Favourite cycle route?

[jnrmczip]

My favourite part of any route I take I'd when I'm leaving the house as i'm full of energy and when I'm returning home as I know I've made it.

 

[raleighnut]

@raleighnut , @ammaarafridi, if you stop at Tissington itself and have a coffee at the coffee stop, if you are served by a well spoken gent, you'll probably find it's Sir Richard FitzHerbert, the owner of Tissington Hall! He's very down to earth. His wife was also working on the till when I stopped there.

Never bought a coffee there but only because I've invariably got my stove, kettle and cup with me when I'm up there (I'm about 60 miles from home at that point) but only cos I use the Tissington to get into the Dales instead of main roads and I don't drive (through choice)
BTW. If anyone does decide to have a ride along the Tissington/High Peak trails it is far better to start from the Ashbourne end. The trail climbs gently all the way up so it means a lovely downhill ride back (if you've driven up)

 

[Sandra6]

My favourite rides are the ones with cake in the middle and alcohol at the end!
I particularly enjoyed pootling along the canal from Lancaster to carnforth and back via Morecambe.
Also love a ride around mabie forest in Dumfries

 

[Donger]

Out of my front door.

That goes for me, too. ..... To the South of Gloucester around the lanes along the Severn, with views to the Cotswolds, the Malverns and the Forest of Dean. I have done 90% of my cycling there, but never tire of it.

Apart from that, of all my rides in Britain, special mention must go (in no particular order) to my Top 10:
(1) From Inverinate (Lochalsh, Scotland) around Loch Duich and over the Mam Rattagan Pass to the Glenelg ferry terminal. Stunning views across the loch to the East, and towards Skye to the West.Once there, you can detour past the Highlanders' memorial and either up a little valley containing ancient Pictish brochs, or along the coast past the "Ring of Bright Water". Magical.
(2) Yarmouth loop (Isle of Wight) via Newport then down to Shanklin, calling in at Ventnor for a pint at my favourite pub in Britain, (the Spyglass Inn) before climbing back up the cliff and following the South coast of the Island all the way back to the ferry terminal in Yarmouth. A grand day out.
(3) Lochcarron to the top of Bealach Na Ba (Applecross Peninsula, Scotland) .... The most dramatic (almost Alpine) climb, with the most tremendous scenery you will find anywhere in the UK. Simply breathtaking views across to Raasay and Skye from the top.
(4) The BHF Cotswolds Bike Ride. An annual ride out from Cheltenham every May that takes in the very best of the Cotswold scenery and villages.
(5) The Norfolk coast between Happisburgh and Cromer. Pleasant sea views , and even some little hills on the way, (which I hadn't expected in Norfolk).
(6) Dartmoor. Wild, windswept, hilly.
(7) The Snake Pass and Edale, (Peak District)..... though I've only recently done it, and only when the road was closed to traffic.The descent of Winnats pass into Castleton when leaving Edale was simply stunning. Wouldn't want to ride it the other way as it's about a 20% gradient.
(8) The New Forest, taking in the Rhinefield and Bolderwood ornamental drives.A nice mixture of moorland and deep forest.
(9) Forest of Dean loop .... Ruspidge, Soudley Woods, Mallard's Pike, Cannop Ponds, Speech House, Ruspidge. Simply stunning in May when the bluebells are at their best in Soudley Woods.
(10) The Strawberry Line (Somerset) ... One of my favourite off road cycleways on former railway lines, running through pleasant countryside and villages, with the chance to extend the ride around the edge of the Cheddar reservoir and up the Cheddar Gorge. To ride the gorge, avoid weekends, high summer and bank holidays, though.
......etc, etc, etc.....

The more I ride, the more favourites I accumulate.

 

[coffeejo]

(10) The Strawberry Line (Somerset) ... One of my favourite off road cycleways on former railway lines, running through pleasant countryside and villages, with the chance to extend the ride around the edge of the Cheddar reservoir and up the Cheddar Gorge. To ride the gorge, avoid weekends, high summer and bank holidays, though.

I did a similar ride last year but didn't enjoy the endless stretch along the Strawberry Line as I found it overgrown and claustrophobic. Pity.

 

[hopless500]

calling @hopless500.

Particularly the Kastellroute, and one I think was called the Hoproute (the latter took in local breweries, as far as I could tell).