Places to Cycle in the UK and Abroad

There is nothing more calming than getting out and about on your bike on a nice day. The fresh air, the exercise, the scenery, and it's a great thing to do with friends and family. It's also a pretty good holiday activity. Why stay cooped up in a car just to get from A to B when you can explore an area by bike and make an adventure out of it? With this in mind, here are a few of the places all around the world you can go to enjoy a good bike ride...

Canada-British Columbia.
Canada's British Columbia is a hotspot for major cycling trails, and there are some great ones to be found dotted around. On the Galloping Goose trail you get to see a bit of everything, passing through forests of fir trees, seeing waterfalls run over the canyon from the Sooke River, and past scenic Matheson Lake. The Kettle Valley Railway is another great option out of many in British Columbia; this abandoned railway trail passes through tunnels, mountain forests and trestles.

Ireland.
The Great Southern Trail in Ireland, around West Limerick and North Kerry is in the place of the old Tralee Railway Line. This closed in 1976, and left behind it the potential for a beautiful, mainly untouched route for cycling and walking.

New Zealand- South Island.
The Otago Peninsula in Dunedin, New Zealand is a great place to explore by bike. Originally a volcanic region, it is now known for being ideal for cyclists, and has an abundance of wildlife, with birds such as the yellow eyed penguin. There are also lots of other things to see in the Otago peninsula such as Larnach Castle, and Glenfalloch Gardens.

USA- Florida.
Floridais another destination with plenty of choices for avid cyclists. For example, there's Longboat Key Trail, which takes you along the shoulder of the Gulf of Mexico Drive, Pinellas Trail, or Withlacoochee State Trail, which is near Orlando, going from Citrus Springs to Trilby. So, more to do than just Disney World and Orlando Studios!

UK- Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight provides the perfect, varied landscape for holidaymakers turned cyclists, with a combination of chalky cliffs, green hills and narrow woodland trails. And the Isle of Wight is also up and coming as a trendy escape for the younger audiences, with an increase in cool gastropubs, great hotels and a mix of rustic and modern Isle of Wight self catered holiday homes...brilliant after a strenuous day of adventurous bike riding!

France - Luberon and Mont Ventoux, Provence.
In Provence, pass through great scenery, medieval ruins, historic villages and castles, rolling lavender fields and abundant vineyards...all by bike! Mont Ventoux is a famous tour de France spot, and is surrounded by some lovely fresh forests, but it is worth noting that the uphill slope may be a bit of a struggle for someone who's after a simple leisurely bike ride.

These are certainly some of the best bike rides to explore all around the world. In fact, their locations are great for the holidaymaker in general, and you're bound to find a great self catered holiday home - the perfect place to store all those bikes after a day out - wherever you go.