Pyrenees is Dallaglio's newest challenge

Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby captain, is helping out his chosen charity by cycling the full length of the Pyrenees.

Dallaglio is to help Bliss, which dedicates its efforts to premature babies, in his mammoth trek across the mountain range in southern France.

Four hotels in the southern France region that are included in the route have encouraged others to visit the area, even if many may not take up Dallaglio's "arduous" trip.

It was noted by the hotels in their statement that the "autumn and winter months are a lovely time to be taking a weekend break," as "the Pyrenees do offer a myriad of activities" for travellers.

The group of hotels added, in thea report published by Easier, that access was a lot easier to the continent, with ferry users perhaps wanting to get in on the action.

Visitors who choose to follow in Dallaglio's tyre tracks will no doubt see a lot of the south of France if they get the ferry over to the Pyrenees, with Lawrence's journey taking him from Biarritz to Banyuls in just eight days, climbing to 16,000m at the highest point.