KEEP ON running

From an early morning jog around Vienna to cycling along the banks of the Wachau Valley, a Danube river cruise is the ideal opportunity to get active, discovers Sara Macefied

- Sara Macefied

Eyeing the stack of bikes I’m starting to feel rather apprehensive at the 12-mile ride that lies ahead of us when the guide pulls one out and wheels it over.

‘Is it electric?’ I ask hopefully, conscious that my legs are still throbbing from an arduous jogging tour two days before. He grins and shakes his head, leaving me fearing that perhaps I’ve been a tad over-ambitious in signing up for this morning’s cycling jaunt along the banks of the Danube River through Austria’s Wachau Valley.

But I’m not about to give up before I’ve even started. The jade carpet of rolling hills dotted with trees whose leaves are transforming into a rich tide of autumnal colour is too tempting, and I’m soon pedalling past rows of verdant vineyards clinging to jagged stone terraces.

There are around 20 of us and it’s clear that we’re all fairly confident on two wheels, with several accomplished speed-merchants at the head of the group.

I hang back to savour the views, especially when the impressive ruins of Kuenringer Castle at Dürnstein come into view and we stop to relish the vista and watch as our ship Avalon Impression sails by, waving at fellow guests who have taken the less energetic route upstream.

There are several miles to go, but my growing confidence propels me closer to the front of the group as we speed along the towpath alongside the water’s edge.

We’re going at a decent lick and I reflect that anyone who dismisses river cruising as slow-paced and sedentary needs, quite literally, to get on their bike – because cycling has become one of the go-to activities on these holidays.