I think the OP would gain more by focussing the Q eg routes for families, multiday trips, UK or overseas etc.
However, I'd throw in my favourite local day rides in the Dales. Kingsdale-Dentdale-Barbondale which can start in Ingleton or as a longer ride in my case. A second is Swaledale and Arkengarthdale from Reeth or Richmond. Finally Halton Gill, Littondale, Malham.
Your favourite routes
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phil parker
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: 31 Dec 2009, 5:09pm
- Location: Hants/Wilts
Re: Your favourite routes
No way! I'd like to keep them to myself.... don't want to arrive at the cafe and find I can't get a seat!
Re: Your favourite routes
Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X2, Raleigh 20 stowaway X2, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840, Giant Bowery, Apollo transition. 
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keyboardmonkey
- Posts: 1152
- Joined: 1 Dec 2009, 5:05pm
- Location: Yorkshire
Re: Your favourite routes
I have a couple of loops in the Yorkshire Moors and Dales that I’ll try to dig out, but here’s one from the Yorkshire Wolds:
Hockney Trail: a cyclist’s route - https://www.yorkshirewoldscycleroute.co ... ists-route - which showcases the variety of scenery on that area, including the coast. Parts of the Yorkshire Wolds are currently being assessed by Natural England for AONB status and this route covers much of the area Hockney cycled as a lad back in the 50s.
A bit hilly, but not exceptionally so. A fair few cafes and accommodation on the route. Can also be done as two smaller loops over a weekend maybe.
Hockney Trail: a cyclist’s route - https://www.yorkshirewoldscycleroute.co ... ists-route - which showcases the variety of scenery on that area, including the coast. Parts of the Yorkshire Wolds are currently being assessed by Natural England for AONB status and this route covers much of the area Hockney cycled as a lad back in the 50s.
A bit hilly, but not exceptionally so. A fair few cafes and accommodation on the route. Can also be done as two smaller loops over a weekend maybe.
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phil parker
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: 31 Dec 2009, 5:09pm
- Location: Hants/Wilts
Re: Your favourite routes
In addition to the Wiltshire Cycleway, mentioned on this thread in an earlier post, 3 of my recently completed cycle rides, which I thoroughly enjoyed for similar reasons. All of these rides are on quiet roads, and the Sustrans routes also have a lot of non-traffic cycle-ways. Although fairly long in distance, they are otherwise leisurely with a bit of challenge on the Devon Coast-to-Coast.
Bath to Bournemouth Sustrans route:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-rout ... urnemouth/
Devon Coast-to-Coast, Ilfracombe to Plymouth Sustrans route (we cycled around Plymouth on arrival, just to get the clock to 100 miles)
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-rout ... -to-coast/
Finally, a route in Norfolk, to take advantage of the flatter topography, avoiding main roads where possible, some NCN routes, and some places of interest to visit. The route planned by my friend and cycling partner from the Premier Inn at Great Yarmouth to the Premier Inn at Kings Lynn, along and inland from the coast, and one of my favourite one-day routes of all.
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/247674 ... emier-inns
Bath to Bournemouth Sustrans route:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-rout ... urnemouth/
Devon Coast-to-Coast, Ilfracombe to Plymouth Sustrans route (we cycled around Plymouth on arrival, just to get the clock to 100 miles)
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-rout ... -to-coast/
Finally, a route in Norfolk, to take advantage of the flatter topography, avoiding main roads where possible, some NCN routes, and some places of interest to visit. The route planned by my friend and cycling partner from the Premier Inn at Great Yarmouth to the Premier Inn at Kings Lynn, along and inland from the coast, and one of my favourite one-day routes of all.
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/247674 ... emier-inns
Re: Your favourite routes
One of my favourite rides is a round of Crickhowell, Hay on Wye and Gospel Pass.
I used to ride with a gang of people from Bristol and North Somerset who incidently were Paragliders and Hill Walkers.
Our weekend abode was Park Farm campsite (alas, no longer there), at Llangatock.
The route commenced with a short leg west on the B 4558 to Llanganidr, then over the river Usk and on up hill to join the A40. A short run east toward Crickhowell, then a left turn down a nice quiet lane to Cwmdu.The route then takes you north on the A479 to a summit at Pengenffordd, where a quiet lane takes you down a long decent to Talgarth. Lovely views here of the Wye Valley and the northern ramparts of the Black Mountains.After a short leg of the A4078 you join a quiet road via Tregoyd to Bibliograpic Central,Hay on Wye.
There are a host of cafes here to fortify yourselves for the collar work to come!
South and up out of the town, a well signposted (Gospel Pass) road commences the long climb. There is a particularly steep bit up a gulley, then a very expansive view to the west of the Breacon Beacons. A steady ascent eventually breasts the pass and views down the lovely vale of Eywas open up. The first leg is a steep drop off and reminds me of the decent into Warfedale from Fleet Moss.
There is a Youth Hostel up on the right slope which amazingly is still open!
reaching the valley bottom, the road undulates and soon you reach Llantony Priory where you might get a pint!
From here you carry on down valley to Stanton where you take a right for the climbs to Forest Coalpit and the start at Crickhowell.
Thankfully, the sun allways shone when I rode this round, but It could be nasty on the exposed few miles to the top of the pass where the prevailing wind would drive in from the south west.
Crickhowell is a really great center for rides in both the Black Mountains and the Breacons.
I used to ride with a gang of people from Bristol and North Somerset who incidently were Paragliders and Hill Walkers.
Our weekend abode was Park Farm campsite (alas, no longer there), at Llangatock.
The route commenced with a short leg west on the B 4558 to Llanganidr, then over the river Usk and on up hill to join the A40. A short run east toward Crickhowell, then a left turn down a nice quiet lane to Cwmdu.The route then takes you north on the A479 to a summit at Pengenffordd, where a quiet lane takes you down a long decent to Talgarth. Lovely views here of the Wye Valley and the northern ramparts of the Black Mountains.After a short leg of the A4078 you join a quiet road via Tregoyd to Bibliograpic Central,Hay on Wye.
There are a host of cafes here to fortify yourselves for the collar work to come!
South and up out of the town, a well signposted (Gospel Pass) road commences the long climb. There is a particularly steep bit up a gulley, then a very expansive view to the west of the Breacon Beacons. A steady ascent eventually breasts the pass and views down the lovely vale of Eywas open up. The first leg is a steep drop off and reminds me of the decent into Warfedale from Fleet Moss.
There is a Youth Hostel up on the right slope which amazingly is still open!
reaching the valley bottom, the road undulates and soon you reach Llantony Priory where you might get a pint!
From here you carry on down valley to Stanton where you take a right for the climbs to Forest Coalpit and the start at Crickhowell.
Thankfully, the sun allways shone when I rode this round, but It could be nasty on the exposed few miles to the top of the pass where the prevailing wind would drive in from the south west.
Crickhowell is a really great center for rides in both the Black Mountains and the Breacons.
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roubaixtuesday
- Posts: 6602
- Joined: 18 Aug 2015, 7:05pm
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Mike Sales
- Posts: 8279
- Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm
Re: Your favourite routes
I used to live in Bangor (Gwynedd) and there were so many great rides that choice is hard. Perhaps my favourite, if only because I could fit it in after work, was up to Ogwen Cottage.
I would start up from Port Penrhyn (limbo under a bar without stopping) and then up along the valley of the Afon Cegin on an old railway track through the trees. Later into the hills, at first the flat bottom of the Ogwen valley, up the old road and then the three short but steep pitches, topped by a sloping sheep grid. I could pause to look round the crags where I had spent so many fun days. Turn onto the Telford Road, the A5, and rush down home flowing round the bends, including the tight one by the Halfway House, where the garden wall was often damaged by motors.
Sometimes I would turn onto the lanes for a pleasant, quiet finish, avoiding the city's traffic, down the precipitous Lon Pobty. Twenty miles of pleasure.
I have greatly enjoyed this remembrance of so many spins of the cranks. Even the many hills are easy in retrospect.
That's twenty miles that I can recall in much more detail!
I would start up from Port Penrhyn (limbo under a bar without stopping) and then up along the valley of the Afon Cegin on an old railway track through the trees. Later into the hills, at first the flat bottom of the Ogwen valley, up the old road and then the three short but steep pitches, topped by a sloping sheep grid. I could pause to look round the crags where I had spent so many fun days. Turn onto the Telford Road, the A5, and rush down home flowing round the bends, including the tight one by the Halfway House, where the garden wall was often damaged by motors.
Sometimes I would turn onto the lanes for a pleasant, quiet finish, avoiding the city's traffic, down the precipitous Lon Pobty. Twenty miles of pleasure.
I have greatly enjoyed this remembrance of so many spins of the cranks. Even the many hills are easy in retrospect.
That's twenty miles that I can recall in much more detail!
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Re: Your favourite routes
The finished article is out and includes several of the suggestions made on here, credited to the relevant forum IDs:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/25-gr ... outes-2025
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/25-gr ... outes-2025