PH wrote:I've done a fair bit of NCN 6 in two sections.
North from Derby to Preston, it meanders to say the least, I think it's a joining up of several pre existing routes and certainly isn't the one most people would use between those points. it starts be heading out in the wrong direction avoiding the Peak District and then turns at Sheffield for a tough ride across it. It then becomes an urban route, probably useful to some locals but not my idea of ideal touring. I wasn't camping so have no recommendations. If you haven't already done it I'd recommend NCN 68 as a better route North from the E Midlands.
I know the Derby to Leicester section very well, I ought to it passes my front door, good trail for the first few miles then mainly quiet Lanes to Leic and a simple route through the city before returning to the lanes.
I've followed it from Leic to St Albans with a friend who hadn't cycled much, three days at around 40 miles a day, camping with me towing the kit on a trailer. We didn't stick to it religiously, detouring to camp at Wickstead and later to visit friends. I'd say we were on route 80% and I thought it a good one, the tracks were all good enough and some of the lanes very scenic. We had no problems with the trailer on any section we did. Not the fastest route South but I'd use it again. From St Albans we stayed on the NCN cutting across to Potters Bar then on to NCN 1 and down the Lee Valley into the Olympic Park. We camped at Wickstead a big commercial park but plenty of room, just outside Milton Keynes and Potters Bar, they were all OK but I wouldn't go out of my way to return to any of them.