News

The Carter Company's bike tours are created on two principles: 1) gentle cycling along thoughtfully designed routes is the best way to get to know a place and 2) a day of gentle cycling should always be followed by a night in a luxurious but characterful and unique hotel.

We believe strongly that the beauty is in the details and we want our customers to enjoy the finer things in life - because that's what holidays are for! With that in mind, it will come as little surprise that we spend a lot of time looking for unusual, boutique accommodation to use on our tours. The criteria is typically: quality, service, location and character. We know that customers visiting from overseas want to experience a slice of authentic England, not stay in a hotel that looks and feels the same on the inside as every other hotel. So we get to work on the ground, speaking to locals about their favourite places to stay, visiting endless establishments, and finally selecting our favourites.

One of our Spanish tours uses some very special accommodation indeed - traditional Paradors. "What are Paradors?" you ask. Well, they are ancient buildings - monasteries, castles, palaces and manor houses - that have been turned into hotels. Spain has a long, rich history and some remarkable buildings to show for it. Much of this architectural heritage dates from the time of the conquest of several countries in South America, which bought much wealth back to Spain. However, by 1928, many were falling into disrepair, so an organisation was formed to help restore, refurbish and reutilise these spectacular buildings as hotels.

Our Land of the Spanish Conquistadors cycling holiday for softies features a number of Paradors, including Parador de Trujillo, which is in the former convent of Santa Clara. As you can imagine, it's stunningly peaceful and calm and boasts two wonderful cloisters, one of which features Renaissance arches and columns. The Parador de Jarandilla, where you stay on the fourth night, is surrounded by a lush landscape of olive and orange trees and known for its absolutely delicious authentic local cuisine. Originally a castle (with awe-inspiring fortified towers), it once played host to Emperor Charles V for several months. Finally, we must mention one other: Oropresa, which dates back to 1402 and offers exceptional panoramic views of the Gredos mountain range.

Spain can be a little too hot to cycle in during the peak summer months, so we usually recommend the 'shoulder months' of March, April and May to take our Spanish bike tours. So if the sound of these unique Paradors has whet your appetite, you really have the perfect excuse to book an early summer holiday for next year!

Whenever The Carter Company team heads to travel trade conventions, either home or abroad, to meet with other like-minded people and organisations to discuss all things cycling and walking related, we are always struck by how many foreigners mention the stunning English countryside as a key reason to book a holiday here. Of course, we couldn't agree with them more! What is so unique about a bike tour or walking holiday in Britain is that you can enjoy cityscapes and countryside all in the same trip. Even just a stone's throw away from London there are some fantastic walking routes that feel very far from the madding crowds and allow you to get up close with England's beautiful flora and fauna.

Which walks in England have the best views?

One the questions we are most commonly asked is: "Where are the best walks with stunning views in England?" Below we have listed our top 3 choices.... let us know if we've missed any of your favourites!

1. Hadrian's Wall & Housesteads Roman Fort

The dramatic view of Hadrian's Wall riding on the west of the Whin Sill (an outcrop of hard rock) is simply astounding. There are also some stunning panoramic views to enjoy from the walls of the ancient fortress of Housesteads, which is situated on an escarpment of Hadrian's Wall. It is widely recognised as the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain, and is among the best-known from the entire Roman Empire. The site has been the focus of antiquarian and academic enquiry since the 18th century. Hadrian's Wall country is a great choice for a walking holiday as it has something for everyone - world class archaeology, spectacular landscapes, rare wildlife, complete solitude, vibrant cities, wonderful pubs and a population of friendly and welcoming people.

