Red House Ramblings

Cycling on Cold days

2012-02-10T18:34:00.001Z

It's not something I love but it's easier if there's a reward somewhere other than just excercise and fresh (very cold) air, as here at present -. barely above freezing all day.
We're lucky here as we have Rumsey's Chocolaterie an ace establishment with cafes in Wendover and Thame where their hot chocolate goes down really well on icy days. Ride into Thame along the 8 mile Phoenix Trail from Risborough or if narrow bridge holes don't spook you, follow the Wendover Canal to find their other shop. Of course you'll be tempted to leave with a bag of their exquisite handmade delights and maybe sign up for one of their chocolate workshops.
You can also visit them on our new tour - The Chiltern Challenge.

Websites for Cyclists

2012-02-03T17:49:00.000Z

There are a growing number of really useful sites for cyclists but THE one for us is Bikehike - its just totally brilliant. Essentially its brilliant because it uses both google and OS maps and so for those of us using bridleways, forest tracks and bike paths as well as roads we have the best of all worlds. Google has its limits when things go off road.
What's even more brilliant is that I found it cruising around another website that I love - slowcoast
These are two very special sites!

War Horse Walks and Rides

2012-01-19T18:19:00.000Z

War Horse bowled me over a while back when I saw the first stage production at The National Theatre. The puppet horses were the stars then. Now with the film, glorious England is the star - notably Dartmoor and Castle Combe. I know them well as I've pedalled through both locations with our tours in Devon and the Cotswolds. We're planning a guided tour of all the War Horse fim locations for those who want to be driven through the stunning landscapes, villages and historic houses used in the film. But if you have just a half day and are in the Dartmoor vicinity then go to www.moorlandguides.co.uk for a guided walk by a Dartmoor Ranger or to Shilstone Rocks Stud for a ride on 4 legs.

Devon Coast to Coast Links to The Americas Cup

2011-08-02T19:29:00.002+01:00

Now is the perfect time to consider riding the Devon Coast to Coast tour. Finishing as it does in Plymouth on a friday, you will be perfectly placed from your hotel on the Hoe to view the opening day of races for the Americas Cup which takes place this year off Plymouth Hoe on Saturday September 10. A week on, as the competition reaches its climax you have a further opportunity to see the top six teams battling it out for the Plymouth Americas Cup prize on Saturday September 17, whilst The World Series Championship is held on the Sunday. With 15 teams competing from 12 countries it promises to be an exciting finale to an already great biking adventure.
Photo attributed to Martin Bodman

Historic Kent

2011-06-08T12:54:00.006+01:00

Organisers of Kent’s most popular community festival have announced that the 2011 Whitstable Oyster Festival will take place between July 23rd and 29th. In recent years organisers have more than doubled the amount of events within the festival, broadening its appeal and enticing more people to the picturesque Kentish town. The entire festival is still structured around the traditional local customs of the oyster fishing industry but the event now includes family and arts entertainment, and food and drink alongside local heritage and history. As a result, Whitstable’s Oyster Festival has become a major tourist attraction, bringing many thousands of visitors to Whitstable each year. Whistable is passed on many of our tours including Historic Kent which journeys from Dover to Canterbury. Old maritime ports, mining villages and the stunning Kent countryside are all en route.

50 Best Travel Websites

2011-04-28T16:44:00.000+01:00

Rhiannon Batten of the Independent has done all your legwork for you in her recent listing of the 50 best travel websites. A useful example is www.tablethotels.com which has an interesting selection of designer hotels. www.insideragency.com is an innovative idea which hooks you up with locals wherever you may be in the world and allows you an insider's view of the local area. If you need to organise a jourmey by train or boat www.seat61.com offers all you need to know. Happy browsing!.

