Mr Le-Faye says...
Very enjoyable, routes were quite long but cycling in Netherlands is very flat and very safe because of proper cycle paths
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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.
Please note: We're currently making some improvements to our trips in Holland for 2024 bookings. Holiday details may differ to what's currently on sale for 2023.
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'.
Overnight Hotel Mitland, Utrecht (breakfast included).
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.
Overnight Hotel Mitland, Utrecht (breakfast included).
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.
Overnight Hotel Mitland, Utrecht (breakfast included).
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.
Overnight Hotel Mitland, Utrecht (breakfast included).
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.
Overnight Hotel Mitland, Utrecht (breakfast included).
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 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
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Very enjoyable, routes were quite long but cycling in Netherlands is very flat and very safe because of proper cycle paths
A business hotel, but with the personal touch, in a pleasant location and good food. The cycling was easy (rating perhaps a 1) but the routes were long, leaving us as casual cyclists little time to explore the many attractions passed on the routes. The landscape was flat but there were many pretty streets, houses and farms to engage the eye. All the cycling was on cycle paths or quiet roads so there was no significant interaction with traffic. Transport between Schipol airport and the hotel was very easy using trains and taxis, but be prepared for long queues at the airport. We would suggest that an extra day to explore Utrecht on foot could provide a break in the four long days of cycling. Everyone spoke good English so there was never any need to take a Dutch phrasebook.
The cycling from Utrecht holiday is excellent in terms of the hotel, good facilities, excellent service and food, as well as the perfect location for touring north, south, east and west of the city. The bike routes were excellent, provided you read the details and understood that the cycle route signs could be high up, low down or anywhere in between; they provide for journeying through countryside, river locations and seeing castles, windmills and places of interest on route. Whilst the countryside is flat, so cycling is easy, be aware of the long routes, which if completed can take all day. Great way to see parts of picturesque Holland.
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
Bike fitting at the start of your holiday
Comprehensive route directions provided prior to departure
Bike hire
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
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.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Meals
All breakfasts
Electric bikes
It is possible to hire electric bikes for this holiday at a supplement of £188 per person. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.
