As with everything right now please take note that there may be disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That being said outdoor activity is almost always a good idea and exploring by bike is a great option. That is why we have come up with a list of some of the best cycle routes the UK has to offer. We will cover everything from long-distance bike rides to shorter more achievable rides.
Best cycle routes: Southern England
The Bristol to Bath cycle route.
An easy 15 mile long cycle route.
This is a great way to combine two great cities into one day trip. In addition its a great one for racers, commuters, pootlers or even toddlers, the path sees cyclists of all ages and abilities. Its a path that doesn’t discriminate. Top the trip off with an ice cream from the Warmley café or even have a sit down lunch at one of the pubs in Saltford.
This route is one of many off-road paths developed and maintained by sustainable transport charity Sustrans with others ranging from the Camel Trail in Cornwall to the Spen Valley Greenway in Dewsbury.
Cornwalls Camel Trail.
An easy 18 mile long cycle route.
Now that we’ve mentioned it, it wouldn’t be right not to suggest this wonderful route. Great for both cycles and pedestrians, with various breath-taking views of the Camel Estuary. Part of it being named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the additional prospect of spotting wildlife like otters, dormice, kingfishers and bats.
This route runs along an old railway line so it’s presently flat, perfect for family bike rides. After just 5 miles you can stop off at Wadebridge, witness the Camel Valley Vineyard, or carry on another six miles and hit Bodmin, towards the hills of the moor.
Best cycle routes UK: Wales
The Great Orme
An easy and short route of only 5 miles.
Being both very short and very sweet, this is a charming stretch of road perfect for cycling that covers limestone headland above the Welsh seaside town of Llandudno. The name, which was given by the Vikings, actually means ‘sea monster’ and is what this textured protuberance resembles from the town’s promenade.
Coming 207m out of the sea it’s seen as a mini-mountain to the residents here, experienced best by bike. With such memorable views, be sure to keep at least one eye on the route.
Best cycle routes UK: Eastern England
Norfolks Cromer Ridge.
A moderately difficult 14 mile route.
Whilst east Anglia isn’t renowned for its hills, this takes in the highest point in Norfolk, known as Beacon Hill, which actually stands at 103 metres. With that in mind the views from these paths create a great cycling route, as you blissfully travel past Cromer’s Victorian Pier, flint villages and the National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall.
Despite being one of many Sustrans’ Cycle Route’s, being number 30, some sections are off-road and uneven. It’s a circular route that will take you around three hours but if you want to spare yourself two miles return to Felbrigg Park from Aylmerton Church.
Best cycle routes UK: northern England
Keswich Loop
A difficult 26 mile route.
As a cycling destination, the Lake District has few competitors and the market town of Keswick is a perfect place to start. Start here and travel anti-clockwise, it will take you to the best mountain passes in the whole park. Whinlatter, to start, is a relatively gentle two-mile climb carved through Britain’s only true mountain forest of the same name and a regional mountain biking hotspot.
Followed by Honister, starting by Buttermere Lake, where the route transitions to something far more challenging towards the summit. You’ll likely feel very remote but like most climbs in the Lakes, you’re never too far off the grid.
Best cycle routes: Scotland
Applecross peninsula, via Bealach Na Ba
A moderately difficult 44 mile route.
The wild, single-track mountain pass of Bealach Na Bà is the closest thing we have in Britain to the wonders of the Alps. Linking the incredibly remote village of Applecross with the rest of the UK, the Bealachis is one of the longest climbs in Britain and boasts a height gain of 626m.
Start from Shieldaig with the shortest loop of 44 miles, head clockwise to catch the climb from its best side. Attempt it in the summer, getting caught out in the cold on this peninsula is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry and we would not recommend.
Best cycle routes UK: Northern Ireland
Slieve Croob..
A difficult 25 mile route.
To the south of the capital – Belfast, in good weather, the Slieve Croob and Mourne mountain can provide breathtaking views over to the Isle of Man. The route begins in Castlewellan, a charming market town, and passes through the Castlewellan Forest Park right by Slieve Croob mountain which stands at 500 meters above sea level.
It’s a circular route and eventually finishes back in the same market town of Castlewellan with a difficult uphill climb, make sure not to burn out before this final stretch!
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