Travellers’ tales: A half-term cycling staycation

We love getting away on long-haul holidays but it is extra special to take a break locally, reducing our carbon footprint, costs and stress levels all at the same time. Bike touring with children and a dog might not sound easy or fun but with the bike paths in our region it’s easily achievable. Home-to-home touring makes life much simpler.

The four of us left from home on the Saturday of February half term on our two Circe Helios tandems, with Biddy our border terrier on the back. One of the tandems has Shimano STEPS electric assist, making it easier to carry spare clothes and wet weather gear.

Our route took us through Over to Highnam, all on bike paths. We then took the lanes through Tibberton and Birdwood, where we enjoyed a cracking full English.

After Flaxley and Little Dean, we went on through the Forest of Dean to Park End, where we stayed overnight. The Fountain Inn looked after our bikes and us very well. From Park End we rode on the next day to St Briavels before enjoying Chepstow Castle and a lovely pizza for dinner. The Beaufort Inn kept our bikes nice and safe in the ballroom.

Day three took us over the old Severn Bridge, which has a bike path along both sides. It was a special experience to be suspended 100 metres in the air above the estuary.

From the Bristol side of the Severn Estuary, we rode back through lovely, wide and empty lanes through Berkeley, where we stopped at a tearoom. Our final overnight stay was at the Tudor Inn in Slimbridge. The old skittle alley had no one using it and so we had a really fun evening enjoying pub skittles.

Our last day was on familiar territory, along the canal to Frampton and then back along the lanes through Saul and, finally, home to Quedgeley outside Gloucester.

It was a very special time. We always had something to do and experience together. The trip gave us memories to last a lifetime – and with a very low carbon footprint.