I'm trying to plan a family holiday that centres around MTB and hiking in various locations in UK and Europe (some cultural stuff would be good, but not essential).
It will be myself, wife ("her outdoors") and two young lads flying in from Australia. We'll only get one chance at this I suspect. I've got a few months leave owed to me, but I think any more than 4-5 weeks might be stretching things with accommodation/transport costs.
Her outdoors doesn't do MTB, but loves walking, so we'd probably aim to ride while she walks one day, then walk together the next. Will probably need to break things up a bit so we don't just do the endless tick list without really taking things in.
Her outdoors especially doesn't like crowds, so quieter spots would be good ... she would also really like to see some of Scotland, France, Italy. I've a few ideas, but would rather hear other people's suggestions. Time of year is flexible, but I guess early/late summer makes most sense in terms of weather and daylight.
So recommendations on places where we'll be able to ride (hire bikes) and walk, places to stay, and how to get around would be great, please... camper van hire looks expensive and i'm guessing we won't get away with parking up for free as easily as we would in Oz, but cheap accommodation is fine.
We'll need to start in England to say hi to family.
If you want a taste of riding in the UK then it’s trail centres IMV.
However to get to the good stuff, you really need a local guide.
Same goes for the Alps.
In terms of trail centres, Glentress and Innerleithen are good, with bike hire at Glentress I think.
Scotland is lovely in general, but very weather dependent.
In Wales, Coed Y Brenin has good bike hire, some lovely walks and is beautiful. The old trails on the other side of the road are the most fun for riding IMV.
In the French Alps, I believe Briançon is very much a year round destination in terms of summer activities.
Switzerland and Austria are well worth considering too, although Austrian access laws are very strict I believe?
If you want a taste of riding in the UK then it’s NOT trail centres IMV.
Unless, of course, you love endless rows of farmed Sitka spruce. 😂
There's biking pretty much everywhere in the UK so I'd base my decision on the other activities, sight-seeing etc and use that as a guide.
Italy would obviously mean more travelling time, flights etc. whereas France, Wales, Scotland are accessible with a hire car.
In general, allow more driving time than you first think of, or reduce your total distance to accomplish more in a smaller area.
Free parking for a van with 4 occupants is basically not going to happen - not anywhere at all popular. If you want to campervan/motorhome it then book sites (well in advance for that time of year).
The thing with MTB trail centres is that they are usually colocated with walking trails so her outdoors should be happy. Especially if on Forestry England, NRW land (or the Scottish equivalent). Also, there are often cafés, toilets, bike wash, sometimes a bike shop.
In Wales, Coed y Brennin is OK, but as one of (if not the) first UK trail centre it does feel very dated now ime. Elsewhere in Wales you're spoiled for choice with Gwydir Mawr, Afan, Llandegla, Cwmcarn, etc. then the uplift sites at BPW, Dyfi, Antur Stiniog, dirt farm.
Whilst natural riding is probably 'better' it's often out of the way, with minimal facilities for non riders and hard to find without a guide. Trail centres are maybe a bit tame in comparison, but when time is an issue they do tick most of the boxes.
Trail centres aren’t the best riding, but if you’re wanting on-site bike hire and easy navigation then they’re probably the best option for a visitor who hasn’t got a bike with them and is looking to go for a quick ride whilst their family amuses themselves with other activities.
Dyfi’s the best option for other activities, but doesn’t do bike hire.
Antur Stiniog and Bike Park Wales, well you can see why they got regeneration grants and initiatives. Great places to ride downhill. Meh for the rest.
I prefer Nant Yr Arian as a trail centre over Coed Y Brenin. But it doesn’t do bike hire.
The thing with MTB trail centres is that they are usually colocated with walking trails
True, but not very persuasive.
so her outdoors should be happy
Incorrect. She'll be absolutely ****ing livid if she gets dragged round endless soul destroying forest trails for a month and then discovers the amazing venues that she could have visited had the trip been done properly.
I can almost comprehend the reasoning behind doing trail centres for MTB ( though I don't agree it is the best option) but taking the same approach for walking routes is absolute sacrilege.
