This very weekend (26-27 July) sees what Trail Break describe as “the easiest” of their Lemming Trail Challenges. It’s all relative, though, and 80 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing is still a ride of some scope.

The Ridgeway is renowned for its age and wealth of ancient monuments, including the standing stones at Avebury where the ride finishes. And if you like wide open spaces, the Ridgeway has them in spades. What it isn’t is all that technical, making it a good introduction to long rides.

The start is at Princes Risborough, Bucks, with lunch at by the Thames at Goring before pedalling your way across Oxfordshire to the Ridgeway Youth Hostel at Wantage. It’s a splendid establishment, made from barns that were dismantled and re-erected on the top of the ridge. Day two is shorter, with 30 miles of Wiltshire to traverse before arriving in Avebury.

More details from the Trail Break site.