Cycling UK Forum

what i'm after is a campsite in the north of england with 20 or 30 miles of mostly traffic free, mostly blacktop cycling. My partner & I have 2 little ones, probably riding tagalongs, in tow. scenery, hills, paddling opportunities, beers & icecream would be a bonus too.

Gibraltar Farm at Silverdale, near Carnforth, is a favourite of mine.

The campsite looks over Morecambe Bay to Grange. There are various coves (but watch out for the fast in coming tide), hills (of a reasonably child friendly size) and woods (with interesting things to find in them) to explore . There are quite a few quiet lanes (& some not so quiet) to explore by bike (The Lancashire Cycleway goes through Silverdale).

Rick.

It's not exactly a campsite, but it's child-friendly and cyclist-friendly, and it's not too far form the stunning views on Hadrian's Wall. The Birdoswald Roman Fort often has activities for children, both indoor and outdoor things to see, and a decent tea room

There's also plenty of nice cycling in the area. The Hadrian's Wall route runs near.

http://www.thescypen.co.uk/content/welcome-our-website They seem to be redoing the website, but their contact information is on it.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/days ... ians-wall/

I don't know about paddling opportunities (I'm sure they can be found, but I haven't looked for them), but beer, ice cream, and hills abound

Possibly not far enough north, but the Royal Oak pub in Hurdlow (near Buxton) has a small campsite, and is right at the end of the Tissington Trail: not blacktop, but well-surfaced (and there are plenty of quiet roads round there too). Pub/Campsite: http://www.peakpub.co.uk/ Peak District Cycling: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/cycle/cycling-information/cyclingnearyou

The Tissington Trail is great - easy cycling, good views, cafe stops , stuff to look at on the way. Very family friendly and an excellent campsite at Flagg - a small hamlet south east of Buxton - You will find the details on campsite uk or a websearch of Flagg camping should do the trick. If you can move the bikes by car then you can have a second day cycling round Carsington Water nearby. Easy parking, cafe, bird hides and sailing to watch plus an easy ride of about 16,miles all the way round the reservoir. You can link the two rides and return to the start near Flagg on a third rail trail al in all abot 38 miles but there are a couple of hills between them which I guess might be difficult with tag alongs.

Or you can add in the Monsal trail on another day - the kids will love the tunnels mine did and they are in their 20s!!!!!

If you do a websearch for the Tissigton Trail you will find all the details. Derbyshire County Council have six or seven cycle route packs for old railway and other quite road trails which can be downloaded.

I see from my posting in the campsite reviews sectionfrom 2011 that the site at Flagg is called Knotlow Farm.

Re Tissington trsil, there are a couple of campsites just north of Ashbourne.

thanks for the replies so far.

we stayed at gibralter farm a couple of years back. a great little place. It think it ticks all the boxes except perhaps traffic free cycling. the roads round there are pretty though.

the tissington trail sounds good. they should be up for that.

I'm watching this post with interest as we have two young children also and would like a similair type holiday in the North. Here is what is near to us.

Thurstaston is on the Wirral way. There is a campsite there near the shore and one in an award winning farm shop called Church Farm. I don't think either allow tents though, you would have to check. The wirral way runs for about 12miles from West Kirby to Hooton, and although its not blacktop its fine for taking the kids cycling. Views can be lovely across to Wales. I was recently informed that a new route is a short deviation from the Wirral way and runs from Burton to Shotton, this I've heard is Blacktop. From West Kirby you can travel to Hoylake (a mile or so) and then go from Hoylake to Seacombe along the seafront. From Hooton if you know the route, a very traffic free ride is possible to the city of Chester, very quiet roads and alongside railway tracks and canal.

As far as Ice Cream goes, Parkgate is along the Wirral Way, and has two award winning Ice Cream shops and a great fish and chip shop. Nice restaurants also. West kirby has similair places. Ness Gardens maybe worth a visit. Here are some links.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/detai ... revid=5424
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co ... ?id=108081
http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home ... ycle-route

Best regards,
bs

+1 for Tissington Trail

Woodhall Spa....Jubilee Camp site..swimming pool..You have the Water Rail way all the way to Lincoln..about 20 miles off road...and 20 back.good road surface...cafes..cinema...You can ride to Horncastle..on quiet roads..and from Woodhall Spa lots of very flat rural roads..to Bardney..Wragby....Also have a castle to visit at Tattershall..Lancaster revving up at East Kirkby..Skegness not too far away for fish and chips and ice cream..What more could you ask for?

Derbyshire. The following campsite is next to the Monsal Trail. 10 miles to Bakewell, where you can have lunch. There are also other cafes, icecream stops en route. This is my favourite of all the Peak District trails, as it uses the old Monsal railway line, and all the tunnels have recently been opened up. It is spectacular. My boys, 5 and 10, love it. There are also geocaches en route. The campsite and facilities are fabulous, and reasonably priced too.

http://www.beechcroftfarm.co.uk/

There are plenty of other traffic free cycle trails in Derbyshire which would only be a short drive away. Tissington Trail, High Peak Trail and a circuit of Derwent Reservoir.
In addition, there are loads of things to do if the weather is poor!!!

The campsite at Holwick, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, would be perfect. Tucked away on the one-way road from Middleton, with a farm shop and pub next door, and a short walk (about 3/4 of a mile) from Wynch Bridge and Low Force.

And obviously there are plenty of quiet, hilly roads around Teesdale. There's a lovely short loop to the north of Middleton around Hudeshope Beck. The last time I rode around there, the locals were shocked to see anyone else.