Will rocketing petrol prices create a holiday bicycle boom? More and more tourism businesses seem to believe so. For instance, April saw the launch of Cambridge Bike Tours, the first of its kind to provide a programme of bicycle tours around the city and surrounding areas. As well as modern bikes, tourists have the opportunity to try some nostalgic and immaculately refurbished historic British bikes.

Cambridge is famous for its cycling and has over 80 miles of cycle paths and lanes to explore. The company claims its tours offer tourists a unique outdoors experience and enable them to see more of the city and river than on the many walking tours available. Surprisingly, Cambridge Bike Tours is the first tour company in the city to offer a programme dedicated purely to bicycle tours.

The company runs a programme of four different tours operating every day of the week in the summer except Tuesdays. Three of the tours cost £20 and the full day tour costs £33, including bike and helmet. Discounts are available for students, families and groups.

Also getting busy on two wheels is the National Trust, which has launched a new series of challenge rides (also known as sportives). Anyone who’s ever fancied the idea of taking part in a challenging cycle ride through stunning countryside or around a beautiful country estate could be in for a treat with one of them.

All of the routes start and finish at National Trust sites and the first ride will take place in Pembrokeshire in West Wales on 1 May.

The National Trust’s Philip Broadbent-Yale said: “These rides offer a fantastic way to see amazing countryside and have been specifically designed to cater for all ages and abilities, from first-time riders to seasoned pros, there’s something for everyone.”

With distances ranging from a few miles, which is ideal for families, to more testing 50-100 mile rides for the more experienced, these cycling challenges are designed for those who love spending time in the great outdoors. The routes wind through open countryside and will be fully way-marked and marshalled by professional event organisers.

Challenge rides planned for 2011 are:

• 1 May – National Trust Pembrokeshire Challenge Ride at Stackpole in Wales
• 19 June - Father’s Day Ride at Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire
• 3 July – National Trust White Peak Challenge Ride – Illam, Peak District (TBC)
• 3 July – Kingston Lacy in Dorset
• 24 July – Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire
• 11 Sept – Wimpole in Cambridgeshire
• 2 October – Dartmoor Atlantic Challenge at the Parke Estate in Devon
• 9 October - Sizergh Castle in the Lake District

More information on the rides, how to register and more downloadable cycle trails can be found at National Trust website

Also happening this summer will be the Trust’s first ever Cycling Festival which will take place between 16-24 July, with bike-ride events and activities happening at 25 locations, including Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire and Scotney Castle in Kent.

Finally, March saw the launch of a unique cycle route in Dorset, where to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, Dorset Wildlife Trust has created 42toDO, a special route taking in all of its 42 nature reserves. At 260 miles through the best of Dorset’s landscapes, it is a challenge that people can take up by bike, on foot or even by car, with shorter routes also available for a more leisurely day.

Fiona Sansom of Dorset Wildlife Trust said:

“42toDO is all about celebrating our wonderful nature reserves. Anybody can do it, whether they cycle the whole thing in one go or tick off a few nature reserves at a time on a leisurely ride or walk. Our route is suitable for cyclists, avoiding main roads where possible, but you can still visit the reserves by car, so there’s no reason to feel left out!”

The Trust has produced a map which includes all you need to know about where and when to see unmissable wildlife such as wood anemones, bluebells, sand lizards, early spider orchids or red squirrels.

With different punches at every reserve to collect on the 42toDO maps, challengers will win a certificate and special badge for achieving all 42 or for more than half. There will be additional prizes for the most impressive or unusual ways of completing the challenge.

The 42toDO challenge is free. For a pack, click here

So having a well chosen selection of books (as well as DVDs and games) in a holiday property can contribute a lot to a holiday. Bookshelves tend to acquire a life of their own, with visitors donating books they’ve brought and read. That can lead to a wonderfully mixed selection of books reflecting all sorts of tastes and interests. Even so, it still helps a lot if at the heart of the collection is a core of books appropriate to the property. Books about the area, of course, whether guide books, local history or fiction. But also books that can help visitors appreciate aspects of country life they might otherwise miss.

For instance, a couple of new books from Britain’s Wildlife Trusts do this in quite different ways. The first is a guide designed to help you get closer to nature, called 152 Wild Things to Do. Divided into four seasonal sections, it lists places to visit (mostly wildlife reserves owned by the Trusts), activities for both adults and children, and skills you can acquire.

In spring, if you’re in Wales you could visit Silent Valley nature reserve. Or you could cook nettle soup. “Healthy, delicious and found absolutely everywhere, nettles are a wonderful leaf that can be cooked up into a wholesome soup. Food that’s free and full of goodness – perfect! You’ll need to pick the tender tops of young nettles in the spring.” It goes on to a full Nigella-style listing of ingredients (including optional wild garlic leaves), cooking instructions and a final flourish: “You could stir in some crème fraîche or serve with a swirl of cream and some crusty bread.”

In summer, you could go wild swimming or glow-worm spotting; in autumn, you could go blackberrying (and make jam), discover Tolkien’s inspiration or see Britain’s largest butterfly. And in winter… well, buy the book and give it as a present, or just for yourself to spur inspiration and booking another cottage holiday.