Easy Riding on Kent Coast Bike Tour to the new Turner Contemporary Exhibition

2011-04-18T12:12:00.002+01:00

This weekend marked the opening of the Turner Contemporary on the sea front at Margate reports our Kent Host. The building sits on the site of a long-demolished house in which JMW Turner once lodged and painted, taking advantage of the stunning quality of light on this part of the North Kent coast of England. The exhibition space is filled with works from a diversity of artists and houses temporary exhibitions rather than a permanent collection. It adds to the wealth of dramatic landscapes and maritime history that already feature on our Kent Coast bike tour. This is easy riding with high rewards at its best.

Photo: Copyright David Chipperfield Architects

Devon Coast to Coast Tour takes in the stunning garden at Rosemoor

2011-04-12T10:02:00.002+01:00

There are many unexpected gems hidden within our tours. One of these is the Royal Horticultural Society's stunning garden at Rosemoor which is a short taxi ride from the Devon Coast to Coast route. Leave your bikes on day 3 at the cycle shop at Torrington station - (to avoid a steep and hilly ride) to discover the 65 acres of Rosemoor set against a backdrop of steep wooded valley sides. This is rural North Devon charm at its best with woodland walks, water features and immaculate planting. Our Devon Host visited last week and cannot recommend the garden highly enough. Don't miss out!

Sun and Blue Skies for A Cycling Day in London

2011-03-25T16:14:00.000Z

This week spring has struck and we've been enjoying wonderful sun and blue skies in London . Too tempting to stay in the office, I got out the bike and pedalled the few miles from central London to the Thames Barruer - a great traffic- free afternoon's ride or cycling day tour in London that lifted the spirits. The simple pleasures in life are the best!

London Hotel Of The Year

2011-01-12T16:17:00.001Z

Congratulations to The Royal Horseguards Hotel which has won the AA London Hotel of The Year Award for 2010-2011.
We feature this wonderful 5 star riverside hotel in all our Luxury holidays that visit London. Designed 120 years ago by the architect Alfred Waterhouse who also designed The Natural History Museum, the building began as the headquarters of The National Liberal Club providing its members with a haven of quiet from bustling Westminster just around the corner.
Now it offers charming elegance and superb views of the Thames and the London Eye from its restaurant and bedrooms. I love the cosy verdant garden where you can enjoy a laid back breakfast. It also has one of the best views ever of the New Year's Eve London Fireworks extravaganza.

Cambridge

2010-12-03T17:44:00.002Z

It may be cold but those on the River Cam may have found the answer for the enthusiastic Cambridge punter

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford on Avon Opens

2010-11-25T11:04:00.002Z

Yesterday, the new Shakespeare Theatre finally opened its doors after a £112 million massive refurbishment. The new thrust stage will bring the audience closer to the action although some critics have their reservations about sight lines.

Perhaps the most dramatic change is the 36 metre tower with its viewing platform giving you a vista over 4 counties. And while you're up there you can enjoy the rooftop restaurant which wraps around this new Stratford town landmark. Food is served all day and both the restuarant and tower are open to all.

Public booking for the new season's performances starts January 28 with King Lear opening on February 23. Book our Cotswold Highlights walking tour or our Cotswolds and Stratford gentle cycling holiday and you can enjoy the new theatre experience for yourself.

Choice Inns

2010-11-08T16:48:00.001Z

We're so pleased that a number of the inns we highlight on our tours are in the list of the latest prize winning inns of England.

One to mention especially at this time of year as autumn seems to be fast changing into winter, is The Turf Tavern in Oxford. Awarded Best Town pub of the year, the inn features .on all our tours in and from Oxford. Tucked away behind high walls in the heart of this historic city, you can sit outside in the three attractive walled-in flagstoned or gravelled courtyards (one has its own bar) with coal braziers so you can roast chestnuts or toast marshmallows. Canopies, lights and heaters.add to the general cosiness and warmth of this charaterful pub. But beware late arrivals for lunch: you may well be disappointed.
Congratulations to The Turf Tavern and thanks for your warm welcome to our walkers and cyclists there.

