Provence

In the Catalan Pyrenees, everything is bigger. This larger-than-life landscape, 200km north of the soft sands of the Mediterranean coast, is where Catalonia’s colossal peaks mark the region’s borders

Length: 21.3km Elevation gain: 1,142m Average gradient: 5% Maximum gradient: 12% The Colle del Nivolet in north-west Italy is the most beautiful mountain road in the world. Fact. But that’s not the on

It’s 20-something degrees and my lungs are burning. “Don’t look up to see how far you’ve still to go; take it one step at a time,” I tell myself, approaching two-thirds of the way up Puy Mary. It’s wh

There’s a reason why so many pro cyclists choose Catalonia as the place they want to live and train. The region in northeast Spain offers the perfect combination of warm climate, great food, relaxed c

The Costa Brava may be renowned as a cycling destination, favoured by the pros and home to iconic climbs such as the Rocacorba and the stunning volcanic landscapes of Garrotxa. But whisper it quietly:

With its distinctive landscapes – ranging from sandy beaches and islands to the Marais Poitevin wetlands and rolling countryside – the Vendée is hard to beat, writes Karen Tait