How We Roll
We like to think we’re a little different from other cycle holiday companies. Pedal Nation was born after speaking to a number of newcomers to cycling who reported feeling intimidated by all the technical clothing, equipment, energy gels and the fast riding style that appeared to be the requirement of a cycle tour. This isn’t to discourage the speedgoats and Alberto Contador hill climbers among you. Rather to say that we organise our days on tour to enable everyone to ride at their own pace, with the focus on enjoying the experience as opposed to getting there as quickly as possible, and with regular social opportunities to regroup.
So, yes, we encourage the cyclists who push up the steepest hills and those who lie down next to a Lake District tarn on a sunny day. We like the ones who stay too long in the cafe, or get to the B&B late because they’ve been taking photographs of a gorgeous sunset. Of course we have some ‘hard’ grade trips too that will test your stamina and fitness. But even on these you will be fully supported and encouraged to ride at your own pace all the way.
Our Story
Pedal Nation works in partnership with, and emerged from, our sister trekking company High Places. High Places was founded in the late 1980’s by Yorkshire based school teacher couple Bob & Mary who wanted to share their love of the outdoors. They began by taking some friends on a trek in India. It was a great success and the following years saw the addition of more trips in India and other destinations, like Nepal, Africa and South America. In 2013, Pedal Nation was founded, under the leadership of Sunny Wattal, the son of one of High Places’ Kashmiri guides, now based in Sheffield. Over the years, a range of tours have been developed across the UK and Europe, but we are also specialists in Asian cycling holidays, drawing on our personal connections and expert knowledge of this exciting region of the world.
Our Partners
In 2013 Pedal Nation joined forces with High Places, a walking and trekking company based in Sheffield. We also have an office in New Zealand. They have over 25 years’ experience in the tourism business. Importantly, we are ABTOT and ATOL bonded which means your money is fully protected.
Meet the Office Team
Between them, Sunny, Paul and Lucy share out office duties, with specific responsibilities listed below. These are the people you are likely to be in touch with before and after the tour, who make everything work smoothly in the background, and are always there for the guides as operational back-up. Yes, we are a small team, but not being top-heavy is what helps us keep our prices reasonable, our tour schedules nimble, and reflects our belief in small tour numbers and a personal touch.
Sunny Wattal
Sunny Wattal is Manager of Pedal Nation, where he plans and leads cycling tours across the UK, Europe and Asia. His journey in adventure travel began in 2009, inspired by his father, who worked as a mountain guide in the Himalayas. Sunny grew up in Delhi where he also studied at University. As a young adult, he led walking and trekking tours in Ladakh, often at high altitude. Over time, he added family treks, day cycling trips, and support for motorbike tours in remote parts of India. He joined Pedal Nation in 2013 and led his first cycling trip in 2015. Since then, he has expanded the business to include almost 20 different tours. Sunny believes in small-group, low-impact travel and aims to create personal, memorable adventures for every rider. His mix of guiding experience, hospitality background, and love for cycling continues to shape Pedal Nation’s spirit of exploration.
Paul Adams
Paul Adams has been with High Places/Pedal Nation for longer than he cares to remember. He met Bob and Mary Lancaster, the founders of High Places, in Sheffield through having children attending the same school. It turned out they were looking for someone to handle admin, and he was looking for a change after a ‘career’ in local government. Although mainly dealing with
bookings and financial matters he has been lucky enough to take part trips in South America, New Zealand and Iceland among many others. These days though he is happy to wander in the North York Moors and poodle around the quiet, but too hilly roads of North Yorkshire where he now lives.
Lucy Burnett
Lucy Burnett is our new Cycling Development Manager, responsible for digital marketing, social media and the website, comms, and route development, plus any other operational and admin duties required of her! She also works as lead guide on many of ours tours and in recruiting, liaising with and training guides. Lucy has a varied background, not only in cycling and other outdoor pursuits. She is also a published writer and exhibiting photographer, and has worked as a university lecturer, in arts management, environmental campaigning and mountain leadership, has run her own cafe, and recently has been retraining in digital marketing. She also once beat broccoli all night with a big long stick as a job – don’t ask. Suffice to say, Lucy is passionate about all things cycling, and if she isn’t on the bike is likely found pouring over maps planning new adventures.
Meet our Guides
Our guides are all keen and experienced cyclists, who share your passion for riding bikes! During the tour they will alternate between riding with you and driving the support van, keeping you safe, well fed, encouraged and smiling throughout the holiday!
Sanjiv
Sanjiv is our long-serving and ever popular cycling specialist in India, leading our tours in Kerala and Rajasthan. Sanjiv is equally at home though on bike or foot and has also guided many of our sister company High Places trekking trips.
Tori Gray
Tori has been guiding our Pedal Nation tours since 2016 and loves exploring and creating new routes for you to enjoy. Her favourites are the Portugal End to End and the Pyrenees Coast to Coast tours. Tori is a UK Cycling Qualified Cycle Tour Leader and the Sales Manager at A Different Gear – an independent bike shop in Sheffield.
Ken Woodhouse
Ken is a lifelong cyclist who uses his bike for work, transport and leisure. He is a UK Cycling Qualified Cycle Tour Leader and is actively involved in leading rides for his local club, Sheffield CTC. Ken is a national standards Cycling Instructor with Pedal Ready Cycling Training Co-operative. He has cycled extensively in the UK and other European countries.
Angela Walker
Angela is an ultra distance cyclist and loves taking on epic adventures by bike. She is also an advocate for active travel and has given up her car in favour of travelling everywhere by bicycle. In 2017, Angela and her friend Julie entered the Transcontinental Race and became the first female pair to complete the course. Angela has also created her own smaller version of a self-supported ultra distance cycling event – All Points North.
Ruth Noonan
Ruth is a new Pedal Nation guide for 2026. She finds cycling a joyful experience, and really enjoys riding at the back of a group to support and encourage. She holds MIAS level 2 and rides with Derwent Valley Cycling Club. Outside cycle guiding, she is a pilates instructor and personal trainer, and owns her own Pilates studio in Cockermouth. She will happily guide clients through some recovery exercises to keep you in the saddle day after day.
Lucy Burnett
As well as working as Cycling Development Manager for Pedal Nation, Lucy also works as a guide. She has cycled since young, and has since toured extensively in Europe, North and South America and New Zealand, with plans to head to Asia in 2026. But she also loves going fast on her Trek and Orbea road bikes, with a particular love of hills. Also a qualified Mountain Leader, with a City and Guilds in bicycle mechanics: her favourite tours are the NC500 and Costa Blanca Coast and Climbs.
Jago Parfitt
Jago is a new guide for Pedal Nation in 2026, and will be supporting the lead guides on the Lakeland Passes, Costa Blanca Coast & Climbs and The PN Tour de France tours. A lifelong outdoor adventure enthusiast with a love of exploring beautiful landscapes by bike. Favourite cycling places include his native Yorkshire, the Lake District, Wales, The European Alps and Pyrenees (ie he likes hills – both down… and up.) As a day job, Jago is a performing circus artist and enjoys occasional winters working in ski patrol and rescue.
Kate Sullivan
Kate has been guiding for Pedal Nation since 2022. She has worked on the NC500, LEJOG, Portugal and the Road to Vienna, and is lined up for Vienna and NC500 tours (her favourite) again for 2026. She loves long road tours, and recently cycled from South Yorkshire to Aberdeen to catch the ferry onward to Shetland. But she also loves exploring the rough stuff and has done about as many tours off road as on. Self supported off-road tours she has completed include ing Alfred’s Way, the GB Divide, the Calder Divide and the Headwaters Trail and Coasts and Castles.