Cycle touring is enjoying something of a renaissance.

The UK saw the first ever Cycle Touring Festival two months ago, and legions of tarmac speed freaks are swapping their carbon wheels and aero-frames for bump-taming steel bikes and some sensible panniers.

But we must have been far ahead of our time, as our own cycle tour adventures began over 10 years ago with an epic two-year expedition that took us a staggering 30,000km from London to Cape Town!

Along the way we had run-ins with bandits and elephants, and were overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality shown by locals.

And the ride proved to be a life-changing journey of discovery as the idea for Drover Holidays was slow-cooked on the dusty trails, inspired by our love of cycling and the belief that the world is best experienced at a slow pace – preferably on two wheels or two feet!

Since then, we’ve clocked up several thousand more cycle touring miles on route recces and trips to France.

And every one of them has taught us that all roads do truly lead to home – and the network of superb routes for amazing cycling holidays in Wales.

Here’s our top-pick of Welsh cycle tours.

All three are available from us as supported, self-guided cycle touring packages, which include luggage transfers, accommodation and bike hire!

1. Lôn Las Cymru

Challenge the Dragon riding Wales top-to-tip on a multi-day adventure!

The Lôn Las Cymru runs for over 250 miles down the length of Wales from Holyhead to Chepstow or Cardiff, soaking up historic towns and stunning landscapes along the way. For good reason, this one has a reputation for being a toughie – riding the Lôn Las (National Cycle Network Route 42) is known as ‘Challenging the Dragon’. You’ll encounter thrilling climbs, remote roads and breath-taking descents. Our tour package splits the route over eight manageable days – and our luggage transfer support means you won’t have to suffer too much on those climbs!

2. The Celtic Trail

While the Lôn Las crosses Wales end-to-end, the 220-mile Celtic Trail traverses the nation West to East at its widest point, starting on the Atlantic seaboard at Fishguard and ending on the border at Chepstow. The ride (National Cycle Network route 4) hugs Pembrokeshire’s spectacular coastline before taking in the wide sweep of Swansea Bay and then the ‘heart and soul of Wales’ – the Valleys – where a warm welcome is guaranteed! Finish at Chepstow Castle and the mouth of the Severn. Take your time and split the ride over 10 days.

3. Best of Mid Wales

This is a route of our own making, covering home turf and starting right from the door of our HQ in Hay. Ride in a 160-mile loop over 7 days from the Welsh-English border deep into unspoilt Mid-Wales and then on to the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park. As well as the wonderful landscapes, you’ll encounter interesting towns, too, as you overnight in Llandrindod Wells, Builth, Brecon and Crickhowell.

Remember that all our cycling holiday packages include:

• Quality B&B accommodation
• Luggage transfers
• Custom maps and detailed route descriptions
• Comfortable bike and accessory hire
• Free pick up and drop off to/from the nearest train or bus station at the start / end of your ride.

We can tailor any of our Welsh cycling holidays to slot in with your timescale – there are no fixed departure dates, just tell us where and when you want to ride, and we’ll do the rest!

If you’d rather go it alone but need bikes, we can help there, too! Our sister company Drover Cycles has a huge hire fleet, with everything from tourers to mountain bikes and even e-bikes!

Springtime has a habit of bringing out the explorer in even the most dedicated sofa slouch,

Suddenly the idea of pitting legs and lungs against towering piles of rock and heather doesn’t seem such a bad idea. Clear blue skies and balmy temperatures conspire to make the challenge a tempting possibility.

And with the booming popularity of outdoor pursuits, it’s hardly any surprise that the kind of lonely cloud wanderings we all long for are in such short supply on the well-beaten tracks of Britain’s mountain honey pots. Sometimes the biggest test of mettle comes in the last ten metres as you jostle for a spot at the top and try to find a few quiet minutes to reflect on the journey that brought you there.

That is frequently the scene on well-known peaks like Snowdon when good weather can see a line of walkers snaking down from the summit cairn, each one eager for their brief moment on top of the world – and the rare opportunity to bag a snap of the normally cloud-obscured view.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. Stop following the crowds and try following your nose instead. Pick a spot on a map and go check it out. Discover paths less trodden and you’ll find summits seldom visited.

