Easy cycling holidays in UK

[Red17]

Looking at taking a week off in September and the Mrs has suggested going somewhere where we can do a bit of cycling.

She is new to cycling so probably looking at 10 mile or so routes that are flattish and fairly quiet from traffic - will be on hybrid bikes so light offroad would be possible although nothing requiring a mountain bike.

Any suggestions for areas that might be worth a look?

 

[John the Monkey]

The Cheshire Cycleway is one of my local haunts, but 10 mile legs might be a little restrictive for you.

There's the Welsh bit of NCN5 - I think about 10 miles of that is offroad (the bit along the coast to Rhos on Sea). It might be worth investigating what the rest of it is like. Should be reasonably straightforward to find places to stop/stay every 10 miles though.

 

[Dirk]

The Tarka Trail, running from Braunton to Meeth, in North Devon would be ideal. 30 miles, off road, mainly tarmac apart from a few miles the other side of Torrington towards Meeth. Flat with estuary and coastal views. Wooded through Torrington to Meeth.
Plenty of accommodation around Braunton, Croyde, Barnstaple and Bideford. Best not to stay anywhere North of Braunton, as it would be too hilly for a novice rider.

 

[MichaelW2]

East Anglia has oodles of easy, pleasant cycling. From Norwich, you can easily make it to the Broads, the North Norfolk coast and back, and follow the North Sea Cycle Route.

 

[coffeejo]

The Somerset Levels might suit. Gentle cycling, plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat, and lots to do in the area from a touristy point of view.

 

[summerdays]

The Tarka Trail, running from Braunton to Meeth, in North Devon would be ideal. 30 miles, off road, mainly tarmac apart from a few miles the other side of Torrington towards Meeth. Flat with estuary and coastal views. Wooded through Torrington to Meeth.
Plenty of accommodation around Braunton, Croyde, Barnstaple and Bideford. Best not to stay anywhere North of Braunton, as it would be too hilly for a novice rider.

I was going to suggest the same thing.

 

[Saluki]

East Anglia has oodles of easy, pleasant cycling. From Norwich, you can easily make it to the Broads, the North Norfolk coast and back, and follow the North Sea Cycle Route.

Not to mention the Marriotts Way and the Bure Valley Way.

Nice and flattish here too, the MW and the BVW are very flat and great for a novice cyclist. Avoid the Reepham station cafe though, Whitwell is the one to go to. The one where the steam trains are on the MW. There is a garden centre at Aylsham, Purdy's I think it's called, that is well frequented by cyclists.

 

[Slioch]

Or the Peak District. Beautiful hilly area, but loads of great cycling on the flat using old railway lines - Tissington Trail + High Peak Trail + Monsal Trail + Manifold Track.

http://www.peakdistrictcycleways.co.uk/

 

[Onyer]

New Forest

 

[surfdude]

don't come to Cornwall . bloody hills everywhere .

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Or the Peak District. Beautiful hilly area, but loads of great cycling on the flat using old railway lines - Tissington Trail + High Peak Trail + Monsal Trail + Manifold Track.

http://www.peakdistrictcycleways.co.uk/

+1 and nowhere near as mad as it sounds going to the Pennines and if it is raining on one side you can always go to the other side of the country.

 

[EltonFrog]

How about a tour, along the Kennet & Avon canal, the route http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-4 the bit between Reading and Bath is mostly off road, along the tow path and flatter than a witches tit, it's quiet, there's loads of places to stay and eat. A night in Bath and come back again.

 

[mjr]

Nice and flattish here too, the MW and the BVW are very flat and great for a novice cyclist

Have they resurfaced MW outside Norwich since last June or is it still deep sand and huge gravel in places? That was a bike-handling challenge I wouldn't wish on a novice.

The Norfolk Coast Cycle Route (RR30/NCR1) is a much easier ride even with a few hills and there are plenty of places to drop down to the coast if you fancy a stop. It forms a very long ovalish loop (maybe 200 miles) with the Two Rivers Cycle Route, while the Peddars Way Cycle Trail and NCR13/NCR1 draw lines between Thetford and the coast through Swaffham and Dereham/Fakenham respectively.

 

[Saluki]

Have they resurfaced MW outside Norwich since last June or is it still deep sand and huge gravel in places? That was a bike-handling challenge I wouldn't wish on a novice.

The Norfolk Coast Cycle Route (RR30/NCR1) is a much easier ride even with a few hills and there are plenty of places to drop down to the coast if you fancy a stop. It forms a very long ovalish loop (maybe 200 miles) with the Two Rivers Cycle Route, while the Peddars Way Cycle Trail and NCR13/NCR1 draw lines between Thetford and the coast through Swaffham and Dereham/Fakenham respectively.

Bits have been resurfaced, some bits haven't been. The Themelthorpe Loop is the most challenging bit as it's the least used bit, it gets very muddy and it's a bit narrow in places. Hubster is happy to ride the rest of it though, and he whinges as the slightest of tricky bits.

 

[Saluki]

don't come to Cornwall . bloody hills everywhere .

First time I went to Cornwall, I asked a friend if it was hilly there. His reply was "What time of year are you going?" I was astonished that the time of year made a difference.