicious plant-based catering, with the emphasis on seasonal and local produce. (Yes, that means the breakfasts and dinners will be vegan. We will be providing a supply of dairy milk for those who can’t contemplate anything else in their cup of tea! As ever on a Beano, our suggested lunch stops will generally have meat and veggie options available.)

This is a weekday Beano: we arrive for tea on Monday afternoon and leave after breakfast on Friday morning. In between we have three all-day rides on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, exploring the area by bike and returning to the the farm at the end of each ride where tea and cakes will await us.

The rides are mainly on country lanes, with a few short sections on gravelled cycle paths and easy bridleways. Daily distance is 30-40 miles, though we always build in detours and short cuts so you can make your ride longer or shorter. Some of the detours may involve stretches of offroad cycling but there will always be on-road alternatives. We avoid main roads as much as we can but we occasionally have to use short stretches of busy road to reach the really good bits.

The Cotswolds - we love it. Quiet lanes, bubbling rivers, rolling green hills, the warm, golden stone of the villages, and the big, big Cotswold sky. We lived here for years and we're delighted to have the chance to share some of our favourite parts of it with you.Following the format of our successful Somerset Beanos, this is a Weekday Beano - a midweek break starting on Monday evening and finishing after breakfast on Friday morning. In between, you get three full days of riding in some of the best cycling country Britain has to offer.