greatrides

Great days out On road, off-road or traffic-free, here’s CTC’s guide to ten of the best weekend bike rides in Britain. By Sheila Simpson, Max Darkins and Nick Cotton

22 cycle JUNE/JULY 2008 greatrides

be slimy but has an alternative, and recommended, walkway alongside. Moreton-in-Marsh itself is an attractive market town on the lovely River Evenlode and the ride follows this valley for the first 7 miles to Kingham before turning east to the second charming town, Chipping Norton. Great Rollright, with its famous prehistoric stone circle nearby, and Hook Norton, with its brewery, are the next attractions. The ride briefly joins Sustrans National Route 5 and the Macmillan Way across the notorious ford, before turning north to Lower Brailes and returning through a string of pretty villages. Distance: 32 miles. Terrain: Rolling lanes with a few short, steep ascents and descents. Time: 2.5-6 hours depending on age and amount of sightseeing en route. Start/Finish: During the Birthday

Left & opposite: Sheila Simpson Rides, choice of start dates on the 4th, 6th or 8th of August 2008 from GreaT road rides Centre for Alternative Technology. (Above and left) The Cambrian 200 crosses the Fire Service College main gate, These four routes are scenic audax Distance: 128 miles. the border into Wales, 1.8km east of Moreton-in-Marsh on rides – see www.audax.uk.net to ride Terrain: Initially flat, becoming from Leominster to Machynlleth and back the A44. Grid Ref SP 222 323. The car them as such. They could also be rolling, then hilly and finally park is close to, and will be signed ridden as long day rides at any time mountainous, using remote rural from, the FSC main gate. or – over two days – as a tour. roads through some of the best Maps: OS Travel Map, Tour sheet 8, scenery in the UK. The Cotswolds & Gloucestershire, 1. Cambrian 200km Time: 10-14 hours, allowing for café 1:100,000. A straight out-and-back audax ride and pub stops. Access: By rail to Moreton-in-Marsh. offers a challenge that many cyclists Start/Finish: Talbot Hotel, Route guides: Excel spreadsheet cannot resist. The aim is to reach a Leominster, Grid Ref SO 496 589. route obtainable from stephen. distant goal using the shortest on- Maps: OS Travel Map, Road sheet [email protected] road route possible. If your ride is 6, Wales & West Midlands/Cymru, Local information Cotswold District across wild, sparsely populated hills 1:250,000. Council Offices. Tel: 01608 650881, and is easy to navigate, you will have Access: By rail to Leominster. [email protected] a potentially classic event. Don’t Route guides: Danial Webb, audax@ worry about using the same roads danialwebb.com 3. Norfolk 100km twice because the scenery always Local information: Leominster TIC, The UK has few really flat cycling looks different on the way home. tel: 01568 616460, tic-leominster@ routes but this tour in south Norfolk Look at a map of Wales and the herefordshire.gov.uk and north Suffolk, using lanes and Borders and you will see such a quiet B-roads, offers easy riding, route: a string of B and unclassified 2. Little Auk 50km pretty beauty spots and historic roads between Leominster and This little Cotswolds circuit, market towns and villages. Machynlleth. This is the Cambrian designed for families taking part Try not to miss the village sign 200km event if you ride there and of Pulham St Mary, home of the back in a single day. “Don’t worry about using the early airships. It was the main Leominster itself is a fine market military base in World War 1 and town, surrounded by an excellent same roads twice. The scenery R34 left from here to do the first network of Herefordshire and double-crossing of the Atlantic Shropshire lanes and has been the looks different coming home” in 1919. Approaching the county centre of a CTC Holidays & Tours border, Harleston is a traditional Easter break for several years. The in the CTC Birthday Rides from south Norfolk town with attractive only towns between Leominster Moreton-in-Marsh, is a quiet, rural Georgian buildings, which grew from and Machynlleth are Presteigne and ride suitable for all ages. There an ancient market place to a staging Llanidloes, both charming and well are a dozen delightful villages and post between London and Norwich. placed for refreshments at 13 and market towns, to provide plenty The ride from here to Halesworth 44 miles. The final outward leg is of interest and opportunity for is outstanding, with half a dozen a magnificent climb on the Bryn y refreshment en route, and almost as pretty villages and hamlets and Fedwen (1,578 feet) mountain road, many picturesque stream and river loads of sky, whilst Halesworth itself, and the furthest point, Machynlleth, crossings, including Traitor’s Ford steeped in the history of brewing, at 64 miles, is renowned for its on the infant River Stour, which can malting and agriculture, is the