Exmoor has some of the best riding in England, also superb for walking and doesn't have crowds. Quality bike hire is available nr Porlock as are guides if required.
It dependents on the experience you want and the time of year. I think the Lake District would work although it get busy. But it depends on how you define busy. It’s rarely busy away from the road.
We have done loads of family holidays to the village of Elterwater in the Lake District. The village green will have folks sat outside the pub and people eating ice cream on the grass. Goods riding and walking from the door. Bikes from nearby Ambleside. But you’d want to be back on here asking for routes and gpx files. The same applies to villages all over the uk.
This video I selected in a rush from YouTube should give and idea if the area. Although it’s not raining. If you want harder riding in the areas thegeneralist will supply details
PS I have a friend which emigrated to Australia. When she comes back here she says what is special is say riding a ridge with wide open views as that’s not what you get in Australia. So I’d say avoid centres
Thanks for the suggestions.
I think @Kramer might be on the right "track." The kids won't really like 60km slogs like I did in the Lake District and Afan last year. They like flow stuff which we're more likely to find at trail centres.* On trips we've done in the past they've rated speed, jumps and obstacles as most fun.
I've got family in Wharton, but Her Outdoors did a lot of walking in the Lake District and Wales on the trip when I met her (at a Youth Hostel near St Davids), so is keen to see other parts.
I guess Trail Centres with a view/views nearby would be good.
There’s biking pretty much everywhere in the UK so I’d base my decision on the other activities, sight-seeing etc and use that as a guide.
@Scotroutes - I grew up in Lincolnshire so I have to call you out on that!!! We read MTB UK and dreamt of being able to access all the rides that were in there.
Exmoor has some of the best riding in England, also superb for walking and doesn’t have crowds. Quality bike hire is available nr Porlock as are guides if required.
@dropoff - family about an hour away so that might be worth a look, I did a night rally (my last ever) from Ifracombe once so didn't get to see much of the area!
Driving isn't an issue to us really. We're used to spending 8 hours in a car to get to good places, and i've driven in Europe a fair bit (Google 10 Countries Run).
From idle Youtube fantasies, I imagine Finale, Dolomites and Slovenia could be pretty epic...
*We ride trail centres at home (although lots are more XC-ish) but they're different because they're mostly free and publicly owned - illegal trails that Councils have later sanctioned and then supplemented.
Peebles is a good base.
Reasonable prices to stay with a range of options.
Mtb trails and walking.Choice of Mtb bike hire as well.
Day trip(s) to Edinburgh.
Then an easy link to the Highlands as well.
Lake District is not to far away either heading south. For more riding and walking
Pyrénées - somwhere around Luz St Sauveur, walk up the Taillon or Vignemale, ride the Tourmalet
Spain, Ainsa - hire an MTB and you may never want to return ot Oz, walk up Peña Montesa and Her Outdoors won't either.
Basque Country - the coastal walk and the famous Doug at Basque MTB.
Edit to add: Chamonix and Les Gets for Her Outdoors and you respectively.
Thanks - never been to Peebles.
Pyrenees is way too cold in winter for her outdoors but I do think she’d like it for a holiday - my last trip before I moved to Oz was a driving trip over Christmas/NY to the Pyrenees and Andorra.
Check out the February climate in Peebles, Pau, St jean de Luz and Ainsa. I live in Pau, X-C skiing in glorious sunshine two days ago, horse riding today. Spekkie of this parish lived in Ainsa for couple of years, here's his year-round view of the place (jump to page 26 for Winter). Queen Victoria used to Winter on the Basque coast.
For your Scotland part of your holiday and if your kids like flow trails then you could do a wee tour of the new trails at Tarland(stay around Ballater/Braemar area for walking/bike hire) and then move on to<br />the trails at Laggan Wolftrax. Plenty of options to stay round there and lots of walking options. There's also some biking trails at Glenlivet which could be done alongside some walking. I live in Innerleithen(Tweed Valley) and the biking is amazing. The new flow trails at Glentress are fun but if I was the non biker I would probably prefer<br />to be up in the mountains further north while my family were off biking. You could always stop by the Peebles area on your way South for a quick stop.
if I was the non biker I would probably preferto be up in the mountains further north while my family were off biking
This.