Chiltern Hills Cycling and Walking

2010-09-24T19:27:00.001+01:00

We have taken advantage of the wonderful September weather and spent some time cycling in our local hills - The Chilterns. Far less known than the Cotswolds, the Chilterns offer just as much with glorious villages. hidden valleys and great vistas often dotted with beech woods. We explored the Ashridge Estate recently - owned now by The National Trust but conceived originally by the Duke of Bridgewater who was responsible for constructing many of our canals.His estate lies close to the Grand Union Canal at Tring so you can combine cycling on the towpath with the excellent bike tracks within the estate. These can be downloaded from their website. Tring is just 45 minutes by train from London and if you leave by turning right out of the station you will reach the pretty village of Aldbury before a couple of miles have past. Sink a drink from the local pub to encourage you up the hill and from there on, its flat or downhill. Whether on foot or two wheels you can enjoy Ivinghoe Beacon., a great value cafe on the estate and woodland descents into Berkhamsted for a train ride home.

Britain by Bike on BBC4

2010-07-21T12:42:00.008+01:00

Last night BBC4 started a new series with Clare Balding setting out on a two-wheel odyssey to re-discover Britain from the saddle of her bike.
In a six-part series, Clare will follow the wheeltracks of compulsive cyclist and author Harold Briercliffe whose evocative guide books of the late 1940s lovingly describe by-passed Britain - a world of unspoiled villages, cycle touring clubs and sunny B roads.
Carrying a set of Harold's Cycling Touring Guides for company, Clare embarks on six iconic cycle rides to try and find the world he described.

Her first journey was to the rugged and beautiful Atlantic coast of north Devon - from Lynmouth, scene of Britain's worst flood disaster in the early 1950s, to Ilfracombe via Little Switzerland, and a hidden silver mine whose riches probably helped England win the Battle of Agincourt. En route she met two men setting out on a tour from Ilfracombe to Plymouth which we feature as our Devon Coast to Coast tour. It is traditional to dip your front wheel in the sea at both ends of the journey for good luck.

It looks like this is going to be excellent viewing for those who love cycling so we shall be hooked!

Summertime

2010-06-02T10:18:00.000+01:00

After a cloudy and sometimes wet Bank Holiday weekend, summer seems to have arrived with temperatures in their twenties today which are predicted to continue into the weekend. . Two of our hosts reported their first soundings of the cuckoo within the last 10 days and The Chelsea Flower Show bloomed last week. The grass courts at Wimbledon opened a fortnight ago - we recommend a visit to the award winning Museum there, where you can also take a a tour of the grounds and enjoy a cream tea with strawberries.. Thames river boats are now in full flow which means our gastronomic tour of some of England's finest Michelin starred establishments is yours for the eating. The canal bank outside our office windows is brimming with cow parsley and the dragon flies are darting and swooping about. England at its unbeatable best!
Image taken on our White Horse Downs and Thames Meadows cycling and walking tour

Cotswold Walking Tour and Festival Opera

2010-05-16T19:44:00.002+01:00

The village of Longborough features in our new 5 night Cotswold walking tour. Standing above the broad valley of the Evenlode and not far from Stow on Wold, it's a peaceful village that holds a surprise. For set within the grounds of one of its houses, is an opera house seating 500 where for 6 weeks each summer festival spirit fills the airwaves. This year, the magic of Mozart, Wagner and Puccini will float down the valley.

The box office has some tickets still available. You could of course go 'the extra mile' by walking there on our Cotswold Highlights tour stayong overnight in the village.

