Four great cycle routes in Peloponnese, Greece

Start: Analipsi Finish: Kalamata Distance: 70km Height gain: 1300m Duration: 3.5 hours Difficulty: For experienced road riders

Challenge yourself with 1300m of climbing on this stunning, un-spoilt route through the national park and into the large site of Ancient Messini.Here you’ll be able to walk the remains of the walls and soak up the views from the original main gate where ancient Sparta cart tracks can still be made out in the ground. A high fitness level is recommended for this ride; however, you will reap the rewards of your hard work on the incredible, newly tarmacked, yet virtually traffic free descent on the way home. The route begins in the sleepy village of Analipsi. From here you cut out across the main road then continueonto the quiet, newly tarmacked back roads towards Likotrafos, Pilialistra, Spilali, and several other small rural villages. For the first half of the ride you will be steadily climbing higher and higher into the surrounding area for about 40km, until you reach the highest point and the ruins of Ancient Messini. There’s a taverna overlooking the ruins where you’ll be able to enjoy a well-deserved rest stop before setting out on the second, and indisputably easier half of the ride. The return is just as scenic, passing through olive groves and vine yards as you descend through the villages of Lampena and Aristodimio before popping up in Triosod just to the west side of theairport at Kalamata.

Start: Analipsi Finish: Kalamata Distance: 50km Height gain: 1300m Duration: 3.5 hours Difficulty: For fit road riders

Push yourself harder and immerse yourself in traditional Greek life by visiting the stunning, unmapped villages around the base of the Kalamata Mountains. Challenge yourself with steep climbs, rolling descents and flat, barely ridden roads.

This ride also begins in the quiet village of Analipsi, cutting across the main road onto quiet back roads. The ride takes the small road up to Medina, then through the villages of Spilali and Vasilada (a wine making area) before it continues north through Androusa. The traditional village of Androusa is a great place to stop for a breather. Look for the patisserie shop, owned by a local family you’ll find treats galore to replenish your energy reserves.

Once you’re refuelled, turn west towards the villages of Ithomi and Aristodimio and the return leg back to Analipsi. As you pass to the north of Messini village you'll skirtaround the edge of a Greek air force training base. The area is notoriously hilly, but this ride manages to dodge most of the big climbs, with just a couple of smaller hills to tackle as you meander back through the olive groves to the sleepy village of Analipsi.

Start: Analipsi Finish: Messini Distance: 7km Height gain: 12m Duration: 1 hour Difficulty: Easy

This flat, varied route is a great introduction bike ride. It incorporates quiet road, gravel track and beach trails into thetown of Messini where you can experience local Greek life, pick up any forgotten essentials and sample one of the best ice-cream parlours in the area.

From the beachfront at Analipsi you turn left after a yellow house and follow the track as it climbs to a T-junction. Turning right at the junction you follow the track until you reach the main road. Here you turn right and follow the road round to a promenade and bridge where the road turns to sand and gravel. You’ll then follow this scenic and flat seafront trail until you hit the road again and the main square of Messini town.

Start: Analipsi Finish: Analipsi Distance: 29km Height gain: 551m Duration: 3 hours Difficulty: Moderate

On this most scenic, entirely off-road 24km mountain bike ride you’ll go past white sandy beaches, small shallow streams and flat gravel tracks to the beautiful, unspoilt town of Petalidi.

From the village of Analipsi take a left turn just before the T-junction and Gyros shop and follow the road as it descends to a gravel track all the way to a T-junction where the route follows the road to the right. You then follow the trail and cross over a stream (the first of two streams on this route). There then follows a few more T-junctions until you spot a sign for Velika Beach where you’ll cross another stream and a concrete bridge over a dried-up river bed following a pebble track that runs along the coast,leadingtothe village of Petalidi.

Allow yourself plenty of time to soak up the scenery and a refreshing drink at one of the cafes around the harbour at Petalidi. It might be an idea to bring your swimming gear along for the ride to make the most of the deserted, untouched beaches along the route.