2. The Ceredigion Coastal Path

Our next suggestion is to head to Wales and take in the views over the Atlantic from the Ceredigion Coastal Path. Seals and dolphins are residents in abundance here so if you're lucky you might spot one as you walk this route. Discover the area’s rich history, from iron-age hill forts to medieval fish traps to 19th century harbours, and expect stunning scenery, picturesque villages and a wealth of wildlife. The variety of landscape is quite incredible, with the dune system at Ynys-las, high cliffs, storm beaches, sandy bays and sea caves. Four sections are designated as Heritage Coast whilst two areas within Cardigan Bay are Marine Special Areas of Conservation because of their importance for wildlife

3. The North Coast of Devon & Exmoor

Book a walking holiday here and delight in pretty views of the seaside towns of Lynemouth and Lynton. Our route then turns inland and offers the opportunity for some amazing views of the moors. During rutting season, you may see (and hear, they make quite an extraordinary noise!), magnificent stags. Our host in Devon spotted one in the Dunkery Beacon area, which is the highest point on Exmoor and in Somerset, England. The beacon is blanketed in heather, which gives it a deep purple colour during the summer. In terms of wildlife, there are Exmoor ponies, red deer, wood warblers, lesser spotted woodpeckers, redstarts, snipe, and kestrels. Horner Woods nearby are also the home to 14 of the 16 UK bat species, which include barbastelle and Bechstein's bats. A treat indeed!

We offer tailor-made walking holidays in all the areas mentioned above - please contact us for more details.

Even though this season isn't quite over yet - in fact, we recommend Autumn as the perfect time to visit Corfu and Mallorca now the heat of the summer has subsided a little - we have already begun to plan for next year. Several new tours will be available, bringing some new areas to our offering (including stunning Suffolk), which we are really excited about.

The best way to see Holland? We think so!

Interestingly, one of our biggest sellers last year was our guided 'Dutch Craft, Flemish Art' bike and barge tour. It soared in after some high-profile press coverage, selling out for the rest of the seasons and leaving many customers disappointed. However, fear not, as we have already posted the dates for 2015, so those of you who are eager beavers can reserve your places well in advance. The tour certainly gets brilliant feedback, with people loving the combination of staying aboard a traditional Dutch barge and hopping off during the day for a variety of guided excursions on two wheels.

Since the tour is so popular, we've decided to add another similar tour to our roster, this time with a special flower theme, for 2015. 'Spring tulips in Holland' is a special 5 day excursion, available from March to May, which offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the "Garden of Amsterdam", witness the famous flower auction just outside the capital and visit the world's largest flower farm - as well as taking in Holland's rich culture and history. Accommodation will be aboard an authentic and traditional Dutch barge, similar to the one offered on our 'Dutch Craft, Flemish Art' tour. The itinerary for this trip is shaping up to be absolutely fantastic... we can't recommend it enough! For more details, check out the holiday page here.

What better way to complement a day spent cycling or walking around London than to visit some of the capital's finest loose leaf tea shops? There's no drink more refreshing than a cup of tea. Here at The Carter Company, we are big fans of a proper pot of loose leaf tea, brewed to perfection, so we're proud to share with you some of our insider tips on the best shops to go and sample a cup and take away a bag or with you when you're done.

1. Postcard teas

This is very special shop in Mayfair run by a team hailing from England, Japan and China, who are real tea experts. Husband and wife Tim and Asako set up the shop together. Amazingly, Asako's father supplied tea to the Emperor of Japan and her grandfather was a tea growing pioneer who established fields in the Mount Fuji area. So she is real tea royalty!

The two reasons why this shop is so different and original are their focus on provenance (long before this was fashionable in the way it is now) and small tea. They were the first tea company to put the maker's name and location on all their teas - and they have over 60 teas - and they work with small producers who farm less than 15 acres. This is because they consider it 'better for people, places and the planet'.

Also, the tea is absolutely beautifully packaged and presented. A must visit for anyone who considers themselves as into tea as the English are!

2. Good & Proper Tea

Can be found at various locations. This is wonderful start-up which has a great story because it was launched through a crowdfunding platform. It was one of the first ideas on the platform to achieve its target fundraising amount, and is all the more wonderful for being created by someone in their 20s - it's not just boring old farts who are into tea! Currently there isn't a permanent shop, but follow Good & Proper on Twitter and you can sample their delicious, exclusive blends from their roaming vans (often found at farmer's markets, outside major train stations, festival and more). You can also buy a bag of their blends to take away with you. Our top tip: we love their 2nd flush Darjeeling. Or, for something a little different, try their special recipe iced Keemun tea on a hot summer's day. Absolutely delicious!

