This single-centre cycling holiday is based in beautiful Utrecht, the Netherlands' fourth largest city and the country's religious centre since the 8th century. The city's ancient centre has many structures and buildings that date back to the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1250 AD) having been the country's most important city until Amsterdam took up the mantle during the Dutch Golden Age (1581 - 1672 AD). Still a major trade centre, sitting on the banks of the River Rhine, places of particular interest are the Cathedral of Saint Martin and the Dom Tower, the tallest belfry in the Netherlands. As well as many theatres, art galleries, museums and music venues, the city also has a growing monument in the Letters of Utrecht - an endless poem in the cobblestones of the Oude Gracht in Utrecht to which a letter gets added every Saturday. Utrecht was named a UNESCO City of Literature in 2017.
As well as exploring Utrecht along its many cycle paths, the daily routes on this holiday head out of the city in four different directions giving you an opportunity to discover the surrounding landscape, areas of natural beauty and historical fortified towns, castles and forts. A recurring theme is the Dutch Waterline (the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie 1870-1940) - this was an important military defence line in Dutch history. Canals and sluices made it possible to inundate large expanses of land to keep an advancing enemy at bay. In places where inundation was not possible forts were built, blending in with the landscape. You'll also cycle past the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park - the largest wooded area in the Randstad.
You'll stay in the 4* Mitland Hotel located in the outskirts of the city and next to a lovely city park. Enjoy your breakfast by the waterside, overlooking the northern moat of historic Fort De Bilt with the option to upgrade to half board and enjoy dinner at the hotel too. The hotel's facilities include a bowling alley, a swimming pool and fitness room. You can cycle to the town centre in less than 10 minutes.
On this trip you stay in Utrecht, taking day trips out to explore the surroundings. On your first day take time to discover the canals and many cosy cafes, national monuments, including the Dom Tower, museums and even world heritages sites. Utrecht is also the town of designer/architect Gerrit Rietveld and Dick Bruna who created the children's books about 'Miffy'.
Hotel Mitland with Breakfast for 5 nights
The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (1870 - 1940) was an important military defence line in Dutch history. Canals and sluices made it possible to inundate large expanses of land to prvent the advance of enemy troops and vehicles and where inundation was not possible forts were built, blending in with the landscape - these have become local tourist attractions. The 85km length of the defensive line has become a green corridor, where wildlife has flourished due to restrictions on land use and building.
You can shorten the route by 5km by taking a ferry at Fort Everdingen, the home of the Duits & Lauret brewery, also a great place to stop for refreshments.
Follow the River Vecht to De Haar Castle, the largest castle in the country. Beautifully restored in 1892, in neo-Gothic style, the castle welcomes visitors to tour its stunning rooms and halls as well as the beautiful gardens. Continue cycling to follow the River Old Rhine to the historic fortified town of Woerden then on to Oudewater where you can opt to visit the Weighing Hall (1482) where women used to be weighed to determine whether or not they were witches. Step on the scales to find out if you would have been deemed light enough to fly on a broomstick. Enjoy the natural scenery along the River Hollandsche Ijssel, which leads to the fortified town of Montfoort and its historical buildings. Follow the River Leidse Rijn back to Utrecht.
Today you can shorten your route by 9 km by skipping Oudewater and the smaller rivers.
Today's route takes you northwards to the Oostelijke Vechtplassen - the collective name for the 7,000-hectare nature reserve and lake district, created largely as a result of long-term peat extraction and important to many bird species. Cycle along its southern border, passing several New Dutch Waterline forts. Then cycling along the River Vecht, you visit a series of beautiful old villages such as Maarssen, Breukelen, Loenen aan de Vecht and Vreeland. You eventually reach the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park where you enjoy panoramic views. The wetlands beyond are also beautiful and tranquil with their very rare habitat type (floating mats of sphagnum mosses and other vegetation, anchored by sedges, on the surface of the water or on top of very wet peat).
You can shorten your route by 8 km by skipping Vreeland and the nature reserves at Tienhoven and Molenpolder. Cycle directly to Groenekan instead.
From Utrecht, today's route follows the Kromme Rijn and the Langbroekerwetering canal to historical Wijk bij Duurstede. Between the 7th and 9th centuries the city was a centre of international trade that was pillaged by the Vikings. The city has the only drive-through windmill in the world and the ruins of Duurstede Castle and the Castle Park are worth a visit. The nearby St. John the Baptist Great Church is a Gothic pseudo-basilica with an unfinished tower and is a national monument. The countryside scenery today alternates between meadows, castles, orchards and stately country houses. You also get to cycle through the woods at the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. On your way back to Utrecht, you reach the town of Doorn and its impressive castle, Slot Zeist, surrounded by a beautiful English landscaped park.
