Advice sought Blackpool to Great Yarmouth
- Thread starter sparkyman
- Start date
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Avoid the A47 between Acle an Great Yarmouth.
I don't mind riding on busy main roads but that, and the 3 lane A3 between Kingston and Guildford are the two roads I never want to cycle down again.
Depends what you want really, hills (peak district), flat (Lincolnshire Wolds). How many days (all in one go in about 24 hours or over a week)? Carrying what luggage (very lightweight touring or fully loaded camping)?
If it were me I'd probably head down to Whaley Bridge somehow (not familiar with the roads to get there from Blackpool), across the Peaks via Winnats and Hope, Owler Bar, out through Bolsover, A616 and through Newark-on-Trent and track North of the A17, duck through Sleaford and over to Kings Lynn. Then track just North of the A47 (Gayton, Lexham, Swanton Morley), North of Norwich to Acle but then A1064 and then Stokesby, Thrigby, Mautby, A1064, A149 and down into Great Yarmouth.
That's just a rough guess based on looking at the map...
It'd be quite a hilly 400km ride to do in one go but at least the hills are in the first half.
I don't mind riding on busy main roads but that, and the 3 lane A3 between Kingston and Guildford are the two roads I never want to cycle down again.
Depends what you want really, hills (peak district), flat (Lincolnshire Wolds). How many days (all in one go in about 24 hours or over a week)? Carrying what luggage (very lightweight touring or fully loaded camping)?
If it were me I'd probably head down to Whaley Bridge somehow (not familiar with the roads to get there from Blackpool), across the Peaks via Winnats and Hope, Owler Bar, out through Bolsover, A616 and through Newark-on-Trent and track North of the A17, duck through Sleaford and over to Kings Lynn. Then track just North of the A47 (Gayton, Lexham, Swanton Morley), North of Norwich to Acle but then A1064 and then Stokesby, Thrigby, Mautby, A1064, A149 and down into Great Yarmouth.
That's just a rough guess based on looking at the map...
It'd be quite a hilly 400km ride to do in one go but at least the hills are in the first half.
After lasts yers 915 miles around Scotland I am hoping to avoid any major hilly routes,
Dont Mind a few hills but hoping to avoid the peak district (damaged knee last year; overdid it and had to stop ride a day early with only 85 miles to go hence shorter outing this time out)
I had thoughts of going around th peak district south and then north to avoid the worst of the hills.
I am hoping to get to Kings Lynn In max two days travel time. and do GY and back to KL in a day.
I shall be light weight only carrying a change of kit.
Sp4rkym4n
Dont Mind a few hills but hoping to avoid the peak district (damaged knee last year; overdid it and had to stop ride a day early with only 85 miles to go hence shorter outing this time out)
I had thoughts of going around th peak district south and then north to avoid the worst of the hills.
I am hoping to get to Kings Lynn In max two days travel time. and do GY and back to KL in a day.
I shall be light weight only carrying a change of kit.
Sp4rkym4n
OK, avoiding the Peaks you've got two choices:-
a) South of the Peaks by going via Preston, Wigan-ish, Stoke, Uttoxeter, Loughbrough, Melton Mowbray, Bourne, Kings Lynn.
Or a bit more Northerly going via Leek and Ashbourne but the closer to the Peaks you are the hillier.
B) North of the Peaks (sort of) by going Preston, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Tadcaster, and into the flatlands of Selby, Thorne, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Garwick, Fosdyke, Kings Lynn.
Can't comment on either route as I've not done them. Someone with local knowledge will be along in a minute.
a) South of the Peaks by going via Preston, Wigan-ish, Stoke, Uttoxeter, Loughbrough, Melton Mowbray, Bourne, Kings Lynn.
Or a bit more Northerly going via Leek and Ashbourne but the closer to the Peaks you are the hillier.
B) North of the Peaks (sort of) by going Preston, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Tadcaster, and into the flatlands of Selby, Thorne, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Garwick, Fosdyke, Kings Lynn.
