Chester to Essex - ish

[Lee_M]

aHi

I'm trying to organise a route that will take me from Chester to Southend on Sea that doesn't involve main roads, and would be a nice pleasant (if long) route, but the Sustrans routes seem a bit crap (checking out some of them on streetview shows them on canal towpaths that haven't been cleared for 10 years or more).

Does anyone have a route/gpx/etc that they've done?

I'm flexible on start and finish points as I know both ends, its the bit in the middle I'm less clear on.

thx

 

[andym]

Chuffing heck Google Streetview does canal towpaths:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...UK-to-capture-countrys-canals-and-rivers.html

Sustrans on-road routes and improvise alternative routes for the bits you don't like the look of? IME the on-road routes usually work pretty well - although there may be places where you decide you'd rather take a more direct option and put up with a busier road.

 

[Ajax Bay]

CHESTER, Whitchurch, Eccleshall, Stone, Uttoxeter, Barton-under-Needwood, Measham, (south of Leicester), Market Harborough, Kettering, Raunds, St Neots, Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Chelmsford, Wickford, SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
388km - about 20km on A roads, outside built up/30 limit area. All on road. Planned on RidewithGPS, not ridden.
Edit: To be clear, I've not just clicked the start and finish on RwGPS, I have been right down the route checking that sensible routes/roads are taken. With a bit more refinement, I would be content to ride/navigate the route I've plotted.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13798379

 

[steveindenmark]

259 miles with Plotaroute

https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplayer/215633

 

[jiberjaber]

When I am planning routes between A and B the two things I look for are existing local CTC rides and Audaxs as they both tend to have route checked and pleasant routes. The route from 293km onwards from Shepreth is familiar roads to me. It takes an age to cross the A10 and sometimes the A505 as they are very busy roads but Royston Lane is nice (see picture, looking in the direction you will be coming from), the B184 and B1008, B1007 not so (but fast). You can route either side of Chelmsford for better experience, suspect you might want something to eat by that time and there is good fair to be found in either areas.

I've edited from just before Saffron Waldon down to Battlesbridge.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13805470

 

[Grant Fondo]

mmmm, I normally make it to Whitchurch then head back home (the legs ain't what they used to be, lol)

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Lee_M]

thanks everyone. I'm cpomfortable with the roiute down to whitchurch and the route from cambridge area to essex it was the bit in the middle, still got time to plan as I'm going to do it after the Ride London 100 (obviously not straight after!)

 

[jiberjaber]

Here's a nice bit from in the middle which might be useful
https://www.strava.com/activities/268510646

 

[Lee_M]

259 miles with Plotaroute

https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplayer/215633

seems to be set to private so I can't see it?

 

[jiberjaber]

Might be some stuff in the Tamworth CC audax events too, you can usually find their routes on RWGPS or Strava using the right google words...

http://www.tamworthcyclingclub.co.uk/9.html

 

[Lee_M]

Might be some stuff in the Tamworth CC audax events too, you can usually find their routes on RWGPS or Strava using the right google words...

http://www.tamworthcyclingclub.co.uk/9.html

thanks

 

[jiberjaber]

Also, a bit of this 600km audax, with perhaps Wilkyboy's pork pie audax bolted on the bottom at Melton to get you to Cambridge.

http://www.delphcyclist.info/KirtonsPerm.html providing: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3776304

http://www.camaudax.uk/rides/cambridge-pork-pie-200/

 

[Lee_M]

Also, a bit of this 600km audax, with perhaps Wilkyboy's pork pie audax bolted on the bottom at Melton to get you to Cambridge.

http://www.delphcyclist.info/KirtonsPerm.html providing: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3776304

http://www.camaudax.uk/rides/cambridge-pork-pie-200/

thats brilliant thanks ever so much