Cycling the Velo Scenic, last-minute British boltholes, plus deals of the week
Take me there: Velo Scenic, France
Complete your own Tour de France this summer, without the hills and the hype, on a new cycle route from Paris to Mont St Michel. Following the ancient pilgrims' trail from the French capital to the Normandy coast, the Velo Scenic comprises 440km of signposted cycle track, greenways and country lanes, and passes through three national parks. It is suitable for even the most fair-weather cyclist. High points include Chartres Cathedral, the bucolic Perche region and the Gothic-style monastery of Mont St Michel, perched on a rocky islet. Yellow jerseys optional. For details on how to plan your tour, visit veloscenic.com
It's a good time to… bag a last-minute bargain
Every cloud has a silver lining, and in a summer when there have been more clouds than usual, one happy consequence is that there are still some great British holiday deals to be had. Sawday's, which offers some of the most winsome holiday retreats in the land, has rounded up its remaining summer stock and popped it into a handy online collection (sawdays.co.uk). The delightful Riverside House in Tuckenhay near Totnes, in Devon, which sleeps 10, is still up for grabs for £1,750 per week, a saving of £450. Likewise Bishops Quay, a charming waterside property in Helford, Cornwall, for £2,000, saving £300. Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire, meanwhile, is offering a week at the Cabin in Tenby, the former holiday home of Roald Dahl, for £1,106 in August, saving £269 (sleeps six, coastalcottages.co.uk). And finally, Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages has discounts of up to 20% on several of its properties until the end of September, including Little Cedars Pavilion, a rustic little bolthole for two near Hay on Wye (breconcottages.com). So forget all that nonsense about the early bird catching the worm. Sometimes being a lazy bird pays off (or so I like to tell myself).
Give me a break: the week's best deals
Cotswold escape The Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach, Gloucestershire, is offering 25% discounts on long weekends until 30 September. The cool Cotswold inn, with 14 gorgeous bedrooms and a welcoming bar serving classic pub fare, is offering three-night stays from £173pp – a saving of £57pp when booked through i-escape.com. This includes breakfast and a cream tea on arrival (cotswoldswheatsheaf.com)
Autumn in Italy Citalia is promoting a range of early booking discounts and free nights on autumn holidays to Italian cities including Rome, Venice and Florence. A three-night break in Rome, departing on 6 September, is available for £325pp – a saving of £140 per couple. The trip includes B&B accommodation at the Hotel Augustea and flights from Gatwick with EasyJet (citalia.com)