Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Just back from 2 weeks cycling in Holland . Can't recommend it highly enough . Lovely countryside and flat (obviously!) which is a bonus unless you're a very good cyclist! Loads of animals to see on your travels including chickens, wallabies, Shetland ponies, goats, horses, fallow & roe deer, cows & sheep . Everywhere is spotlessly clean and litter-free, the houses and gardens are beautiful and so well-maintained and the villages are really pretty. Even the farms are so clean, it's hard to believe they are actually farms! Every single road either has a cycle lane or is so quiet that you don't need one. Many roads have more space allocated to bikes than cars! Cars give way to bikes, even on roundabouts and every driver is so courteous and considerate, you never feel intimidated or unsafe. I counted only a couple of small potholes in 340 miles of cycling . They have a fantastic network of cycle paths (fietspad) and a map shows the routes with numbers marked at almost every junction and turn . It's like orienteering on bikes and great fun as you can't get lost and don't have to worry about planning your own route. You just cycle from number to number, deciding where you want to go at each point. Even the towns have cycle paths right through the middle of them so you don't often share your route with cars . We stayed at a Landal Greenparks holiday park (we've used them twice before too) and recommend that highly too. Spacious, comfortable house in lovely surroundings with facilities in the park for young kids if you need them but peace and quiet if you don't. Our holiday house The holiday park A cycle lane going under a railway (not even in a town!) These little chaps were everywhere Forgot to mention these guys - they were crossing in a lovely neat line till a car came along! Couldn't miss out one of these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Sounds fantastic ANH! Hopefully photos will follow? I have a hankering to camp in Holland as I believe they also do the most amazing canvas tents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 10, 2010 Author Share Posted August 10, 2010 Photos added, as requested . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Wow it looks absolutely beautiful I'm glad you had a good time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 wow I would love to do that, did you book it with a company? or did you just get on your bikes and make it up as you go along (so to speak ) are you good cyclists? it looks amazing cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 sounds fantastic, cycling in holland is sonething I have always fancied (due to the flatness ) and you have really spurred me on to find more about it now. Glad you had such a lovely time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 It does look beautiful! Will show OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 10, 2010 Author Share Posted August 10, 2010 Yes, we just made it up as we went along . My OH and boys are all very fit and very good cyclists. I'm quite fit but not as a cyclist (I do step classes and used to run but haven't for a couple of years). As long as they go at my pace I'm fine! I managed it all no problem - did you notice we did 340 miles, can't quite believe that myself . We cycled every day bar one and only used the car once (and got lost ) apart from small trips to the local supermarket. I'd really recommend Landal Greenparks - if you don't speak the language (which we don't) it's great having someone on hand who does just in case (no guarantee but in both ones we've been to the reception staff did). It's also very easy to book online. We sailed from Newcastle to Ijmuiden with our bikes on the roof but I think all the parks have bikes for rent (they're not great bikes though, no gears - although you don't really need gears anyway ). If you'd like any other info, just let me know . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Wow - it looks absolutely beautiful. Just my sort of holiday. I'd just love all that. Your photos are amazing! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 It looks fantastic ANH, what a brilliant holiday. I can't believe how much you all cycled. The lodge looks lovely. I love Holland, I went as a child on a school holiday and I always remember it being clean and pretty. The cycle lanes look brilliant, it was similar in Copenhagen when we went a couple of years ago and even I was tempted to cycle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 340 miles! that's not a holiday! I'd need a year's holiday to recover after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Looks fab but 340miles................sounds a bit like having pins stuck in my eyes . Now a gentle cycle to the nearest pub for a glass of Chateau Amsterdam or whatever............much more my kind of thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 12, 2010 Share Posted August 12, 2010 What sort of bikes did you take? Sounds like you had a great time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
