Post by Mary on May 20, 2025
We recently returned from our annual family bike tour with our kids and my Dad. This year Mum came along too, walking and using trains to meet up with us each day. In response to a plea from our son to ride in warmer climes, we stayed away from the UK and opted for the Loire Valley and it’s magnificent chateaux. Ironically, we had the wettest first day of any family bike tour. I checked the weather in the North of England and, of course, it was sunny!
We were very impressed by the “Loire à vélo” route we followed. We didn’t simply follow the river from start to finish. The route took us up into the vineyards and small picturesque hamlets of the region. We probably rode past about four or five chateaux per day, ranging in size from the smaller, stately homes like the pretty Chateau de Fougeres to the immensely impressive Chateau de Chambord. We didn’t have a enough time to visit all of the chateaux en route but even if only viewed from the outside they made a wonderful addition to the journey. The medieval towns we stayed at each night were stunning. On the downside, the signage did go a bit awry on day two and there were some complaints when 43km turned into 60km! A few more cafés would also have been welcome. Overall it was a beautiful and varied route on a mix of quiet backroads and dirt tracks. We would definitely recommend it.
After day one the weather on our family bike tour just got better and better. We wound our way through vineyards, past breath-taking chateaux and alongside the wide and languorous Loire under glorious sunny skies. My particular highlights of the 2025 family bike tour include: good food and wine everywhere but especially at the gorgeous riverside Fou d’Loire in Chaumont-sur-Loire; the beautiful medieval town of Blois; riding traffic-free through the old hunting forests of Francois the first; and the simple pleasure of riding together with Jamie, my kids and my Dad with experiences shared and happy memories made.
My Dad is as impressive as ever on the bike. At 84 he’s still keeping it real with unassisted pedal power and he was powering past significantly younger e-bikers on the riverside trails. He’s an example to us all that if you just keep turning those pedals week in week out, age is just a number when it comes to cycling.
If you would like to try your own family bike tour, we would be happy to share our recommendations with you. You could also take a look at our own Family Mountain Biking Adventure. We have plenty of availability in July this year. Get in touch if you would like further information.