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Today we spotlight one of our favourite hidden gems: Inishbofin in Ireland.

This little island, which features on our A Jolly in Connemara cycling holiday, has just 160 inhabitants. It's small but utterly wonderful - a dreamy place to visit for anyone seeking a tranquil day or two away from the hustle and bustle of everyday mainland life. It boasts some fabulous award-winning sandy beaches, strewn with seashells, and crystal clear blue waters - so if the weather's on your side, a spot of swimming is usually in order!

The island seems to have captured Seamus Heaney's heart too (so we're in good company!) The Nobel Prize winning poet began his poem ‘Seeing Things’ with a boat ride to Inishbofin:

"Inishbofin on a Sunday Morning. Sunlight, turfsmoke, seagulls, boatslip, diesel"

He was right to spot the birds! The island is in fact a special area of conservation due to the presence of many species of bird and seals. The rarest species of bird breeding on the island at present is the corncrake. Related to moorhens and coots, the corncrake is unusual in that it lives on dry land, unlike its water-based cousins. Corncrakes are very secretive, spending most of their time hidden in tall vegetation, their presence only betrayed by their rasping call. In flight their bright chestnut wings and trailing legs are unmistakable.

For the more adventurous, the island's waters make for spectacular diving. Two of the beaches on Inishbofin have been awarded the ‘Green Coast Award’, prized for their exceptional water quality and their natural, unspoilt environment. Interestingly, the island has no trees or forests whatsoever, as any wood was cut down in centuries past and used as heating fuel. Because of the salt-enriched air, trees were never able to re-establish themselves. So these days, the islanders tend to use peat turf for fuel instead.

Don't miss this charismatic little corner of the world - hop on your bike and come cycle with us in Ireland!

We were very saddened to learn of Zaha Hadid's death yesterday - an iconic architect and inspirational female figure of her time. Her legacy is surely one that will remain relevant for a very long time to come.

To celebrate her architecture, we thought we'd share our favourite architectural gems along our walking and cycling routes. They're not all as bold or groundbreaking as Hadid's work, but they are all unique and full of intrigue!

1. Sandwich in Kent

With a feast of medieval architecture, Sandwich boasts some of the best-preserved, half-timbered houses in the country. Within the old town walls, the many period houses, with their characteristic "Kent peg" roofs, are laid out in a street plan which has changed little since the creation of the Domesday book in 1086. For those who are green-fingered, a visit to ‘The Secret Gardens of Sandwich’ may be of interest. Encircled by the old stone city walls, these serene gardens surround the Grade I-listed manor house ‘The Saluation’, designed by English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Visit on many of our Kent cycling holidays.

2. Mont St Michel, France

With its slender spires, stout ramparts and rocky slopes rising dramatically from the sea and towering over sands laid bare by the receding tide, the stupendous abbey of Mont St-Michel is deservedly the most famous French landmark outside Paris. The abbey was first erected on an island at the very frontier of Normandy and Brittany more than a millennium ago and despite huge numbers of visitors, both the abbey and the narrow alleys below still manage to transport visitors back to the Middle Ages.

The island is almost entirely covered by medieval stone structures, encircled by defensive walls. Amazingly enough, less than a third of all visitors manage to climb high enough to reach the abbey itself at the summit! Visit on our gentle 'Brittany's Emerald Coast' cycling holiday.

3. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

The 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct was made famous as the location in Harry Potter films, with perhaps the most striking sequence filmed on the route of the steam-powered Jacobite Express, which follows the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig in Scotland, as it crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

The single track viaduct was one of the largest engineering undertakings using concrete without reinforcement, when it was built by Sir Robert McAlpine between 1897 and 1901. A trip on the Jacobite steam train along this stunning line is a fantastic experience but must be booked in advance, or you can watch out for the train crossing the viaduct at 11.20 am or 3.00pm - a magical moment for Harry Potter fans! Visit on our guided 'Highland & Hebrides' cycling holiday.

Wendy, the founder and director of The Carter Company, and a true pioneer in the concept of gentle cycling holidays, recently returned from a rather adventurous bicycle tour around Cambodia and Vietnam. Whilst our portfolio remains distinctly European and there are no immediate plans to branch out into more exotic climes (sadly for us trip planners!), Wendy came back so full of excitement and wonderful stories from her travels that we wanted to share them with you, our readers, here.

Where to begin?! Firstly, we recommend heading over to Wendy's Instagram page, where a fascinating gallery of images awaits. We particularly love the shot we picked out for this blog, although it wasn't the only example of ingenious and innovative use of bicycles as transport vehicles.!

Here's what Wendy had to say about her adventure:

"The bicycle has played a massive role in the development of society out there. Nowadays, people tend to use scooters and motorbikes as well as bicycles, but the car isn't anything like as prevalent in the west, and at one time, everyone used a bicycle.