In all there are – as you would expect – 152 recommendations, so there’s plenty to keep you busy. The book is probably aimed mostly at parents hoping to occupy children and stir an interest in nature and the countryside, but there’s plenty for everyone. It serves as an introduction to a number of small, lesser-known nature reserves and the colour photography is beautiful. It’s a book that deserves a place on every holiday cottage bookshelf.

Rather more traditional is Nature Tales, from  the same source. It’s a compilation of nature writing spanning the last three hundred years, with a forward by Sir David Attenborough. “This wonderful collection of some of the greatest nature writers in Britain’s history is a pleasure to read from start to finish and a valuable addition to any naturalist’s library,” says Sir David. Quite so, but don’t let that reference to a naturalist’s library make you think this is some learned, stuffy book. Quite the reverse, because it’s the ideal accompaniment to a cup of tea and a digestive, with most of the items no more than two or three pages long.

The book is organised in themed sections – By river and sea, From my window, Nature trails, and so on – each with items from across the 300 years. So an entertaining piece by Bill Oddie – one of the longest items at nine pages – is preceded by the 19th century novelist Richard Jefferies and followed by Nan Shepherd, a wonderful descriptive writer who died in 1981 at the age of 88. There are brief notes on each contributor, which might well lead you to follow up on their other writings.

Even more than in a naturalist’s library, this book belongs in every holiday cottage. And it, too, would make an excellent birthday or Christmas present for any nature-minded reader.

152 Wild Things to Do, published by Elliott and Thompson Ltd, £12.99,
Nature Tales, published byElliott and Thompson Ltd, £18.99

Tranquil Otter in Cumbria

This and other last-minute cottage offers are available on the holiday cottages late availability page.

Tom K

There’ll often be added extras – evening entertainment, visits, food and drink tastings etc. Stay in a holiday cottage while you’re at a festival. After a day of exercise and fresh air, relax in your own space. Cottage owners can usually recommend food delivery services, and many cottages have a pub or restaurant nearby.

Here are just a few festivals around the UK this year:

3 – 18 May Isle of Wight Walking Festival, England
In its tenth year, this is probably the longest-established festival. More than half the island is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – including 500 miles of well-maintained footpaths. The event is a huge draw every year.
www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

9 – 11 May Lower Annandale Walking Festival, Scotland
Twelve guided walks in this intriguing part of Dumfries and Galloway.

9 – 15 May Newton Stewart Walking Festival, Scotland
One of the foremost walking festivals in the south of Scotland.
www.newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk

10 – 17 May Aviemore & Cairngorm Walking & Mountain Festival, Scotland.
Formerly Aviemore Walking Festival, it includes new elements for 2008. www.aviemorewalking.com

10 – 26 May South and Heart of Suffolk Walking Festival, England
Explore the Suffolk countryside with local guides, historians and naturalists. Forty graded walks in a variety of locations, including a ramble along the former towpath of the River Gipping; a meander through the historic wool towns of Lavenham and Long Melford; and a walk that visits a wooden ‘henge’ and takes in a scarecrow trail.
www.southandheartofsuffolk.org.uk

17 – 23 May Ballater Royal Deeside Walking Festival, Scotland
Three walks a day of varying toughness in eastern Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus.
www.royaldeeside.co.uk

29 May – 1 June Angus Glens Walking Festival, Scotland
Award-winning walking festival – discover one of Scotland’s secret places, the Angus Glens.
www.angusanddundee.co.uk/walkingfestival

6 – 9 June Malvern Walking Festival, England
From family ambles to a ramble across the Malvern Hills from end to end. www.malvern-hills.co.uk

14 June, midnight Edinburgh MoonWalk, Scotland
Join the MoonWalk to help raise money for vital breast cancer causes in Scotland. www.walkthewalk.org

14 – 15 June Langport International Walking Festival, England
At the heart of the Somerset levels and moors – a wetland landscape of rhines, droves and willows. www.langport-area.info

14 – 22 June Herefordshire Walking Festival, England
This year’s programme highlights the south west of the county with 60 guided walks to choose from. Experts on butterflies, bats and birdwatching, archaeology, local lore, and land conservation will be on hand. And learn to compose better pictures with travel photographer Nick Meers.
www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/walking

30 June – 13 July Rotherham Walking Festival
Two weeks of guided walks. www.rotherham.gov.uk

15 – 18 Aug Midlothian Walking Festival, Scotland
Cycling and horse riding as well as guided walks through town and countryside within easy reach of Edinburgh.s well as guided walks through town and countryside within easy reach of Edinburgh.

walking.visitscotland.com/events/midlothian-walking-festival

30 Aug – 6 Sep Scottish Borders Festival of Walking
One of the longest-established walking festivals in Scotland.

18 – 22 Sep Clackmannanshire Walking Festival, Scotland
A chance to discover the area’s stunning scenery.

26 – 28 Sep Coniston Walking Festival, Lake District, England
Themed walks on the area’s geology and geography, and the famous people who have found inspiration here – plus activities for families and the ultra-energetic.

26 – 29 Sep Carrick Way Festival, Scotland
Walks in stunning landscapes in Ayrshire.

26 Sep – 5 Oct Richmond Walking and Book Festival, Yorkshire, England
Ten days of events that are good for body, intellect and soul!

4 – 13 Oct Cowal Walking and Arts Festival (Cowalfest), Scotland
Where the Highlands meet the Clyde coast.

Hope you find this useful for planning your special gettogether!

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