On your bikes

CYCLE the Canal du Midi in the south of France for a wonderful, relaxing holiday.

With its meandering, tree-lined canal disappearing off into fields of poppies, its elegant villages and oodles of local produce to sample, it is a flaneur’s paradise. No place like it on earth. Really?

Ireland has many such places where you can freewheel on backroads for hours and sample local produce that will leave your taste buds hungry for more. Vive Kilkenny. The county might be inland, but don’t let that put you off. With some outstanding mountain and river walks it should be high up on the list for adventurers modest or daredevil.