Disaster strikes! Please help save our holiday!!

[andym]

There are very few places in the UK that are completely flat, but equally very few that involve really long climbs. At 8 and 10 the kids should be capable of doing some climbing - after all every climb means a chance to bomb down the other side.

If it has to be flat consider the canals and river valleys - there are plenty of good rides to be had along the canal and river network, as well as the trails on old railway lines (for example the cuckoo Trail and the downs Link are both within reasonably easy reach of Winchester).

There's nothing to stop you basing yourself at a campsite for a few days, using that as a base for bike rides, and then moving on when you are ready.

By the way the place whoes name I couldn't remember is the Vale of Pewsey - which would combine nicely with a ride along the Kenet and Avon canal.

 

[HelenD123]

Mark, you're right - canal paths are a good start. Unfortunately, Greg, the routes in your link are all one-day routes, and 20 miles or less. I've built the kids up for a cycle tour, and they are so excited (and now disappointed). So I really need to put something together that has at least 150 miles or something.

I'll see what I can find with NCN1.

If I was at home I'd post you the Sustrans maps but unfortunately I'm half way across Canada! A combination of the interactive mapping on the Sustrans website and a list of campsites from ukcampsite.co.uk will get you a long way. Summerdays' suggestion of joining the Camping and Caravanning Club will also open up more options for you.

I read a write up of a family cycling the Tissington Trail in the Peak District and that sounded pretty flat. I don't think it's that long though.

 

[samid]

You can get some info from the Sustrans web site: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/national-cycle-network/long-distance-rides

Unfortunately it does not actually give out much information about the routes (such as how hilly or flat they are)... but, if you click on the "buy map" link for a route, you will see the total distance AND the "level" (easy/moderate/challenging). May give you some food for thought.

 

[yoyo]

I understand your problem only too well. We almost had to cancel our holiday to Normandy at the weekend over Irish passports and the go slow. We applied six weeks ago - th earliest we could following my business trip to Czech Republic. The blighters took our money immediately and then wailed about a go-slow which, according to the internet was over in the first week of June. I pestered them by phone and then camped in the passport office on the Brompton Road on Monday and Tuesday. The inconsistencies in their excuses was only something else. I emerged yesterday with our passports in my grubby mit... I hope you do the same and that you get away on Thursday.

I have cycled the Danube and it is absolutely ideal for children - I doubt your 8 year old will need the tag along. However, if the worst comes to the worst - the Kennet and Avon canal is good with many interesting sites on and near the route. It is especially good from Bradford to Bristol. Having walked much of the south coast in recent months - what about cycling it?

 

[TwoInTow]

Just wanted to update here a bit... We're definitely not going now. We should be boarding a Eurostar at 7am tomorrow morning (anyone want 4 tickets and 3 bikespaces? Pickup tickets from Winchester tonight!!).

I've had a look through the Sustrans site looking for ideas, and we are going to try something else: Oxford - Derby - Birmingham - Oxford. For us, it's a quick and easy train trip to Oxford - cheap, no bike tickets/bookings necessary etc. The maps I ordered suggest the route is easy/moderate - which I think is as good as we will get. The Norfolk suggestion is probably flatter, but getting there would be a good deal trickier - trains via London etc - and in the end that's what decided it.

We will aim to leave on Monday. Fingers crossed we find enough camping sites etc! I'm a little nervous about the rolling hills that I expect to find, but since I don't need front panniers, we can take our Bob trailer and put it on my proper bike which has good gearing etc, so hopefully that will compensate. But if it all goes kaputt, we can just get on a train and come home!

I really appreciate everyone's ideas (and sympathy!).

PS I have some train tickets Passau - Munich, Munich - Paris (sleeper) and Eurostar to London to sell for 30/7 - 1/8, if they're any good to anyone! I'll probably put them on Ebay, but if you 're interested let me know!

 

[Bollo]

*Bump*

We met this morning at Winchester Station will I was waiting for my train. I'm not a regular visitor to T&E but thought I'd have a look after meeting you. Your bikes were so distinctive I had a feeling someone on here would know you, but I was surprised to find a full thread!

Hope you managed to get your bikes on the X-Country and good luck with the tour!