EBike Tour 15
Explore 3 counties in 4 nights – Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire – on this 4 night EBike cycling holiday. With hidden gardens, castles, stately homes, steam trains, crafts centres and canalside marinas, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this holiday. The pretty little city of Lichfield, is a delight to explore. Most of the city is pedestrianised and the city is full of waterside walks and green spaces to wander through. Your EBike cycling holiday includes the opportunity to visit the National Brewery Museum and one night staying at a fabulous small hotel, with its own micro-brewery. You will also find plenty of gorgeous beer gardens and open air cafes along the way. In summer months, there is even a chance to cool off in the wonderful open Lido in Ashby de la Zouch.
NIGHTS
4
AV. DAILY MILEAGE
20 - 30
AVAILABILITY
Start any day, all year
PRICE
From £639 per person
Price includes
Electric bike hire, accommodation on a b&b basis, luggage transfer each day, car parking, detailed self-guide route to follow at your own pace, helmets. We're on hand to offer local support when required
Price excludes
Travel to your holiday starting point. Entry to attractions. Single supplement. Dinners. Extra nights. Travel insurance
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
Exploring the pretty little city of Lichfield. Magnificent National Memorial Arboretum. Wonderful gardens at Calke Abbey and Melbourne Hall. A summer swim in an open air Lido. Admiring the craftsmen at Staunton Harold.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Your EBike cycling holiday starts in the lovely little town of Market Bosworth. Renowned for it's floral displays, it's the perfect place for an afternoon wander or practice EBike ride. It's a short distance to the site of the Bosworth Battlefield, where you can learn more about the death of King Richard iii and the discovery of his skeleton in Leicester. We will bring your EBikes to you, once you have settled in and ensure that they fit. We will provide everything you need for a fun cycling holiday.
DAY 2: Your EBike tour starts with a cycle through quiet lanes and peaceful villages. Take our time to explore the villages as you journey through the countryside. As you cycle, you will crisscross in and out of Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Just a few minutes from your start, is the conservation village of Shenton. Here you will find a delightful brocante and art gallery, which opens once or twice every month. A short diversion will bring you to a lovely farm shop, where you can stock up on picnic fare. At Thorpe Hall, follow the scent of chocolate to the delightful courtyard cafe. This is the perfect place for a refreshing coffee and homemade pastry. If the neighbouring choclatier is around then ask to see the atmospheric saddle room, which is now his training school. Straw dolphins mark the entrance to your next stop, the hidden walled garden at Elford. The garden is a delight in every season and is the perfect place for a late, lazy picnic, sitting by the side of the river. From here it is a short cycle ride to the little city of Lichfield, where you will spend the night. The city is the perfect place to explore, with the magnificent 3 spired cathedral, Erasmus Darwin house and garden and Samuel Johnson museum. Food lovers will be spoiled for choice for dinner, as Lichfield is renowned as a foodie centre.
DAY 3: Today your EBike holiday takes you north of Lichfield. A short cycle ride brings you to the bustling canal junction at Fradley. It's a great spot to sit outdoors and watch the barges travel up and down the canal. From here your EBike tour brings you to the magnificent National Memorial Arboretum. Set in over 150 acres, you will find nearly 400 memorials within the peaceful site. Learn the stories behind the memorials as you explore and enjoy the site. With 25,000 trees, it's especially beautiful in Spring and Autumn. Once you have finished exploring, your EBike ride follows the River Trent, past Catton Hall and to the bustling canalside marina at Barton under Needwood. Lined with lovely independent shops, cafes and bars, this is the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sun and people watching. From here, your EBike tour follows the canal towpath through a nature reserve and to the town of Burton. T Beer lovers will love a visit to the National Brewery Museum. Alternatively, you may wish to hang on a few more minutes, until you reach Repton and your evening stop – a delightful small hotel with its own micro-brewery. The sunny courtyard is perfect for an early evening drink before enjoying a delicious dinner. Repton is home to the famous Repton School and was the centre of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. We recommend a visit to the church in the centre of the village, where you will find an Anglo-Saxon crypt.
DAY 4: Most of today will be spent around the glorious National Trust Calke Abbey estate. Known as the “unstately” stately home, the house is packed with treasures from across the years, all as found when the National Trust took over the Estate. The gardens are a delight in every season and the perfect place to purchase some freshly picked fruit for a picnic. Alternatively, the sunny courtyard cafe is a delight and always popular with walkers and cyclists. Following an old tramway, your EBike ride brings you to a craft brewery in old farm buildings. The farmyard has been transformed into a beer garden and is the perfect place to quench your thirst. It's a short cycle ride from here to the little town of Melbourne, where you will spend the night. The town is the namesake of Melbourne Australia and was the seat of the Prime Minister, William Lamb. Surrounded by beautiful walks, the town is full of little courtyards and alleyways, perfect for a gentle wander. The gardens of Melbourne Hall are always a delight and the ancient yew hedge walk is spectacular. The Pool behind the Hall is a popular place to sit and enjoy watching the birds.
DAY 5: The final day of your EBike cycling holiday begins with a visit to Staunton Harold. This stunning estate is set in magnificent Derbyshire countryside and is home to a lovely crafts courtyard. Admire their works before heading through walnut trees towards the town of Ashby de la Zouch. Garden lovers will want to detour to the little arboretum, hidden just outside town. Sun worshippers and swimmers will love a stop at the open Lido, in the centre of town. After a visit to the ruined castle, which was the inspiration for Ivanhoe, follow quiet lanes past an old village lockup and back towards your start point. Lovers of steam will want to stop at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage railway in Shackerstone, where you will find a wide collection of restored and in progress trains. Tea on the platform is the perfect place to enjoy the activity. It's a short journey from here, crisscrossing the canal, back to the starting point of your EBike cycling holiday.
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11