3 day trip ideas

[jayng]

We're a group of 50 year old friends planning to do a trip in the UK to celebrate our birthday. Mostly fairly novice cyclists, but fit and enthusiastic. We think the Coast to Coast will be too challenging so I'm scouting around for ideas and suggestions and would be glad to hear opinions. Something scenic and not too challenging preferably in England. We're Midlands based but happy to travel and like the idea of completing a challege.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hi @jayng and welcome.

What sort of bikes are you all riding and how is the groups cycling fitness? Are you planning to camp or hotel/hostel? Circular route?

There are loads of people who will give good advice on here so some direction may help.

Are there any canals out your way? The Shropshire branch rings a bell. I think I went over one this year on my way to Wales. You can join other branches with planning. There's always pub's etc along the way for grub etc. And there's no hills to speak of.

Let us know, you'll get loads of help on here.

Best of luck.

 

[clid61]

As above , a canal ride , Leeds Liverpool canal , 3 days , 2 nights out. Plenty of accommodation and pubs on the canal.

 

[Dirk]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/easy-tour-of-devon-ideal-first-tour.206494/
You could try this one that I did in June.
Three days would be easy enough.
Easy access from the Midlands if you start at Tiverton.

 

[Andy_R]

Coast and Castles ride - starts on the quayside in Newcastle and ends at Edinburgh Castle. Stunning ride up the Northumberland coast then inland at Berwick, up the Tweed Valley to Melrose, then over the Moorfoot Hills to Edinburgh. A group of us from work did it over 3 days a few years ago.

 

[JohnClimber]

Off road or on road?
MTB's? Road Bikes? Hydbrids? Penny Farthings?

But Andy R's Coast and Castles is a great ride

 

[ianbarton]

Holyhead to Chester?

 

[Dave 123]

We recently did the Devon coast to coast on a tandem. It's far more suited to solo bikes.
100 miles. Plenty of accomodation en route.
Scenic, quiet, good food, good beer.......

 

[uphillstruggler]

We recently did the Devon coast to coast on a tandem. It's far more suited to solo bikes.
100 miles. Plenty of accomodation en route.
Scenic, quiet, good food, good beer.......

Hello @Dave 123.

Have you a route for that, it's one I'd like to look at.

 

[Dave 123]

Hello @Dave 123.

Have you a route for that, it's one I'd like to look at.

https://www.bedsforcyclists.co.uk/search_cycle_friendly_accommodation.php?u=1&q=Devon+Coast+to+Coast
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/devon-coast-to-coast

The start for us was Ilfracombe under the Damien Hurst statue.
Then you follow the NCN27 signs out of town. Half a mile of normal town riding, then a steep road until you reach the off road section which is a steady pull up for a few miles.
When you get to Braunton/Barnstaple try looking for a route on the road as it's very stop/start and gated through here. Once you're at RAF Chivenor it's fine.

Our first day was about 50 miles and we stayed in Hatherleigh in the Tally Ho pub. They brew their own beer.... Mmmm! Good food too!

From Hatherleigh to Okehampton you get some stern hills (for a tandem!) then it's back on off road.

Once through Lydford DON'T follow the NCN27 through the carpark, stick to the road (it takes you through a swamp!).Then take the road to Mary Tavy. Again, DON'T follow the off road section to the river as it's shite (unrideable)
We stayed in a camping pod at Langstone manor caravan park. Tavistock isn't too far away. 28 miles that day I think....

The section to Plymouth is mostly off road with one arse of a climb just before Yelverton. From Colebrook the Plym valley trail starts. Freshly surfaced. It's beautiful!

At the end of the Plym valley you either ride through Saltram National Trust (the nice way) or use the cycle path down the Embankment (noisy & horrible)

Go through Cattedown (think wharf/industrial) then in the blink of an eye you're over the footbridge by the aquarium, on to the Barbican and you've reached the coast. Plymouth Hoe is up round the corner and worth a look.25 miles.


https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/page-650
You'll find the other two days in the next page or two.

 

[uphillstruggler]

https://www.bedsforcyclists.co.uk/search_cycle_friendly_accommodation.php?u=1&q=Devon+Coast+to+Coast
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/devon-coast-to-coast

The start for us was Ilfracombe under the Damien Hurst statue.
Then you follow the NCN27 signs out of town. Half a mile of normal town riding, then a steep road until you reach the off road section which is a steady pull up for a few miles.
When you get to Braunton/Barnstaple try looking for a route on the road as it's very stop/start and gated through here. Once you're at RAF Chivenor it's fine.

Our first day was about 50 miles and we stayed in Hatherleigh in the Tally Ho pub. They brew their own beer.... Mmmm! Good food too!

From Hatherleigh to Okehampton you get some stern hills (for a tandem!) then it's back on off road.

Once through Lydford DON'T follow the NCN27 through the carpark, stick to the road (it takes you through a swamp!).Then take the road to Mary Tavy. Again, DON'T follow the off road section to the river as it's shite (unrideable)
We stayed in a camping pod at Langstone manor caravan park. Tavistock isn't too far away. 28 miles that day I think....

The section to Plymouth is mostly off road with one arse of a climb just before Yelverton. From Colebrook the Plym valley trail starts. Freshly surfaced. It's beautiful!

At the end of the Plym valley you either ride through Saltram National Trust (the nice way) or use the cycle path down the Embankment (noisy & horrible)

Go through Cattedown (think wharf/industrial) then in the blink of an eye you're over the footbridge by the aquarium, on to the Barbican and you've reached the coast. Plymouth Hoe is up round the corner and worth a look.25 miles.


https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/page-650
You'll find the other two days in the next page or two.

Cheers @Dave 123

 

[Dirk]

I've done the Devon C2C a few times and generally follow this route.

http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4068149.html

 

[uphillstruggler]

I've done the Devon C2C a few times and generally follow this route.

View attachment 144814

thanks @Dirk Thrust

 

[Ajax Bay]

The section to Plymouth is mostly off road with one arse of a climb just before Yelverton.

Drake's Trail from Tavistock to Yelverton now has a brilliant high level refurbished repurposed railway bridge which flies over the climb out of Horrabridge (described unflatteringly above). The trail's surface is excellent and it's well signposted.

I note that, as of Wednesday 2330, the OP has not been back since posting.

 

[Dave 123]

Drake's Trail from Tavistock to Yelverton now has a brilliant high level refurbished repurposed railway bridge which flies over the climb out of Horrabridge (described unflatteringly above). The trail's surface is excellent and it's well signposted.

I note that, as of Wednesday 2330, the OP has not been back since posting.

What was unflattering? The bit where you come off the track, go through a new housing estate, over a small road then up a really steep hill. That might not be Horrabridge but it was an arse of a climb on a tandem. So if it wasn't Horrabridge, where was it?