Auch in south-west France is a lovely historic place – one-time capital of the Gascony region, with a fine half-timbered heart, beautiful cathedral and narrow pedestrianised streets. It’s a great place to wander around in the evenings, soaking up the atmosphere.

 

Better still, the roads around it are lovely as well. Neither so technical nor as busy as the big-name passes of the nearby Pyrenees. This is laid-back France at its sleepiest, most picturesque best – all gently twisty roads writhing through gentle hills and cutting through small stone-built villages.

 

This route does skirt the edge of big, bustling Tarbes (handy if you need a bike shop) before heading back to the quieter countryside, through more of the historic villages that make Occitane such a great place to visit.

 

This is a full day on fine, flattering roads – like a collection of great British B-roads and open A-roads, only without the traffic or potholes you’d get at home. It’s the simple pleasures that make it so good.