JUNE/JULY 2008 cycle 23 quintessential north Suffolk town, view of Monsal Head viaduct. cycle paths, for a flat, easy-going where time almost stands still. There is a fast descent to Ashford ride that lets you leave the hubbub The only real climb is just after in the Water before a climb round of the city and reach the seaside crossing the River Waveney on the Bakewell to cross Lathkill Dale under your own power, passing return journey and the only hazard (a tricky descent) and ascend through some great countryside, of note is the ford at Shotesham to Newhaven. We dip into three and barely touching the roads. Mill, on the River Tas, just south more dale heads and then gently Starting in the centre of London, of Norwich. This is very pretty but ascend Long Dale towards Parsley you follow the River Thames, then slippery – use the footbridge. Hay. Here we cross the High Peak River Wey, to Guildford, and pick up Distance: 64 miles. Trail before climbing the Jarnett the Downs Link to Bramber, where Terrain: Almost totally flat with a and peaking at over 1,200 feet just the only real climb of the ride (but short sharp climb at Dove hill. before Taddington. After a fast it is a big one) takes you to the top Time: 3-10 hours depending on age run down Blackwell Dale we cross of the South Downs. Here you are and inclination. upper Miller’s Dale and ascend to rewarded with some wonderful Start/Finish: Norwich, Colney Lane Peak Dale village and the quarried views and a great descent to the public car park, Grid Ref TG 189 068. Doveholes Dale – returning over coast, which just leaves a spin down Maps: OS Landranger 134, Norwich Eccles Pike! the promenade, to Brighton Pier and the Broads, 1:50,000. Distance: 63 miles. and the finish. Access: By rail to Norwich, leave city Terrain: Hilly with superb millstone Distance: 134km/83 miles, with 890 on B1108, left opposite Colney church. and limestone scenery. metres of climbing. Route guides: Keith Harrison, Time: 4-8 hours or more, depending Terrain: Well-surfaced cycle paths [email protected] on age and inclination. and canal paths, over flat terrain, Local information: Norwich TIC. Start/Finish: Marple Library car which is all generally easy going. Tel: 01603 727927, tic@visitnorwich. park, Grid Ref SJ 960 888. Time: It makes a nice (easy!) ride co.uk Maps: OS Travel Map, Tour sheet when done over two or three days, 4, Peak District & Derbyshire, although experienced riders could 4. White Peak 100km 1:100,000. do it in one day. The Peak District National Park Access: Marple is on the Start: London Eye TQ 306/799 can be busy on summer Sundays, Manchester/Sheffield railway line. Finish: Brighton pier TQ 313/038 so Peak Audax organise a series Route guides: Mike Wigley, mike@ Maps: OS Landranger maps 176, of events on Wednesdays, though PeakAudax.co.uk 186, 187, and 198. the routes can be ridden at almost Local information: Stockport Access: There are train stations any time. The first, the White Tourist Information. Tel: 0161 at the start (London), middle Peak Grimpeur, uses lanes over 474 4444, tourist.information@ (Guildford) and end (Brighton) of Pennine moorland and into a dozen stockport.gov.uk the ride. You can take your bicycle Derbyshire dales. The landscape is on parts of the tube e.g. Circle & a pleasing white, green and blue; Great off-road rides District lines outside of rush hour. white cottages and dry stonewalls, These are off-road tours rather than Local information: London: www. green grass, blue sky. technical trail-centre rides. The visitlondon.com. Guildford tourist The route skirts Kinder Scout to first two are covered in more detail information, tel: 01483 444333. descend lovely Perry Dale and take (and with maps) by Max Darkins’ Brighton tourist information, tel: an easy dale crossing at Dale Head Rough Ride Guides – see www. 0906 7112255 (50p per min). on the way to Tideswell. Through roughrideguide.co.uk. Litton we descend into Miller’s Dale, 6. South West Coast 2 Coast a real beauty with a sparkling trout 5. London to Brighton: ‘The This is a lovely ride taking you from By the riverside in stream, but pay-back time arrives Great Escape’ Guildford, en route the north Devon coast to the south and we must ascend the local This is a lovely ride following from London to Devon coast, along easy, off-road, Brighton off-road hillclimb course, the reward being a riverside tracks and well-surfaced Photo by Max Darkins cycle tracks, such as The Tarka Trail,

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start () and at the end (Dundee) as well as on the route in , Leven, and Leuchars. Local information: Edinburgh tourist information, tel: 0845 225 5121

Great family rides These rides and hundreds of other similar rides are described in Traffic-Free Cycle Trails (£12.99) by Nick Cotton, available from www. sustrans.org.uk (tel: 0845 1130065).

8. The Camel Trail The most popular recreational ride in the country, visited by over 300,000 people a year, the Camel Trail runs from Poley’s Bridge and the wooded countryside of the upper Camel Valley down Left and overleaf: Nick Cotton past Bodmin to Wadebridge and Granite Way, and the Plym Valley trails, with beautiful scenery and The Camel Trail is alongside the picturesque Camel Trail, for a non-technical, beautiful, attractions along the way, such as perfect for families and new cyclists. It’s Estuary as far as Padstow. There picturesque ride, with various the Chainwalk at Elie, St Monans short, flat, and is easy to do in sections are cycle hire centres in Padstow, attractions along the way. saltwater swimming pool, many Wadebridge and Bodmin with a Starting from the small village lighthouses, and amazing rock huge variety of bikes to cater for of Ilfracombe, on the north Devon formations such as Buddo Rock. every combination imaginable, coast, you head south, along Starting from Inverkeithing, many of which you will see on your the coastline. Then you join the just over the Forth bridge from way along the ride! Tarka Trail and head inland to Edinburgh, the Coastal Path The Camel Estuary is a Okehampton. follows the coastline, past Kirkcaldy, birdwatchers’ paradise. There From here you join the West and , all the way to are wonderful views of creeks, Devon Way, along the edge of the Dundee. sandbanks and rocky shores. imposing mound of Dartmoor, then Distance: 120km/75 miles, with Wintering wildfowl include join the Plym Valley Trail, finishing 1,890 metres of climbing in total, goldeneye, long tailed duck and in the centre of Plymouth at The although you could start at Leven wigeon. Divers, grebe and many Hoe/lighthouse. and finish at Leuchars (both with waders can also be seen. Distance: 160km/99 miles, with train stations), which is 59km/37 Distance: From 12 to 34 miles 2,900 metres of climbing. Or you can miles with 900 metres of climbing. for the round trip. