Looking for 3-4 cycling routes for the UK summer

[simonthread]

Hi, we’re looking for 3-4 cycling routes in the UK - can you help us, please? :)

We’ve never done a cycling trip in your country before, it’s time to change that. We’re planning to spend around 2-3 weeks in the UK this summer and cycle 3-4 short 2-4 days routes. After that I’d love to write about them on our cycling blog.

Since discovering new regions, cultures, landscapes, etc is important to us, we’d like these routes to have different characteristics. Ideally, each should have a thematic focus. For example, one route along a former railway line, another exploring castles of the region, and another following a river.

What’s also important for us is signposting of the routes. We focus on visiting existing cycling routes that are easier for our readers to follow rather than self-planned trips.

And we’d also love to see as much cycling infrastructure as possible on the recommended routes. From dedicated bike paths to other cyclist-friendly amenities. This also aligns with my passion for promoting well-developed, accessible cycling solutions.

Some examples from our previous trips would be the railway cycle route in Hesse, the post-industrial cycling route in Brandenburg or the coastal EuroVelo 10. Each of these routes has its own interesting character.

We’d be happy to visit something well-known, what I could easily find it myself, but we’re especially interested in lesser-known, niche routes - and that’s the kind of advice I'm looking for the most :)

And - of course - all routes should be accessible by train. I love traveling by train, especially with bicycles, and I’m happiest when I can add a new train-and-bike photo to my collection :)

I’m new to your forum :), so if there’s already a recommended “top list” for UK beginners ;) I’d be happy to see it.

Thanks a lot, wishing you all amazing trips in 2025 :)

S.

[richardfm]

The Devon Coast to Coast from Plymouth to Ilfracombe or v.v. is a pretty good fit.

[deeferdonk]

You could probably do a decent loop in the Derbyshire peak district that incorporated the Tissington trail, High Peak Trail and Monsal Trail all former railways that are now cycling friendly trails. Ashbourne, Buxton, Matlock are characterful places to visit.

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elem ... re-map.pdf

[Nearholmer]

The complex of routes that use Marriott’s Way in Norfolk, which are easy to follow, and have a good theme in the former M&GN Railway.

An “invasion coast” one from say Dover or Folkestone westwards along the coast to Pevensey, which has layers of history of attempted or feared invasions from the Romans to WW2, with all sorts of bits of defensive structures of all dates to look at. Not signposted as such, but dead easy to follow (keep the sea on your left, and keep pedalling).

Something canal themed, given that English canals are very distinctive, interesting, and dead-easy to follow. I won’t suggest a particular one, because I don’t know the north of England well, and I suspect that the best might be there.

[st599_uk]

Do you want road routes or happy with gravel trails?

Cycling UK have a number of routes with guides and maps available. Could be a good starting point - https://www.cyclinguk.org/routes

Then there are some beautiful rides in the North of England, Hadrian's Wall, Coast and Castles, Reivers Way.

[POIDH]

....

[Thehairs1970]

Seconded for Devon C2C. I am worried you may be disappointed by our trains. Expensive, limited bike spaces and spaces which are not suitable for loaded tourers. There are various posts on here about trains - some services seem better than others. I’d recommend being ready to drop your panniers off to enable you to be able to hang the bikes if necessary. There won’t be room, if that is the system, to leave them on.

Suffolk and Norfolk also have some nice rides and if you could get up to Scotland…

[Ron]

Aberdeen - Inverness might meet some of your requirements, a main line station at each end. (You will be saved from hearing the video soundtrack on the route )
https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s ... ction=view
Perth to Inverness, a cycle route exists running roughly parallel to (but not on) the A9 road, and Inverness Perth rail route. Some parts of the cycle route are on a segregated path other parts on less busy roads. The quality of surface of the segregated sections gives rise to complaints from time to tme.

[iannai]

If there is a big group of you travelling together rail will be awkward. Also you generally need to reserve places on express trains which may have only two places. In some areas of the UK such as London and parts of the south-eat local travel with a bike is not allowed at peak hours, Otherwise it's usually fairly easy to turn up and go. The UK is presently broken up by regional train operating companies with their own sites and own bike policies all using a central booking system. For passenger bookings it does not matter which site you use, but for bikes you have to generally book on the site of the train's operator. If you are happy to pay a fee, a site called trainline makes it simpler. https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/gre ... eservation has a good summary of what operators offer cyclists.

You may get some good ideas from looking at longer rides on Audax UK. The routes have been checked by the organiser who will know the area well and generally keep you on minor roads but fairly direct and can go near interesting places, plus the routes are unlikely to be busy with other tourers except on event day.. An example might be my own event the Arts and Sciences 600K. It gets you from inner London to a very interesting place called Ironbridge (it goes on but of less tourist interest, mainly). Its local station Telford has trains to mid-Wales which could form another tour. Oxford, places in the Cotswolds and various country houses are easy, short diverts. If the event page on AUK does not show a GPX you can invariably find one on RideWithGPS or other similar sites.

[eileithyia]

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other- ... cycle-way/

The New Forest.
As someone has suggested compile together some of the old railways that are now cycle routes; Tissington High Peak and Manifold etc.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/king-alfreds-way

[simonthread]

Thank you very, very much! :)

I'm not responding to all the suggestions because I need to analyze everything first. But:

Do you want road routes or happy with gravel trails?

Gravel is fine, but the one with good quality. Like this one in Franconia:



... and not like this one in Lapland ;)

(reindeer could stay)

If there is a big group of you travelling together rail will be awkward.

Just my wife and me.

I would suggest a route in each of our four nations - that could give you a really flavour for each country?

I love this idea the most, but I'm afraid it would take a lot of time to travel between the routes :(


Many thanks to all of you! I appreciate every post.

S.

[mdskids]

The Lakes and Dales Loop is a superb route that deserves more praise. Since it's a loop you can start and finish from Penrith train station (which is on the main West Coast line, so a handy stop if you are heading up to Scotland). Takes you through some gorgeous parts of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley whilst avoiding the more busy areas. It's 200 miles and a fair bit of climbing, but none of it is too steep as it avoids the big Lake District passes. There's a good website with suggested stop off points depending on how many days you want to take.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Three in Wales:

For a four-day route, if you're feeling fit, I'd always suggest Lon Las Cymru. It's tough but spectacular.

The Heads of the Valleys is still a bit of a "work in progress" but has some good new infrastructure, with a mix of beautiful natural scenery and post-industrial landscapes.

The North Wales Coast is significantly traffic-free though there's still the gap between Prestatyn and Bagillt, where you either need to stick to the busy roads on the coast or go inland on some hilly minor roads.

[keyboardmonkey]

Especially if you are arriving by ferry at the port of Hull there is the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route. A pleasant loop incorporating the many varied features and terrain of the Yorkshire Wolds and coast. Do it clockwise:

https://www.yorkshirewoldscycleroute.co.uk/the-route

[richardfm]

Have a look here https://cycle.travel/routes lots of good ideas