Gentle cycling holidays

The idea of creating gentle cycling trips – what we like to call “cycling holidays for softies” (as opposed to challenging trips for road-racing Lycra enthusiasts) - was the inspiration for the founding of The Carter Company 25 years ago. Whilst we do now also offer some not-so-gentle bike trips, we have stayed true to our roots. If you’re looking for easy cycling holidays, you've come to the right place.

We're known for our especially gentle cycling holidays

The Carter Company offers the largest range of gentle cycling holidays in Britain and most of our tours in Europe also fall into the ’easy cycling holidays’ category. All our routes are unique to us; thoughtfully put together by our team here in the UK and with our partners in Europe so you can focus on what there is to discover around you, rather than the physical challenge of cycling. We are the gentle cycling company of choice for anyone looking for a relaxing activity holiday.

Electric bikes

If you’d like to take it really easy, electric bikes are available for all our cycling holidays in the UK and many elsewhere, usually at an additional cost – see individual holiday pages for more details to check for availability. E bikes have enabled us to offer holidays in particularly hilly regions whilst staying true to our gentle cycling ethos. For these trips, E bikes are included in the price.

Our creative routes cut out big hills and traffic-heavy roads

The distances covered during our easy cycling tours are usually 20 miles (32 km) per day, with as few hills as possible, and as much traffic-free cycling as is feasible. This allows our customers the luxury of time to slow down and soak up their surroundings, the atmosphere and the local culture. It also leaves plenty of time for pit stops, drinking coffee, checking out local museums and doing a bit of shopping!

At the end of the day, you can expect to unwind in real comfort in one of The Carter Company’s hand-picked hotels. Most of our cycling tours have a choice between luxury and classic accommodation; whichever you choose, you can trust us to only pick hotels that meet The Carter Company’s high standards for excellent quality, character and location.

To find your perfect fit among The Carter Company’s UK or European cycling tours for softies, please see our tripfinder.

We also create tailor-made gentle cycling holidays

The Carter Company also offers tailor-made cycling holidays for softies. Our experienced bike route planners can create unique cycling itineraries based on your personal preferences. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we'd be happy to help!