Railway cycle routes

rmurphy195 · Post by **rmurphy195** » 25 Jan 2015, 1:26pm

Does anyone know of a booklet or publication showing all of the cycle routes on converted rail lines, in the U K. Preferable with maps, a bit like the Ordnace Survey Cycle Tours books, comprehensive enough to follow but comapct enough to carry with me?

I'm familiar with the Tissington, High Peak, Manifold Valley, Forest of Dean etc. as examples of the sort of thing I am talking about.

Cheers - Richard

PS it's old railways I'm particularly interest in exploring!

mercalia · Post by **mercalia** » 25 Jan 2015, 3:15pm

There is the Downslink Way from Guildford to the shoreham on sea , southcoast - for mt bikes as rather rough in many places. Not much railway left though

Post by **Mick F** » 25 Jan 2015, 3:42pm

Can't help with your question, but the local one to here is the Granite Way, the old LMS route that was the Plymouth to Exeter via Okehampton.
http://www.dartmoor.co.uk/cycling/the-g ... ycle-route
Best be quick if you want to cycle on it though ............... they will be re-instating the railway in the next few years.

It's all very well enjoying cycling on disused railbeds, but it would be better for the country as a whole if they put all the railways back.

Post by **Vorpal** » 25 Jan 2015, 4:10pm

The old line to Hadleigh, Suffolk is now part of the NCN. It can be a bit mucky, but it's a pleasant route.

There's also one that goes from Witham to Maldon in Essex. There's a small section where Sustrans couldn't get permission to use it, and users have to revert to the road. Condition is variable, but usually passable on it. Mostly, it's pleasant, but sometimes, it gets a bit overgrown.

My favourite is the Flitch Way, from Braintree to Hatfield forest. Only about half that distance is on converted rail bed, but all of it is a nice ride.

I'm not aware of a list of rail conversion routes, but maybe Sustrans could help? Many of them are part of the cycle network.

landsurfer · Post by **landsurfer** » 25 Jan 2015, 6:41pm

Totally agree with the initial question. I would love a UK rail and mineral tram way route book . I'd buy it. I travel all over the UK fixing trains, always take my bike with me all year round. Love railway cycle routes, and canal paths. After 20 happy years of time trialing I have no guilt in traveling the slightly flatter way lol.
I'd love a comprehensive guide to these routes.
Sheffield to London via rail paths and canals would be a joy for me, my wife and our grandson.

drossall · Post by **drossall** » 25 Jan 2015, 6:46pm

Wikipedia?

mjr · Post by **mjr** » 25 Jan 2015, 7:04pm

Mick F wrote:It's all very well enjoying cycling on disused railbeds, but it would be better for the country as a whole if they put all the railways back.

It need not mean loss of a cycleway: the Flax Bourton Greenway in North Somerset and the Bure Valley Way in Norfolk both run alongside live railways (BVR is narrow gauge though).

NCN 11 follows the fen line north of Cambridge, but wanders off a lot. South of Cambridge it runs alongside for a short while but then wanders again.

Railways and waterways are good basic ideas for cycleways because they're fairly flat and one is fairly direct, but the other can flood!

Galloper · Post by **Galloper** » 25 Jan 2015, 7:30pm

I'm not aware of any comprehensive guide, I suspect your best bet although it would be a lengthy process, is to check each county's web site. I know Durham has some excellent rail paths and details of these with maps are available on their web site.

http://www.thisisdurham.com/outdoors/cy ... ing-routes

landsurfer · Post by **landsurfer** » 25 Jan 2015, 7:51pm

Surely that receiver of massive funding "SUSTRANS" could divert some of their funding , mostly seems to be used on press coverage and looking after London, and producing copies of others resources ,( CTC , our French based touring chums, etc), on a document we would thank them for. Just a thought, Troll free zone.
After all they should be the masters of joined up cycle paths.

NATURAL ANKLING · Post by **NATURAL ANKLING** » 25 Jan 2015, 8:38pm

Hi,
Already mentioned is Granite Way, north Dartmoor starting at Oakhampton.
All Dartmoor

Plym Valley Trail
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Plym_ ... te-58.html
Kings Tor - Prince Town to Yellow Mead Farm / Burrator.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/cyc ... oute.shtml
http://www.richardpovall.net/aha/site/e ... eaflet.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Tor_H ... ay_station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Devo ... ck_Railway
Bovey Tracy going north to Mortenhampstead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovey_railway_station
Puffing Billy - Ivybridge to Red lake plus Avon Dam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/wal ... illy.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haytor_Granite_Tramway

Probably more.........................

ferdinand · Post by **ferdinand** » 25 Jan 2015, 9:36pm

rmurphy195 wrote:Does anyone know of a booklet or publication showing all of the cycle routes on converted rail lines, in the U K. Preferable with maps, a bit like the Ordnace Survey Cycle Tours books, comprehensive enough to follow but comapct enough to carry with me?

I'm familiar with the Tissington, High Peak, Manifold Valley, Forest of Dean etc. as examples of the sort of thing I am talking about.

Cheers - Richard

PS it's old railways I'm particularly interest in exploring!

Suspect it would need far more than a booklet.

F

MikeF · Post by **MikeF** » 25 Jan 2015, 11:43pm

As Vorpal suggests Sustrans must be the best contact for information as they were heavily involved with many old lines.

Other old lines as trails are Cuckoo Trail (part of NCN21) from Polegate to Heathfield in East Sussex. Even where the trail ends at Heathfield route 21 takes you near the old route north of that.
Forest and Worth Ways, Route21, from Groombridge to Three Bridges along much of the old railway.

luminova11 · Post by **luminova11** » 26 Jan 2015, 12:25am

The Camel Trail has two routes. One from Bodmin to Padstow via Wadebridge which follows the old passenger route, and another from Bodmin to Wenford Bridge on Bodmin Moor which follows the old industrial line of the China clay and tin mining industries.

Richard Fairhurst · Post by **Richard Fairhurst** » 26 Jan 2015, 1:17am

Vinter's Railway Gazetteer is what you're looking for: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vinters-Railway ... 0752460110 (also available from non-tax-avoiding bookshops

).

Edit to add: and Railway Ramblers is an organisation you might be interested in, too: http://www.railwayramblers.org.uk/

mrjemm · Post by **mrjemm** » 26 Jan 2015, 9:11am

Mick F wrote:It's all very well enjoying cycling on disused railbeds, but it would be better for the country as a whole if they put all the railways back.

Agreed. And with mjr that we could have both. If only one, then trains please.

No idea of a book, but plenty of routes about. My local is the Lune Millenium Path; Glasson to Claughton on old rail line, and also the path to Morecambe at start of Way of Roses, but there you'd hardly know.

More unconverted lines about too, worth exploring, though now on private land. The LMP above, would continue a few miles more and join the current line at Wennington, but sadly doesn't.

Shame there's nothing here like the Rails to Trails Conservancy (?) they have in the US.

Cycling UK Forum

Railway cycle routes

Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes

Re: Railway cycle routes