Recommend a UK cycling route for a 2-4 day holiday for a newbie

[Harv]

I've got a 4 of days off without the kids in Feb. It's probably too cold to arrange something this time of year. I also have 4 days off in May so could re-arrange to that if it's a better time to venture out.

Looking to take the missus out on her new road bike. I live in Yorkshire but happy to go further afield and book a hotel and have a 2 to 4 day cycle ride.

She's not an experienced cyclist so nothing with huge hills or massive distance. I reckon 20 to 30 miles per day is reasonable.

Anybody recommend something? I've also heard of guided cycle tours but I'm guessing they're really expensive. Happy to be corrected.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Do part of the Way of the Roses? Morecambe to Bridlington 170 miles is the full route. http://wayoftheroses.info/

 

[Soltydog]

Where abouts in Yorkshire are you, & do you want to start/finish at home?
By May you could have increased your fitness levels quite a bit & possibly look at doing something like the Way Of The Roses route, but thats close to 200 miles & a few hills so maybe a bit much, but from Ripon To Bridlington should be quite doable & you miss out most of the hills too

 

[Harv]

Wow. Two replies so quick.

Happy to go further afield. Doesn't have to be Yorkshire. I live just outside Hull.

Will look in to Way of the Roses (Ripon to Brid). Quick google shows it's 93 miles. That should be doable in 3 days. 31 miles-ish a day

Any recommendations as to hotel/stop over and also places to stop for food during the day?

 

[Harv]

Also happy to drive to a train station. Take the train somewhere and then cycle back to the original train station.

Was thinking Ripon to York - approx 32 miles (but it doesn't look like Ripon has a train station)
Also York to Hutton Cranswick - approx 37 miles
Hutton Cranswick to Brid - approx - 24 miles

 

[NorthernDave]

How about this, almost on your doorstep and for my money some of the nicest cycling country in Yorkshire:

http://www.cycleyorkshirewolds.com/

 

[Soltydog]

Any recommendations as to hotel/stop over and also places to stop for food during the day?

I've done it twice, but my stay overs were at Boroughbridge when doing it west to east , then Ripon when going east to west, so won't be much use to you
I'd avoid York as a stayover due to cost. Pocklington might be a good stop, plenty of stuff to do/pubs/eating (think the Feathers pub does accomodation) & maybe somewhere around Driffield?

Quite a few places to stop off en-route for food & drinks, Balloon Tree near Stamford Bridge is nice, but bikes will have to be locked up in the car park but Stamford bridge itself is nice, The Garden Centre at Hutton Cranswick is good & the owner/manager is a cyclist himself . I think after Nafferton the only decent stop off i can think of is Burton Agnes hall cafe.

If you want to borrow the route maps I can lend you mine I work in Hull, so can sort something out

 

[Soltydog]

Was thinking Ripon to York - approx 32 miles (but it doesn't look like Ripon has a train station)

Nearest station is probably Harrogate or Knaresborough, Day 1 from their to Ripon

 

[NorthernDave]

Also happy to drive to a train station. Take the train somewhere and then cycle back to the original train station.

Was thinking Ripon to York - approx 32 miles (but it doesn't look like Ripon has a train station)
Also York to Hutton Cranswick - approx 37 miles
Hutton Cranswick to Brid - approx - 24 miles

What about a train to Leeds, then cycle to York and get a train home from there?
It's a really nice ride, about 25 miles if you stick to the lanes and back roads, mainly flat once you're out of Leeds, with a couple of decent café opportunities mid ride and you should have the prevailing winds behind you.

 

[Globalti]

Train to somewhere west or south west then ride back with the prevailing wind. The Yorkshire Wolds section of the Way of the Roses is superb.

 

[ColinJ]

I can recommend the Bay Cycle Way from Barrow-in-Furness to Glasson Dock (near Lancaster). I did it with a non-cyclist friend this year and she found it fine. There were just a couple of hills that she couldn't cycle up and she was happy to walk her bike up them.

 

[mjr]

Train to Peterborough on 24th Feb, ride 40 miles hopefully with a tailwind across the flat to King's Lynn, overnight at the Fairlight Lodge or Stuart House Hotel, head to Lynnsport for 10am to meet other people cycling 32miles to/from Bagthorpe Hall to walk through fields and forests of snowdrops (£4 admission, in support of ngs), returning to King's Lynn for a train home. Extend with a day before or after if wanted, either sightseeing or riding a loop.

 

[400bhp]

Could you cycle north from your house then get the train back? I say north as that’s generally where the prevailing wind will push you along.

This assumes you live in a place that has a nice northern route on your doorstep

 

[ColinJ]

Could you cycle north from your house then get the train back? I say north as that’s generally where the prevailing wind will push you along.

This assumes you live in a place that has a nice northern route on your doorstep

Or catch a train SW and ride home?

 

[Dave 123]

Slight further afield for you. This is a quiet route with some very pretty scenery. Almost all off road (but still ok on a road bike apart from a couple of hundred yards). You could go both ways in 4 days.
As you live in Hull it will feel like you're on holiday.



https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/devon-coast-to-coast

https://www.bedsforcyclists.co.uk/search_cycle_friendly_accommodation.php?q=Devon+Coast+to+Coast