You can also take a 5mi / 8km longer route. After Wijk bij Duurstede, follow the 'Limes', the old frontier of the Roman Empire, along the Lower Rhine. The beautiful village of Amerongen and Amerongen Castle are worth cycling the extra distance.
After breakfast depart from Utrecht.
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 01606 720199, use our live webchat (we're open until 5pm today) or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Suites
The Hotel Mitland has four themed suites all with their own individual decor, balcony and lake views. The four suites are: The Holland Suite, The Swan Lake Suite, The Romantic Suite and The Old Dutch Masters Suite. These suites are subject to availability and at a supplement.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Our aim is to provide holidays that are unbeatable for choice and flexibility. We've listed our most popular travel options below, however you aren't limited to these - we can tailor-make virtually any holiday to suit.
To find out more about the travel options available call our sales team on 01606 720199, use our live webchat (we're open until 5pm today) or email sales@headwater.com
Air-rail prices include our standard flights, onward rail and station transfers
British Airways Heathrow to Amsterdam 08:20/10:40 then taxi to the hotel approx 45 mins, payable locally. Alternatively train from Amsterdam to Utrecht and taxi to hotel 15 mins, all payable locally.
Return: Taxi to airport approx 45 mins, payable locally. Alternatively taxi to train station 15 mins and train from Utrecht to Amsterdam, all payable locally. then British Airways Brussels to Heathrow 16:40/16:50.
Extra legroom seats are available on request.
Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers (because you will be arriving at a different time to our standard flights), then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).
Should you require overnight airport accommodation, airport parking or even a uniformed chauffeur to take your car from your departure terminal and park it for you, we can arrange this for you through Holiday Extras. You can book airport parking, airport hotels and executive lounges directly through their website - or call us on 01606 720199 for further details of all the services on offer. Early booking is recommended to obtain the best availability and prices.
Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can continue to develop, and where necessary improve, our services and ensure our holidays continue to be the best they can be. However, as this is a relatively new holiday, we don't yet have any customer reviews available.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 5 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Single-centre accommodation in a hotel
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
High quality bikes
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 (we're open until 5pm today) or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Complete our holiday enquiry form - we'll get in touch when it's most convenient for you
Speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 - we're open until 5pm today
Use our live chat to ask us a question
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website. Please contact us for further details.
Singles
Add £145 single supplement.
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Meals
All breakfasts
The above prices include our standard flights/transfers
British Airways Heathrow to Amsterdam 08:20/10:40 then taxi to the hotel approx 45 mins, payable locally. Alternatively train from Amsterdam to Utrecht and taxi to hotel 15 mins, all payable locally.
Return: Taxi to airport approx 45 mins, payable locally. Alternatively taxi to train station 15 mins and train from Utrecht to Amsterdam, all payable locally. then British Airways Brussels to Heathrow 16:40/16:50.
Alternative Air-rail
Flights can be arranged from most UK airports, with connecting transfers as required, prices and details on request.
Eurostar
Travel by Eurostar via Paris is also available.
Self drive
We can arrange various channel crossings for you. Please call for details and prices.
Upgraded air travel
Extra legroom seats available on request.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 (we're open until 5pm today) or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Complete our holiday enquiry form - we'll get in touch when it's most convenient for you
Speak to our sales team on 01606 720199 - we're open until 5pm today
Use our live chat to ask us a question
Please note: The prices and travel options shown are provided for customers based in, and travelling from/to, the UK. We are happy to arrange holidays for non-UK customers however, if you are travelling from USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, we recommend that you contact your local agent as they can provide appropriate transport options and advice.
Due to the tailor-made nature of our holidays, we need a little more information in order for us to check availability for Cycling from Utrecht. Simply complete the form below (fields marked * are mandatory) and a member of our sales team will contact you (when it's most convenient for you) to provide availability information, travel options and an accurate price. Of course there's no obligation, but if you do wish to proceed with a booking they will be on-hand to assist you throughout the process.
Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 01606 720199 to discuss your requirements in more detail (we're open until 5pm today) or contact us via live chat for help and advice.
