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. The Alban Way cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to … 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: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) 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 … Read more
Nun’s Cross Trail cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) 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 … Read more
Princetown Railway cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) 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 … Read more
Saltram Loop Cycle Route Overall Rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Saltram Loop is a six mile, practically completely traffic-free circular route in Plymouth. It runs right through the Saltram Estate, using part of NCN 27, and is suitable for cycling with … Read more
YOUR help is needed As you may know, I started creating route guides for traffic-free cycling routes in the UK. Though cycling infrastructure in the UK is overall generally quite poor, there are nevertheless some great traffic-free routes. But Sustrans already covers this, don’t they? Many of these traffic-free routes are part of the National … Read more
Waskerley Way Cycle Route Overall Rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Waskerley Way is a former railway line which was the Stanhope and Tyne railway. It is part of NCN 7 which helps form the long distance Coast 2 Coast route, from … Read more
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Cycle Route Overall Rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal is a 14 mile, mostly traffic-free cycling route. As you’d expect from a canal route, it’s very flat. The route takes you through some stunning … Read more
Whitehaven Rowrah Cycle Trail Overall Rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) Built along the route of the Whitehaven, Cleator & Egremont and Rowrah & Kelton Fell Railways, this 11 mile route is traffic-free along most of its length. I started the route as … Read more
St Austell to Mevagissey Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Incorporating part of the Pentewan Valley Trail, and passing right by the Lost Gardens of Heligan, this mostly traffic-free route takes you from St Austell train station to Mevagissey, over a distance of six miles. When starting at the station, there are some on-road sections in … Read more
Camel Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) Camel Trail closure PLEASE NOTE: The Camel Trail is closed between Boscarne and Burlorne for resurfacing, from 02/02/26 to 13/02/26 and again from 23/02/26 to 06/03/26 The Camel Trail in Cornwall, an … Read more
Par Beach Trail cycle route overall rating: (Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of) The Par Beach Trail is a two-mile, mostly traffic-free cycling route that forms part of the Cornish Clay Trails series of routes. The Clay Trails get their name from china clay … Read more
Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope Cycle Route Overall Grading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ There is a traffic free route from Thorpe Thewles north to Ryhope, Sunderland which consists of several linked paths and old railway lines. The southern section is the Castle Eden Walk, and the northern section is the Hawthorn to Ryhope Way. The whole route is signed … Read more
Phoenix Trail Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ The Phoenix Trail is an 8 mile, almost entirely traffic-free cycling route in Oxfordshire, linking Princess Risborough with Thame. With the steepest gradient along the route being less than 2%, we can safely call it very flat (as is often the case with trails built on disused railway … Read more