Notes from Wales

Wendy, our director and founder, recently headed to Wales to research an exciting new cycling holiday in this gorgeous corner of the British Isles. Heading off in her car with her trusty folding bicycle in the boot, she returned a week later brimming with enthusiasm and tales of her adventures. Below, she rounds up her personal highlights...

• The magic of the Brecon Beacons National Park (see pic above); I can still recall the fantastic view down from the great height of the forest cycling path on the Talybont reservoir under a bright blue sky, with the water shimmering blue and the pastureland beaming bright green

• Dinner at Twr y felin hotel - incredible food, the best I had all week!

• The cute setting of St David’s town with its cathedral and famous Bishop's Palace. The cycle path which leads here drops down into the valley and crosses a stream at the bottom over a little stone bridge between the cathedral and palace. There are no cars, only bikes and pedestrians. Dreamy!

• St Justinian's, a dramatic but sheltered tiny coastal bay where you'll find a life boat house on stilts. Boats ferry people from here over to the RSPB's Ramsey Island, which is visible from the shoreline

• The lift bridges on the idyllic Monmouth and Brecon Canal... some are hand operated, some electric

• The working wool mill at Solva. It's a small, family-owned joint replete with traditional looms. They make rugs here which you can buy in their fantastic shop and tea room next door. Don't forget to check out the old working water wheel too!

• The Georgian town of Tenby with its harbour, several fab sandy beaches and a buzz of life

• The old tramway at Saundersfoot, which is now a superb walking and cycling route, runs along the bottom of the cliffs, in and out of little tunnels, past several gorgeous sandy beaches and rock pools

• The very friendly and helpful newly-wed pub owners at the White Hart, Talybont. A top pub!