Dart Valley Cycleway cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐ This 6.3 mile route is gorgeous, and will make a great day out, but is quite a mix. From the outset, you need to understand that the entire route isn’t traffic-free. Surface on the Dart Valley Cycleway Most of the route has a good tarred surface, but … Read more
Forest of Dean Colliers Trail cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Forest of Dean lies on the edge of the border between England and Wales, and is stunningly beautiful. There are many cycle routes in the forest, but this one is particularly family-friendly, and is entirely traffic-free along its 6.6 mile length. As a there-and-back, … Read more
Roman Road cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ This 12.8 mile route mostly follows the course of an old Roman road, hence the name. Starting in Cambridge, the route is initially on (normally) quiet roads, with a stretch on a segregated cycle path, but soon picks up the actual remains of a Roman road. The route … Read more
Manifold Way cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Manifold Way gets its name from the River Manifold, and that in turn started out as “many folds”, referring to the many meanders. It is a trail built on a disused railway, the old Leek and Manifold Railway, and stretches 8.5 gorgeous miles between Hulme End and Waterhouses. … Read more
Shropshire Union Canal cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The part of the Shropshire Union Canal covered by this guide isn’t in Shropshire at all, but in Cheshire. This route stretches from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port, a distance of 30 miles. Cycling on canal towpaths can be blissfully serene, but comes with challenges. The rewards should … Read more
Whitehaven to Workington & Camerton Railway Path cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Another routes built on a disused railway, the Whitehaven to Workington & Camerton Railway Path cycle route is 12 miles of scenic bliss. The route starts off on smooth tar, with spectacular sea views.Soon, the route will veer away from the sea. You … Read more
Lanchester Valley Railway Path cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Lanchester Valley Railway path runs for 12 miles between Consett in the west and Broompark, near Durham in the east. Like most longer distant paths in County Durham, it follows the route of an old rail line. The westernmost few miles are a very gradual … Read more
South Tyne Trail cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐ Let me start this guide with an important notice: overall, the South Tyne Trail is not a family-friendly, easy route, though parts of it (notably between Haltwhistle and Slaggyford) can be family-friendly. This can best be described as a gravel route (with parts on tar) containing some … Read more
Chester Millenium Greenway cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Chester Millennium Greenway is a 10.7 mile almost completely traffic-free cycle route, built mainly on a disused railway line. As the name suggests, it runs right through the heart of Chester.Because it’s built on a disused railway, the route can feel very disconnected from its surroundings, … Read more
Exe Estuary cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Exe Estuary trail is stunning, and mostly traffic-free, with some on-road sections. This 13-mile, mostly traffic-free cycle route is on the northern side of the estuary, leading to Exmouth. Especially in summer this route can get very busy, so if you’re planning on cycling it, you may … Read more
Brunel Trail overall route rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Brunel Trail is a 9-mile, almost entirely traffic-free cycle route. The route links Neyland with Haverfordwest, mostly via a disused railway line. The full route includes sections on the shared pavement, next to roads. In Haverfordwest, those roads can be busy, and you will need to be very careful … Read more
Alton Water overall route rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Alton Water itself is a reservoir in Suffolk, just south of Ipswitch. This traffic-free cycle route guide is for the route that encircles the reservoir. Depending on the season, and the maintenance schedule, parts of the route may be somewhat overgrown. An initial art of the route is along … Read more
Wirral Way overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Wirral Way forms part of the longer Wirral Circular Trail but this is by far the most popular section, being almost completely traffic free. It follows the route of a disused railway, from West Kirby to Hooton, and offers great views across the Dee Estuary to Wales, over a … Read more
Deerness Valley Railway Path overall cycle route rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Deerness Valley Railway Path is another old railway line in County Durham that was repurposed as a traffic-free cycling and walking trail, after the railway closed in the mid sixties. The path runs for 8.5 miles between Broompark near Durham, westwards to Crook. At Broompark it … Read more
Formartine and Buchan Way overall cycle route rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Formartine and Buchan Way follows a disused railway from Dyce (near Aberdeen) to Maud. At Maud, it branches, and you can opt to ride east to Peterhead, or continue north to Fraserburgh. As you’d expect from a former railway, the route is relatively flat. As … Read more
The Alban Way cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alban Way is a six mile long traffic-free cycle route along a disused railway line, linking St Albans with Hatfield. As is usually the case with routes along old railway lines, it’s very flat. With limited on-road cycling, it is possible to combine this route with the … Read more
Traffic-free gravel routes Lots of people (including me) enjoy gravel routes. Gravel cycling refers to a middle-ground between road cycling and mountain biking, and gravel bikes are generally dropped-bar bikes with chunky tyres. However, for gravel routes, I’m not at all fussed with the type of bike you’ll use to ride the routes. Instead, I’ll … Read more
Rutland Water cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rutland Water is an artificial reservoir, created in the 70’s. There is a mostly traffic-free cycle route that circles it, offering stunning views along the way. Though not extremely hilly, the route still contains some hills that will challenge you a bit. Surface off the Rutland Water cycle … Read more
Nun’s Cross Trail cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐ Nun’s Cross Trail runs from Norsworthy Bridge, Burrator to Princetown, 4.5 miles away. It is graded as a Red route, because there is a stretch where you’ll be riding uphill, over loose rocks, some of which are the size of bowling balls. This route can be combined … Read more
Princetown Railway cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Princetown Railway used to run from Plymouth to Princetown. The route that’s described here starts in Princetown and heads to Burrator Reservoir. It is possible to make it an almost entirely traffic-free loop by combining it with the Nun’s Cross Trail, from Burrator to Princetown. This is … Read more