Bowes Railway Path Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Bowes line is an old railway, which like many others in north East England was built by George Stephenson. It originally ran to carry coal from collieries around Dipton in County Durham down to ships moored on the Tyne in Jarrow. Most of it is now a walking … Read more
Port Talbot to Kidwelly Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Part of the Celtic Trail, the 34 miles of mostly traffic-free cycling between Port Talbot and Kidwelly is cycling bliss. Just be aware from the outset that it isn’t a continuous traffic-free ride – there are segments on shared pavements, short sections on quieter urban roads, and some … Read more
Prestatyn to Rhos-on-Sea Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This stunning and mainly flat route of 15.2 miles winds its way from Prestatyn to Rhos-on-Sea, almost entirely traffic-free. I started the route on the map at Prestatyn train station, and ended it just past the Colwyn Bay station. That allows you the option of cycling it … Read more
Isn’t WillCycle all about cycle touring? WillCycle has a strong focus on cycle camping and cycle touring, but the site isn’t limited to just those two subjects. Many posts deal with related topics, such as navigation, while others deal with climate change. Traffic-free cycling is blissful cycling I’ve cycled on roads in London, and several … Read more
Marriott’s Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Marriott’s Way is a shared path of 26 miles, linking Norwich with Aylsham via a circuitous route. As you’d expect from a trail on a disused railway, it’s very flat. There are sculptures or benches at every mile marker, and a bike shop inside the old signal box … Read more
Middlewood Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Middlewood Way is a disused railway line, running for 10.4 miles between Macclesfield and Marple. As is the case whenever possible, the route starts right by Macclesfield train station, and ends at Marple station. Do note that to catch a train from one station to the other … Read more
Bristol & Bath Railway Path Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Bristol and Bath Railway Path (BBRP for short) was Sustrans’ very first shared path in the UK. It runs – unsurprisingly – between Bristol and Bath and is 16 miles long. Though most of it is entirely traffic-free, the route shown on the map below starts … Read more
Cloud Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Cloud Trail runs from the close to the Derby town centre, and runs for 13 miles to Worthington. It starts off following the river Derwent, then follows the Derby Canal Path, before joining a disused railway path. I started this route right from Derby train station, meaning … 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
Two Tunnels Greenway Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Two Tunnels Greenway got it’s name because (you guessed it!) the route runs through two tunnels. One of those, the Combe Down Tunnel, is just over a mile long, and is the longest tunnel on a traffic-free cycling route in the UK. For the purposes of this guide, … Read more
Colliers Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Colliers Way is a disused railway in Somerset. Sustrans says it stretches for 17.5 miles from Frome to Monkton Combe. However, from Radstock to Monkton Combe is mainly on-road, albeit mostly on (normally) quiet lanes. As a result, this guide covers just the segment from Frome to Radstock, … Read more
Cuckoo Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Cuckoo Trail runs from Heathfield to Polegate, passing through Hellingly, Horam, and Hailsham. The trail got its name from an old tradition of releasing a cuckoo at the Heathfield Fair, and offers 14 miles of traffic-free bliss in East Sussex. This is a disused railway, and so … 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
Union Canal Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Union Canal, starts by the Falkirk Wheel and ends Edinburgh, 34 miles away. It is a contour canal, therefore has no climbing. There are three aqueducts and two tunnels and the path along each of those is narrow and cobbled, so it’s suggested that you walk your … Read more
Cambridge Guided Busway Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Cambridge Guided Busway was originally built as a service road for the busway. Sadly, when it floods (as it does from time to time) the local authority refuses to do anything about it, claiming it’s a service road. However, when talking about what they’re doing for … Read more
Forth and Clyde Canal Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Forth and Clyde Canal links Glasgow with Falkirk, and most of the 35 miles of towpath is tarred. It is a stunning, flat (as you’d expect from a canal towpath) route, but it’s not perfect. For a significant part of the canal, the towpath is … Read more
Granite Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Granite Way is traffic-free shared path, built on the remains of a disused railway, and it’s simply gorgeous. Skirting the high moor, it runs for 9 miles, from Okehampton to Lydford, and forms part of the Devon Coast To Coast route. Built on the track bed of … Read more
Stover & Wray Valley Trails cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Stover Trail links Newton Abbott with Bovey Tracey, mostly traffic-free, or on very quiet lanes. The Wray Valley Trail links Bovey Tracey with Moreton Hampstead, again either traffic-free, or on normally very quiet lanes. It therefore makes sense to do a single route guide … Read more
Dawlish to Exeter cycle route overall rating: B3⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you’re looking for a stunning day out, this is the route for you. At 14 miles in length, it offers spectacular sea views, quaint waterside villages, and even canalside cycling. Overall, the route is very flat, but it does have a section that tops out at … Read more
