Roman Road cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) 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 … Read more
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
Wirral Way overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) 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 … Read more
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 is quite a detour. The tunnels … Read more
Waterrail Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Waterrail Way is a traffic-free cycle route of 16 miles, linking Lincoln with Kirkstead. It was built on the course of a disused railway, from which it got the name. The trail is sandwiched between the river Witham and the South Delph drain. The route as shown … Read more
Lon Eifion Cycleway Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lon Eifion Cycleway is a 12.5 mile traffic-free route, running from Caernarfon to Bryncir. Offering a range of views, from rich woodland to spectacular mountains (at one point you can see Snowdon) it is cycling heaven. The name simply means Eifion’s Lane. The name is from the district in … Read more
GUC Paddington Branch Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Originally built to link Paddington with the Grand Union Canal, the Paddington Branch is 13.5 miles long, and offers surprisingly serene cycling in the heart of London. It can get very busy at times, and further along can get rather narrow. Of course, when the Paddington Branch meets the … Read more
High Peak Trail cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The High Peak Trail is an 18 mile traffic-free cycling route that follows the course of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway. Normally, trails along disused railway lines have gentle gradients, and most of the High Peak Trail is either flat, or has a very gentle … 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
Basingstoke Canal Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Saturn Trail is a 9 mile trail along the Basingstoke Canal towpath, in Woking, Surrey.It’s a largely a straight line trail, and as you’d expect from a canal towpath, flat but with gentle increase in height east to west. It is secluded and peaceful, passing houseboats, locks and wildlife. … Read more
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 10.8 mile walking and cycling route which … 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
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