Hairy Bikers' Bakeation — Season 1

The Hairy Bikers start their epic 5,000-mile bakeation in Kristiansund on Norway's stunning west coast. They ride out along the Atlantic highway, ferry-hopping from island to island, and enjoy the thrillingbiking provided by the spectacular roads that hug the rugged coastline of the fjords before arriving in the capital, Oslo, for the annual Norway Day celebrations.As they travel, they meet extraordinary artisan bakers, who are only too keen to teach them how to make their Norwegian specialities. They also meet some talented home-bakers, including 95-year-old Nikka, who rustles up waffles on her 65-year-old waffle iron. The Bikers choose amazing locations to cook some of their favourite Norwegian recipes: Scandinavian rye bread, cardamom and lemon cookies, and pirogi (ham- and Jarlsberg-filled pastries).On their travels, they taste the Norwegian delicacies of brown cheese and aquavit, Si rediscovers his Viking roots, and they both push themselves to the limit when they attempt the Olympic bobsleigh run.

The second leg of the Hairy Bikers' Bakeation begins on the flatlands of the Netherlands where they bake lazybones buns beside a windmill and discover that the Netherlands baking tradition reflects the country's past as a nation at the heart of the spice trade. This is particularly true of the classic Dutch apple pie, smothered in cinnamon and some traditional Jewish buns coated in muscovado sugar.Their next port of call is Belgium, where they cook up an indulgent Belgian chocolate truffle cheesecake but not before they have tasted the chocolate delights of Bruges, including chocolate tequila cocktails. In front of the Atomium and surrounded by curious Chinese tourists, they rustle up a mouth-watering pork pie with Riesling jelly. The third country on this leg of their trip is Luxembourg.Along the way they meet some real characters; Michelin-starred chef Lea makes macaroons with ice cream on top; Harry bakes traditional sweet buns but his real passion is VW campervans and a shock-o-latier (chocolatier), Dominique, invites them to snort chocolate powder using a device invented for the Rolling Stones.

Germany is one of Dave's favourite countries. Travelling from the wine region of the Rhine Valley to the spiritual home of beer, Bavaria, the Bikers discover Germany's passion for bread of every shape, size andflavour. They prove that German cuisine isn't all sausages and beer, but is based on regional specialities from pretzels and Germany's white gold - white asparagus - to kirschwasser and Black Forest gateau.Dave and Si turn out first-class potato bread with asparagus soup and their new and improved version of the 1970s classic Black Forest gateau. As they approach the end of their ride in Bavaria, they borrow a communal village wood oven to rustle up bierocks - meat-filled rolls - the perfect accompaniment to a stein of beer. They follow the Zoigl star, symbol of local micro-breweries, and find themselves singing along to an oompah band in a traditional Bavarian tavern. Spectacular countryside, great food and Germany as never seen before.

The halfway point of the Hairy Bikers' Bakeation sees them journey to the furthest reaches of Europe culminating in an amazing family party thrown by Dave's wife Lil, who comes from Romania. Three countries,Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, provide the Bikers with ample opportunity to explore some great baking. It all starts in a café in Bratislava, where the Bikers are served three cakes which, believe it or not, are inspired by British TV cookery shows.They also have an encounter with kremesh, the Hungarian take on a vanilla slice, served in a café that survived the ravages of communism; langos, a roadside snack of deep-fried pastry with sour cream and cheese, and Tokaj wine, the choice of kings once more prized than any wine made in France.The Bikers keep their end of the culinary deal with zemlovka, an Eastern European take on the classic bread and butter pudding, some amazing cheese and bacon savoury scones, a robust goulash stew and a curly pie made especially for the family party in Romania.

The home of Mozart, The Sound of Music and Arnold Schwarzenegger provides the fifth leg of the Hairy Bikers' adventure. The trip starts in Vienna, patisserie capital of the world, and ends atop the spectacularGrossglockner Alpine pass, one of the world's most spectacular biking roads.In Vienna, Si and Dave unravel the mystery of the two competing sachertorte recipes and taste the latest version - sachertorte 'reloaded'. They make apfelstrudel with the owner of a roadside B&B, cook linzertorte in Linz and a chocolate gugelhupf cake for a bunch of bikers from Huddersfield.Along the way, they also meet a former baking world champion to see how he has reinvented gingerbread, and discover the 'green gold' of Austria - nutritious, delicious pumpkin seed oil. In this largely Catholic country, the Bikers overnight in a monastery and are up with the lark to cook kipferl, a giant 'brioche meets croissant', for the monks' breakfast.And, of course, you can't travel through Austria without learning to yodel. That is where Fritz comes in, mountain man, wood-fire cook and yodel coach - a real one-off.

It's the sixth leg of the Hairy Bikers' adventure and they have made it as far as southern Europe, Italy to be precise. Starting in Venice, the Bikers have to abandon their bikes in favour of a more elegant form of transport, the gondola, but that doesn't stop them cooking. By the side of a canal, they bake a classic focaccia with rosemary.But it's not long before they are back on the road, making a dash for Turin to help celebrate Italy's 150th birthday. In between, they cook a stromboli (American-style rolled-up pizza) and visit a hazelnut farm to learn the secrets of a certain hazelnut and chocolate spread.But it's off the beaten track that they enjoy the 'real Italy'; a pasta pie on the back streets of Ferrara, catching up with Si's sister who lives in Tuscany, visiting old friends at their weekend retreat for a Tuscan feast and the chance to relive The Italian Job on the rooftop track of the old Fiat factory. World-class food, stunning scenery and fantastic people!

Many people regard France as the home of gastronomy and Lyon the culinary capital of France, so that is where the journey across France begins as Dave and Si explore the 'bouchon' - a restaurant traditionallyrun by a female chef or 'mere Lyonnaise'.As for their own efforts, they start with a tarte aux pralines and create a saucisson-stuffed brioche. After a quick stop to learn the secrets of teeth-pulling nougat in Montelimar, they go truffle-hunting for the famous white summer truffle, which they use to make truffle-infused butter and brie. En route, they also bake an apricot tarte tatin and a delectable flan de Saint Jean de Minervois (like a crème caramel but made with lavender honey and dessert wine).But it is not all baking on this trip. They also meet up with Dave's old flatmate, French Pat, who he has not seen for 30 years, and they are inducted into the Ancient Order of the Cassoulet when they reach their journey's end in Carcassonne.

After nearly 5,000 miles, the Hairy Bikers reach the last leg of their journey, which takes them through northern Spain. Their journey starts in San Sebastian, where they get stuck in to the local cuisine withpinchos (tapas gone large!), a traditional Basque dining club and goose barnacles, a challenging local delicacy.They bake up a storm too, in the form of a pan rustico (traditional bread), a fabulous Basque chicken pie and a seafood empanada, packed with locally caught fish. But that's not all. They also learn the secret properties of spelt, Europe's forgotten grain, and use it to bake, not only bread, but a giant spelt sausage roll packed with chorizo.In Galicia, they join in local celebrations - a quiemada - which involve flaming liquour and an ancient pagan ceremony. Their 5,000-mile adventure ends in Santiago de Compostela with a spectacular firework display to celebrate the 800th anniversary of St James. Great food and great company, the Spanish leg is a fitting end to the Hairy Bikers' brilliant Bake-ation.