3. Drury Lane Tea & Coffee Company

This is an institution that's been around for over 75 years, and it is still a family-owned business. They stock over 100 loose leaf tea varieties, including black, green herbal and flavoured. They are proud to be able to source any tea on request from anywhere in the world, and have 3 professional tea-tasters to offer advice on all aspects of tea brewing and drinking! Our insider tip: ask for their Kenyan Broken Orange Pekoe, it's delicious.

4. The City Beverage Company Ltd.

This is a Carter Company favourite because we think they sell the best Keemun of anyone in the UK. They also sell beer, wines, spirits and coffee. Their mission 'to source an eclectic collection has introduced us to passionate local producers in all the major growing areas of the world, as well as some very interesting and lesser known regions'. We can't recommend them enough!

5. The Tea Makers of London Ltd.

Fine tea specialists who are big on the precision and artistry of proper tea brewing. They stock not only black and green tea but also white, yellow (a rare type of fermented tea only produced in China), oolong (an ancient Chinese variety dating back over 400 years), dark tea or border-sale tea as it is known in China, and pu-erg which is very unique but essentially a Chinese dark tea. Our insider tip: we're big fans of their Green Roasted Rice and Popcorn blend. Absolutely tasty as anything and a lovely nutty aftertaste.

Some members of The Carter Company team have just returned from some pretty spectacular travels around the other side of the globe. As always of course, we were eagle-eyed and on the lookout for bicycles and interesting bit of local cycling culture in the two countries we visited, Bali and Japan, to share with you back here on our blog.

Unexpectedly cycle-friendly places

First up, Bali. Or more precisely, Lombok. Indonesia is fairly notorious for its terrible traffic problems, and the mode of transport associated with this country that first springs to mind is the moped. Everyone seems to be riding them, even kids who look like they've barely made it to senior school! Of course, people whizzing about the streets in all directions in apparent mayhem is all part of the vibrant charm of a place like Bali. But it does mean it's not usually considered "cycle-friendly". However, hop on a boat to the Gili Islands (officially part of Lombok but usually visited as part of a Bali itinerary), and the scene is quite different. Here, on what we would call the most laid-back place we have ever been - all the furniture is designed with a very generous reclining angle! - there are no cars or mopeds. This means transport around the islands is limited to horse and cart (perfect for when you arrive and need help transporting your luggage to your hotel) and of course the humble bicycle. The rather idyllic picture from above we think illustrates pretty well how incredible it was to cycle around this car-free, pollution-free and noise-free island. And in case you're thinking there is no way the sky really was that pink, think again. We'd certainly never seen sunsets like it! But back to the cycling, the point is that it was truly wonderful to enjoy and experience such a beautiful place on two wheels without any cars about. So hats off to the village chiefs of the Gili Islands for making the decision to rule out cars!

Bicycle hire schemes in Japan

It was also exciting to see cycle hire schemes made available to tourists in some of the Japanese cities we visited. Our (unexpected) favourite by far was Kanazawa, a small-ish city just north of Kyoto that boasts one of the top 3 gardens in Japan, numerous old Shinto and Buddhist temples, a speciality local tea called Bo Cha (roasted twig tea which we can't recommend enough!), a stunning modern art museum, a strong craft tradition and the best sushi restaurant in Japan (categorically according to us, and the internet! It's called Otomezuhsi. You must go if you ever visit Japan). What made our trip to Kanazawa all the more enjoyable was hiring bikes and cycling from one sight to the next. Once again our conviction was confirmed that cycling REALLY IS the best way to see a new place and discover some hidden gems not in the guide book. All cities welcoming visitors should set up cycle hire schemes like the Vélib in Paris and the Boris Bike in London. Unless you're already on a cycling holiday of course! If this has whet your appetite, check out our inspire me page for bike tours and walking holidays galore.