We specialise in the long-distance national paths criss-crossing Wales and organise tailor-made packages lasting as little as two nights or as long as two weeks. You can browse them here.

But for a quick walking fix, here’s our top pick of Welsh summits you won’t have to queue for.

They may not take you to the same dizzy heights as Snowdon, but their solitude has a transformative magic all of its own!

1. Pen Pumlumon Fawr

At 752 metres, Pen Pumlumon Pumlumon Fawr (or Plynlimon in English) is the highest point in the Cambrian mountains of mid-Wales. The summit is part of the Pumlumon massif, where you’re more likely to have red kites and buzzards than other walkers for company. Don’t expect the way-marked tracks of the more popular peaks – Pumlumon has a true wilderness feel. It may be time to refresh those rusty map and compass skills!

2. Twmpa

A stone’s-throw from Offa’s Dyke Path and the border with England, Twmpa in south Wales is the poor cousin of neighbouring (but smaller) Hay Bluff, and forms part of the imposing, north-west scarp of the Black Mountains looming above the river Wye. It’s only a short walk to the top and spectacular views across to the Brecon Beacons National Park – but treat the summit cairn as just the starting point for miles of wild walking along the escarpment, or south to Llanthony and its ancient priory, and you can’t go wrong.

3. Fan Brycheiniog

The highest point (802m) of the Carmarthen Fans – or Bannau Sir Gaer – in the far west of the Brecon Beacons towers over remote mountain moor and bog steeped in folklore and legend. Its scarred, rocky cliffs are largely overlooked in favour of the more popular Pen y Fan to the East, but they’re even more dramatic and can provide some testing technical lines under winter conditions. Teetering on the edge of the escarpment, this section of the Beacons Way forms one of the best ridge walks in South Wales.

4. Rhinog Fawr

A notoriously well-armoured peak in Snowdonia, Rhinog Fawr’s 702m summit is usually reached by the inaccurately-named Roman Steps, which are actually part of a medieval packhorse route. The surrounding steep flanks of broken granite slabs give the mountain its hard nut reputation and a glance at OS map confirms a mass of seemingly impenetrable crags – enough to put off the most battle-hardened scrambler. The great thing is, despite the remote feel you’re never far from civilization and some great B&Bs around the Mawddach estuary. Stick with the climb you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in north Wales.

5. Tor y Foel

Another option for escaping the hordes on Pen y Fan. Tor y Foel – rising above the eastern shore of Talybont reservoir – is a middling 551m high, and sandwiched between the Black Mountains and central Brecon Beacons, affording fantastic views over to both. It makes an interesting little departure from the Usk Valley long distance trail. Great pubs abound in nearby Talybont and Bwlch.

2015 marks six hundred years since the Battle of Agincourt, the infamous historical event which formed the basis of Shakespeare’s epic Henry V.

The fighting took place in a muddy field hundreds of miles away in France and Welsh archers played a pivotal role, with 500 bowmen joining King Henry’s two-month campaign on the continent. Continue reading →

Below the Brecon Beacons’ rocky skyline, quiet country lanes and peaceful reservoirs offer gentle, family-friendly cycling in a spectacular setting.

Here’s three family cycling picks for day rides in Brecon Beacons National Park. For longer two-wheeled adventures, consider venturing out on our Taff Trail cycling break, or speak to us about a bespoke tour tailor-made for your family cycling needs. Continue reading →

You don’t need the thighs of Wiggo to enjoy the same stunning Welsh riding as ace athletes competing at the top of their game.

On a Drover Holidays self-guided cycling break you can ride Stage 3 of the 2014 Tour of Britain at an altogether gentler pace – over a day or even two – and instead of battling to hold your line in the peloton, the most you’ll have to worry about is where to make your next cake stop!

The route starts in Newtown, Powys, heads south to the Black Mountains and onwards to Monmouth before ending with the Category 2 climb up the Tumble. The two-day itinerary will split the route to include an overnight stop in the world-famous book town of Hay-on-Wye. Continue reading →