A DAD says his family's 20 month adventure through South America has given his two children a "priceless" life experience.

Steve and Pippa Genner, along with sons Henry, 14, and 12 year-old Charlie, have returned to their home in Wolferlow, Bromyard from a cycling trip through a dozen countries.

The family began in southern Mexico, before cycling the Chiapas into Guatemala, then through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama before boating through the San Blas islands to Colombia, then Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

They then crossed into Argentina and finished their epic adventure in Uruguay.

"We wanted Henry and Charlie to have a more rounded educational experience and there is no doubt they received that," said Mr Genner, who is 53.

"We gave them curriculum-based one-to-one while out there but everything else they experienced was priceless.

"They saw things we couldn't believe and had an insight into those living in poverty."

The youngsters, both pupils at the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School in Hereford, have now become fluent in Spanish.

"Everyone should try something lie this," said Mr Genner, a bikeability instructor - formerly cycling proficiency.

"We were in each country for about four to six weeks on average.

"I think we all have different moments we remember but I think mine and Henry's favourite was the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia.

"It is totally white. You can't see anything else."

Despite travelling through many areas of extreme poverty, Mr Genner says he never felt physically vulnerable.

"There were a lot of things we were aware of," he said.

"Peru is a very poor country and has a history of opportunism.

"As we got nearer to this one place we talked to the police beforehand and received a police escort through the town.

"That's the only time I thought 'this might not be very nice', but it was fine."

Mr Genner admits that, much as he loves living in Herefordshire, it was hard settling back into county life.

He says he and his wife will "probably" embark on another cycling adventure in the future.