Stay on a Lavender Farm in the French countryside

On a recent cycling tour of the idyllic pastures of Northern France, we were lucky enough to find the perfect base to relax and unwind after a day’s hard graft on the saddle. La Paix: La Ferme Aux Lavandes is a little piece of Provence in Normandy, a fully functioning lavender farm tucked away in a quiet corner of Calvados.

What was once some unloved wasteland surrounding a typically Gallic country house has been transformed by the owners into an oasis of lavender, dotted with curious artefacts including an authentic wooden Romany caravan where guests can choose to channel their inner gypsy for the night. Also onsite is a well-stocked café where you can enjoy some locally brewed cider or purchase homemade chilli jam or lavender oil.

For just 60e a night (which includes a very filling petit dejeuner), we had a comfortable double room with stone walls and wooden beams and access to a modern kitchen where we could prepare our meals if we so wished. The wooden stairs from here led up to a lounge area where we could chill out with music or wander onto the balcony to watch the sunset.

On a particularly sunny afternoon, we opted to stay on the grounds and enjoy a picnic prepared by the house. As we made ourselves comfortable in the shade of the old willow tree, relaxing to the sound of sweet birdsong and the gently babbling brook nearby, we were presented with an authentic wicker picnic basket stuffed with all kinds of treats including a crab starter, a plate of charcuterie, some cheese of the region, a warm-from-the-oven French pain, a bottle of chilled rosé and something suitably sweet and sinful for dessert. Mmmm…

Luckily for us we didn’t need to worry about those extra calories as we could just cycle it off the next day. And at La Paix we were perfectly placed to do just that. A couple of lanes nearby lead intrepid cyclists through endless fields of golden crops, where your only company is butterflies and crickets. The lanes continue onto a quiet road where even the most nervous cyclist can proceed without caution. We cycled downhill all the way to a beautiful chateau and encountered many a pleasing fat brown and white cow, horse and donkey on the way.

La Paix is the perfect base to explore the region of Calvados, a rural idyll not only famous for deliciously whiffy camembert but, thanks to those plentiful apple orchards, also the boozy delights of cider and calvados. Look out for signs for cider farms where you can sample the produce. You can also explore the neighbouring towns of Conde-sur-Noireaux, where Thursday is market day, and Clecy where we enjoyed a delicious portion of Moules Frites.

Look out for Part 2 of our cycling holiday in France shortly.

La Paix: La ferme aux Lavandes is situated at 14110 St Germain-du-Crioult, Calvados, France. Rooms from 60e per night. Visit www.lapaixlavandes.com

The Great Fashion Cycle

As you know we love our bikes here at FKV. But this summer we've really noticed the cycling trend kick explode in London. Bespoke cycle shops and cycle friendly cafes are springing up all over the place, Topshop has gone Cyclodelic and high end designers like Gucci are dreaming up their ultimate bicycles.

Now, the charity crew are jumping aboard the trend. This week a team of adventure seeking style-savvy eco-fashionistas set off this on The Great Fashion Cycle July 2010 between Europe's iconic style capitals - London and Paris - in aid of their work addressing human rights and environmental abuses in the fashion industry.

EJF's team will set off from London through the beautiful Kent countryside where they'll cross the channel to Calais and push on into the stunning countryside of rural France.Four days and 300 miles later, sporting organic cotton t-shirts designed by Jenny Packham for EJF, they will find themselves at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with a well earned glass of fizz.

The journey between two of the world's chicest cities aims to raise funds and awareness for EJF's work protecting the environment and defending human rights in developing countries, particularly their 'Pick Your Cotton Carefully' Campaign.In fashion, EJF works to address the fact that around the world, whether it is state enforced, or child trafficking, millions of children face severe exploitation in the cotton industry.

Over a million people a year are hospitalised from pesticide poisoning, illnesses include infertility and cancer, and over 20,000 people die, which is why EJF also campaigns for a global ban on the most toxic pesticides like Endosulfan and promotes alternatives like organic production.

To register for 2011 or more info visit ejfoundation.org/londontoparis

La bicyclette bleue

On long summer days the only way to ride is by bicycle and for the past few months I have been searching for the perfect update to my wrecked and ravaged cast off from Greenwich Market.

When it came to style, it was always going to be a Dutch style ladies bike - because after all, that's how us vintage gals roll, non? There were a few contenders but in the end, I settled on the Pashley Poppy in pastel blue - currently gracing Radley's Spring Summer Campaign:

Ahh, she is a looker isn't she? And she rides like a dream too.

Pashley, a British company based in Stratford-upon-avon, have been making quality cycles for donkeys years. When it comes to fusing good looks with sturdy functionality they really do win hands down.

I picked Poppy up from Bobbin's Bicycles at the weekend, a small but perfectly formed independent in Angel. Their tagline is 'the most beautiful bike shop in Britain' and it's no empty promise people. Be warned, if you go there, you will not leave without some charming accessory of sorts, whether it's a ding dong bell, a vintage looking light or a handmade satchel to hang on your bike rack.

I myself picked up a wicker basket to go on my front basket. And for the next few weeks I'll be throwing maps, baguettes and all manner of things in here as I take Poppy off in search of the best cycle routes to enjoy in London.

But as far as cycle chic goes, that's easy, I will mostly be channeling Laetitia Casta in the film La Bicyclette Bleue, based on the book by Regine Deforges. See pics below. Not much of a departure for me in the style stakes. Florals? Check. Brown leather satchel? Check. Ahhh, it's all coming together very nicely. The future is indeed rosy, or should that be poppy...