As a tourist, it's a fantastic place to explore by bike. This is because the locals are so incredibly friendly and welcoming. Their sense of community and eagerness to share is really extraordinary. All this means that as you tootle past on your bicycle, children run out of their houses to wave hello; wedding parties invite you to join in their ceremonies; and families celebrating a new temple opening share their home-made sweets with you. Our guide even invited us to his house, where we met his parents and brothers. Pretty much everyone sits outside their houses to watch the world go by, so as you whistle past so there's many an opportunity to stop and say hello, see how the locals live, meet the pigs and chickens in their backyard farms, and even visit their makeshift breweries where they brew their own beer!

The landscape is densely utilised, much of it by small scale agriculture, whilst the waterways are used as transport highways and are packed full of gorgeous wooden boats moving food, wood and other wares from here to there. A highlight was a visit to the colourful floating market on the Mekong River, which some farmers travel 750 miles to get to. We also visited insect food markets (where our guide proceeded to demonstrate the local love of insect food eating a whole tarantula!), man-made vine bridges, brick-making factories, and scores of ancient temples.

This magic was made all the more remarkable by the constant reminders of the darker times in theses countries' histories - the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Genocide. We met one survivor of the latter, who was only allowed to live because he could repair the regime's typewriters. His stories were harrowing. There are no concrete figures of how many were killed by the Khmer Rouge regime as mass graves continue to be discovered to this day, but the most commonly cited figure is two million (which is about a quarter of the population).

The resilience and spirit of the people today is truly remarkable - despite so much hardship, they are such generous and welcoming people. I can't recommend visiting Cambodia and Vietnam enough. A really special travel experience I'll treasure forever."

Here at The Carter Company we often hear from families who want to holiday together. When your family consists of three generations, it's not always easy to find a trip to suit everyone, but a gentle cycling holiday can be a great option as it offers a lot of flexibility. Grandparents who want to take it easy can choose an electric bike, whilst young kids can travel in a child's seat, tagalong or trailer. Below we share some wonderful routes in Europe and Britain that are ideal for multi-generational groups.

If you have specific requirements for a family trip you'd like to discuss with us, please do get in touch with us and we'd be happy to help!

1. Mallorca coast to coast

This self-guided tour offers lots of flexibility with several nights in each hotel, so much of the cycling is optional. Enjoy days off around the idyllic hotel pools or head out on foot to explore the surrounding area. The distances are short and hills are few and far between. Electric bikes are available for those who want to take it extra easy.

2. Lake Constance

Experience three countries in one trip on this culturally rich tour around Lake Constance. With low mileages, mostly flat terrain and traffic-free bike paths, this is a great family trip. Cycle through vineyards, take a cable car into the mountains and experience a world renowned performing arts festival. Electric bikes available!

3. Oxford and Thames royal palaces

The River Thames threads its way serenely through pretty landscapes and into the heart of bustling historic towns such as Oxford and Windsor. The tranquil river path provides the route for much of this trip. The itinerary is relaxed and includes several optional river boat trips with bikes aboard. E-bikes also an option on this tour.

If you venture out walking on Exmoor, you may be lucky enough to encounter a herd of red deer. These majestic animals are considered very special, ancient guardians of Exmoor.

It is thought that there have been red deer on Exmoor since pre-historic times. Exmoor was once a Royal Forest, and this meant a strict Forest Law to protect the deer. This 'protection' was not however of benefit to the deer themselves, only for the king, who liked a consistent supply of venison to eat and of course, a hunting ground to enjoy himself in.

Today there are about 3,000 of them on Exmoor, living on moorland and farmland, and using the woodlands for cover. Interestingly, red deer are the largest wild land animals in England. Adult stags stand about 115 cm at the shoulder, and are of course instantly recognisable for their iconic antlers. Only stags (male deer) grow antlers. Amazingly, they shed them each year in April and early May and immediately start to grow new ones.

New calves are born to their mothers in June and July, and are usually born in moorland vegetation or by the edge of woodland. For a few days after birth, the calf will lie quietly, well-camouflaged with dappled spots on its russet coat, looking like sunlight on dead bracken. If you do see a calf it is important not to touch it or the mother may abandon it. Soon it is strong enough to run with its mother and join the herd. They keep together for a year or more.

Red deer eat a wide variety of food, including young shoots of heather, whortleberry, brambles, saplings and grass. They also feed on acorns, fungi, berries and ivy - as well as farm crops.

They share the unique habitat of Exmoor with a number of other fauna, including Exmoor ponies (a native British breed), otters, birds of prey and some of the UK’s rarest butterflies and bats - as well as some unusual fungi! In fact, Exmoor is so important for wildlife that almost a third of the National Park is protected under UK and European law. So if you're a wildlife lover, it's the perfect place to visit. Why not take our 'Seashores and moors' walking holiday to see it for yourself?