Cycle Oxford Festival : May 7th - 9th

2010-04-29T14:46:00.003+01:00

A weekend of events including bicycle polo, alleycat rides (a kind of treaure hunt on bikes), bike bell orchestra and a cargo bike race is to be held from 7th to 9th May in Oxford. The city is renowned for being cycling friendly so we are sure the event will be a great success. Anyone can take part in the activities - just bring your bike! For further information go to www.myspace.com/oxfordbikefestival

Borough Market

2010-04-16T13:01:00.001+01:00

London brims with markets in all shapes and sizes. We love Borough Market located just off the Thames Path under the arches of London Bridge and behind Southwark Cathedral. Apparently there have been traders here for hundreds of years and a market since the mid 18th Century selling fruit, vegetables,bread and meat. Now, there's a huge variety of produce on offer and much is reared, grown or made by the stall holders which is why the place is so vibrant and full of passion. The community of 130 traders from all over England, Europe and further afield are a draw for chefs, restauranteurs and all who care deeply about food. So visit when its open on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. If you like less busy then make it Thursday. Their website also offers some interesting recipes.
Take in the market on our walking and cycling tours

Bath and Jane Austen

2010-04-14T15:13:00.005+01:00

Jane Austen is one of Bath's most famous residents. She and her family lived there from 1801 for 5 years when it was a thrivimg spa resort and popular with fashionable society. Two of Austen's novels - Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are largely set in Bath. The BBC rendition of Persuasion was partly filmed in Bath with the ballroom scenes being staged in one of its elegant town houses. If you want to stay in this immaculately restored house then take our Cotswolds and Bath Tour and you will have 2 fine nights there.
If you fancy dressing up in full Regency costume and parading the streets then you could visit the Jane Austen Festival which this year takes place from September 17 - 25
If you want to download a free audio walking tour of Austen's Bath - In the Footsteps of Jane Austen, then click here

Jane may have sighed wearily as she wrote to a friend "that Bath is still Bath" ; we're just thankful that its so well preserved.

Salisbury Plain, Bike Routes and Exclamation Marks

2010-03-30T20:28:00.007+01:00

I was taking a look at Salisbury Plain last week on a grey and overcast day when the would be stunning views across this 300 square miles of chalk downland were invisible. Nonetheless, this is an extraordinary area. Its the largest remaining tract of calcareous grassland in northwest Europe largely due to it being a military training ground since the mid 1800s - a fact one cannot escape with the everpresent Danger signs

Sill, I was intrigued as there is a Sustrans bike route that hugs the northern edge of the plain and then turns south across it to Larkhill. Once you've hauled yourself up the steep slope onto the plateau, there is a wonderful hard surfaced road. No tanks, shells or bombs were to be heard or seen; just the odd horse rider and the sound of the wind in the occasional tree. As we rode west (on 2 wheels not 4 legs) following the White Horse Trail it all seemed too good to be true. And alas it was! As we turned south still following Route 45 we were abruptly halted by a barrier and guard and our route firmly verbotten.

It turns out that the military have well and truly sewn up the area and the route is never cyclable on weekdays until after 5pm and two days a week you will have to wait until midnight. Even weekends are a dodgy do as training takes place one weekend in every month. I'm surprised that Sustrans define this as a route. Their online map shows it with an exclamation mark but I'd have thought a skull and crossbones were more appropriate.
Verbotten weekends this summer are May 15/16, June 12/13, July 10/11, August 31/Sept 1 and Sept 4/5 although I was told these can be cancelled
For a headache free ride avoiding the Plain ask about our extended.Cotswolds and Bath Tour.
Photo copyright Rog Frost

Mistley

2010-03-11T21:52:00.007Z

Spent some time this week exploring the Stour estuary, Harwich, Mistley and Woodbridge on the Essex/Suffolk border. I was hoping to cycle some of the 'European long distance route' which on my map is shown as projected to run to Harwich along the south side of the Stour estuary. I assumed it was the North Sea Cycle Route which runs through 7 countries for 6,000km bordering the North Sea.

Ha, ha it proved to be a non event. Not sure if it will be there one day or its direction has changed to the bike route that does exist and that follows the coast south from Harwich.

However, disappointment didn't last long when we came to Mistley, a little further inland along the estuary. Its full of surprises with its Robert Adam towers and swan basin (image) , the Mistley Quay workshops with some choice arts and crafts and a cafe never to be missed and to top it all Mistley Thorn restaurant with rooms where we had our best dinner for years.

