The Loire region is famed for its beautiful rivers and splendid châteaux. The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park is characterised by vineyards, rolling farmland, hunting forests and limestone cliffs into which astonishing troglodytic dwellings have been carved. Crowning these beautiful landscapes are some of the Loire's most romantic and elegant châteaux: Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Chinon, Villandry and Saumur. With short, leisurely routes that are largely on the flat, you have plenty of time to visit all of these during your holiday, along with vineyards and mushroom caves (pay locally in all cases).

Starting point: Le Grand Monarque (3*), Azay-le-Rideau. Run by the friendly Monsieur Forest, this is an attractive hotel with a good restaurant that serves dishes incorporating local products such as pike-perch and duck. In summer you dine alfresco in the shaded courtyard.

Day 1 : for a short day (which will give you time to visit Azay-le-Rideau's fairy-tale turreted château before you set off), we suggest that you follow the course of the River Indre, passing through a couple of attractive villages to reach the banks of the River Loire itself. You then follow the great river westwards towards Ussé. The longer route heads north from Azay-le-Rideau past an elegant private château and through a deciduous forest to Villandry, where you can visit the château, famed for its magnificent formal gardens. From here you follow the River Cher to its confluence with the River Loire, and cycle along the riverbank to Ussé. (18km or 34km)

Accommodation: Le Clos d'Ussé (2*), Ussé. Though the rooms are rather simple, the welcome here from the Duchemin family is warm and genuine, and there is a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Day 2: start the day with a visit to Ussé's château, the inspiration for Perrault's original tale of Sleeping Beauty. From Ussé, you continue along the Loire and then head away from the river and cycle through meadows and woodland, passing several vineyards where you could pause for tastings. You then cycle alongside the River Vienne into the idyllic village of Candès-St-Martin which overlooks the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne. You continue through the small village of Montsoreau, where it is worth visiting the château for superb views over the Loire before continuing to Fontevraud. (29km)

Accommodation: La Croix Blanche (2*), Fontevraud. A friendly former coaching inn close to the village's famous abbey. There is an outdoor pool in which to relax.

Day 3: You could spend the day at Fontevraud, visiting the superb abbey for which the village is famed. It is here that Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine are buried. Alternatively, as the famous town of Saumur is close, we suggest you cycle there and spend some time exploring. You can either return by another relatively direct route, giving you time to visit some mushroom caves, or cross the Loire and explore the marais north of the river, an area of flat, fertile farmland. (32km or 41km)

Accommodation: La Croix Blanche, as above.

Day 4: the direct route leads through woodland and undulating farmland, passing villages with pretty churches and small châteaux. The longer route crosses similar landscapes but loops south to take in the fascinating town of Richelieu and the beautiful stained-glass windows in the church at Champigny-sur-Vende. On arrival in Chinon, spend time exploring the château (which commands superb views over the Vienne Valley) and the wine museum. The troglodytic dwellings just outside the town are also well worth a visit. (22km or 45km)

Accommodation: Hotel de France (3*), Chinon. This hotel is a beautifully renovated, 16th century building complete with stylish, comfortable rooms. The hotel is well-located in the central medieval quarter of the town.

Day 5: you head east from Chinon across open countryside, first through vineyards and then past cliffs in which there are numerous troglodytic dwellings, before turning north across farmland and woodland towards Azay. End your holiday with one final visit - the romantic château of Azay-le-Rideau should not be missed. (35km)

Accommodation: Le Grand Monarque, as above first night.

The cycling holiday is Grade 1. Mainly flat and some gentle ascents.
Grades range from 1 (mainly flat with gentle ascents) to 3 (fairly strenuous with frequent ascents and descents).