River Wey Navigation cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐ The River Way Navigation links the Thames Path with Guildford, on a mainly traffic-free route. Most of the route is on the towpath, and towpath cycling can be tricky in places. Especially after rain, and in mid-winter, most towpath routes can be very challenging. However, while a … Read more
Taff Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ Update: Starting January 2023, until further notice, there is a significant disruption to the Taff Trail. The bridge over the A465 at Cefn Coed is being demolished, so the road below can be duelled. In due course, a new bridge will be put in place, though that’s unlikely … Read more
Consett & Sunderland Railway Path Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ The Consett and Sunderland railway path, as the name suggests, is a former railway line which was the Stanhope and Tyne railway. It is also the route of NCN 7 which forms part of the long distance Coast 2 Coast route which runs from Whitehaven in Cumbria … Read more
Overall Route Rating: ⭐⭐ Escape The City is a route that runs from the Thames, up the Lee valley, all the way to the Hertford East train station. It is a 31 miles route that can be rough in places. Some of the route is on shared pavements along fast A-roads. In various places, the … Read more
Brampton Valley Way Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ The Brampton Valley Way is another rail trail. Stretching for 18.6 miles, from Northampton to Market Harborough. The route as show on the map below ends at the Market Harborough train station, and it’s possible to catch a train back to Northampton, but that goes via Milton Keynes and … Read more
Peak Forest & Ashton Canals Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ Stretching for 14 miles from Marple into the centre of Manchester, the Peak Forest Canal and Ashton Canal combine to form a delightful traffic-free route. As you’d expect from a canal towpath route, it’s mainly flat, but do take care at several of the bridges where you … Read more
Gloucester Canal Path Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ The Gloucester Canal Path is a 16 mile canal path along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in Gloucestershire. It is a shared path and popular with walkers and people fishing. It runs from Gloucester to Sharpness. As is expected from a route along a canal, it’s very … Read more
Hornsea Rail Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ The Hornsea Rail Trail links the centre of Hull with Hornsea, 15 miles further along a disused rail trail. Just over half of the route is tarred, with the remainder quite decent compacted gravel. This trail forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail, and is signed as … Read more
Star-rated traffic-free cycle routes As you may have noticed, I started grading the route guides I publish, using a star grading system. This grading system is to give an indication of family-friendliness of a route, which is a grading that will also help new adult cyclists, as well as less confident adult cyclists. Some routes … Read more