Rousham Gardens

2010-02-26T18:27:00.007Z

I was at a talk this week by English garden designer Arne Maynard. He obviously loves the gardens at Rousham House in Oxfordshire, as I do, which were designed by William kent (1685-1748) and remain almost as kent left them. Ponds, cascades and rills remain in situ along with a fabulous seven arched viewpoint overlooking the river with a pretend ruin in the vista beyond. Its a garden that plays with light and shade and exudes peace. The walled garden has a wonderful dovecote, as above. I also like Rousham because its so uncommercial and whenever you are there, you seem to have the place to yourself. We hope Rousham will feature in a new cycling and boating tour we are putting together for this summer.

New Website

2010-02-16T12:17:00.008Z

Finally, after many months, the new Capital Sport website is live. We've added to our cycling holidays by offering walking, boating and gastronomic tours. One of the new features we like a lot are the google maps we have created for each individual tour. The very large images are also great - I've always homed in on the pictures and headlines of any script!

Happy browsing.

The Exe Estuary

2010-02-15T14:13:00.009Z

I was exploring the Exe estuary this weekend and staying in Topsham. This is a fascinating, small and immensely charactful Devon town and a great base from which to enjoy this scenic waterscape. There is some great traffic - free, pretty flat cycling up and down both sides of the estuary, with a good cycle hire company in Tosham itself. I opted for some green laning nearby in my son's 30 year old Land Rover. That was marginally warmer than a 2 wheel cycle experience but a lot more muddy - his heaven but a Capital Sport gentle cycling nightmare!

Image by Maurice Budden

Chimney Pillbox

2010-02-03T13:35:00.010Z

I never knew there were as many as 18,000 pillboxes in the UK - all built during the second world war as makesfhift fortesses from which to defend our island from invasion. Nor did I know that some actually look pretty; probably beacuse I didn't recognise them as such, being disguised as disused cottages smothered in brambles. Visit the village of Creech St Michael on the Somerset Canal to view this one.

What's interesting is that they are all mapped and recorded with an online search facility. Click here.

I checked out the one I most recently came across which is on one of our cycling tours. Its the usual ugly concrete affair but as estate agents would certainly say, it has a prime waterside position next to the Thames and adjacent to the only ford crossing this great river. It's located in a memorable parish that goes by the name of Chimney. This must have been thought to be a strategic area all those years ago as there are 4 more pillboxes there too It also appears to be part of a defense line known as the GHQ Stop Line which ran from south of Malmesbury to west of Reading.

Pillboxes turned out to be surplus to requirements. It wouldn't take much imagination though to see a current use for them. The picture above shows a pillbox beside the Thames near Lechlade.

Stonehenge and The Avenue

2010-02-02T09:06:00.012Z

I was recently in the Stonehenge area looking at cycling routes and walks. Once Sustrans finishes its route there, we will have the the pleasure of cycling to this amazing feature without encountering main roads.
I'd read recently about The Avenue - but was completely unprepared when I came across it! The sheer scale and geography are quite amazing. This grand, curving, earthwork road is almost 2 miles long and forms a processional walk from the River Avon up to Stonehenge. Such is its geography that as you follow it, the henge comes dramatically into view on the horizon. Its as gob smacking as the revealing of the grandest opera set. Suddenly it becomes clear that Stonehenge is a lot more than a collection of stones - its a huge, stage managed landscape created some 3,000 plus BC years ago.

There's much about this landscape that is still not understood but visit if you can and enjoy the full production.

The Avenue features on OS maps and is part of the Stonehenge and Avebury Unesco World heritage Site

Wiltshire Cycling

2010-01-20T19:12:00.001Z

Read in the paper today about The Beckford Arms. By Easter time they will be providing hire bikes for guests staying with them to use. This should make a great base for a bit of cycling. The country around there is really pretty although not without hills!. The Beckford Arms is in Fonthill Gifford near Tisbury in Wiltshire.SP3 6PX