Can't comment on either route as I've not done them. Someone with local knowledge will be along in a minute.
yashicamat
New Member
- Location
- Macclesfield, Cheshire
I'd suggest heading east from Blackpool and get across the Peak District / Pennines North of Manchester, then head south down the eastern side of the hills then head off into East Anglia. There is an urban sprawl that spreads from Liverpool to Manchester (involving Salford, Warrington, Eccles, Preston etc.) that there is no pleasant way through otherwise. The Manchester Ship Canal is the reason as there are only a few places where you can cross it.
shirokazan
Veteran
sparkyman said:
That's going it some for one day. I'd estimate at least 150 miles, quite possibly nudging 200 miles. In August, I did a tour of N Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. On one day I cycled from Great Yarmouth to Fakenham and that was 75 miles, albeit not the most direct route (I tend to keep to quiet country lanes).
Best of luck!
shirokazan
Veteran
sparkyman said:
That's going it some for one day. I'd estimate at least 150 miles, quite possibly nudging 200 miles. In August, I did a tour of N Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. On one day I cycled from Great Yarmouth to Fakenham and that was 75 miles, albeit not the most direct route (I tend to keep to quiet country lanes).
Best of luck!
shirokazan said:
I did KL to GY when I was 13 with a friend and his dad (as part of a week long tour round East Anglia). It was 70 miles (but we did ride along the Acle Straight which I'd avoid).
Something like this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&s...=52.693032,0.97641&spn=0.593448,1.399384&z=10
So 140-150 miles is about right for KL-GY-KL. I'd usually plan for about 10-12 hours riding time (nice and flat over there) and a couple of hours for refuelling stops.
shirokazan said:
I did KL to GY when I was 13 with a friend and his dad (as part of a week long tour round East Anglia). It was 70 miles (but we did ride along the Acle Straight which I'd avoid).
Something like this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&s...=52.693032,0.97641&spn=0.593448,1.399384&z=10
So 140-150 miles is about right for KL-GY-KL. I'd usually plan for about 10-12 hours riding time (nice and flat over there) and a couple of hours for refuelling stops.
Cheers for the route greenbank (even better then the one i had worked out for avoiding the A47) I managed hilly tons through scotland even 130 on day (that was the one that did me in though) so hopfully I can manage the 140 round trip in one day but if its nice i may a take an extra day and go the coastal way back to KL.
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
Cheers for the route greenbank (even better then the one i had worked out for avoiding the A47) I managed hilly tons through scotland even 130 on day (that was the one that did me in though) so hopfully I can manage the 140 round trip in one day but if its nice i may a take an extra day and go the coastal way back to KL.
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
Cheers for the route greenbank (even better then the one i had worked out for avoiding the A47) I managed hilly tons through scotland even 130 on day (that was the one that did me in though) so hopfully I can manage the 140 round trip in one day but if its nice i may a take an extra day and go the coastal way back to KL.
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
looking into the other ideas for routes but i think you have nailed it for Norfolk KL to GY.
Sp4rkym4n
Fiona N
Veteran
I did part of Green bank's 
route but in reverse - going from Southwold to Kings Lynn (mixed morning to) Lincoln (then fabulous afternoon ride via the ridge north on small roads parallel to Ermine St - the Roman Road, you know - and the Humber esturary to) Goole (not good for accommodation) then Selby, Harrogate (via a very big hill to) Skipton and along the A65 to Kirby Lonsdale and home. If you're avoiding hills, then Selby - Tadcaster - Otley - Skipton is a much better bet than via Harrogate. Otherwise the route gives a really good variety of terrain but none of it too hilly.
route but in reverse - going from Southwold to Kings Lynn (mixed morning to) Lincoln (then fabulous afternoon ride via the ridge north on small roads parallel to Ermine St - the Roman Road, you know - and the Humber esturary to) Goole (not good for accommodation) then Selby, Harrogate (via a very big hill to) Skipton and along the A65 to Kirby Lonsdale and home. If you're avoiding hills, then Selby - Tadcaster - Otley - Skipton is a much better bet than via Harrogate. Otherwise the route gives a really good variety of terrain but none of it too hilly.
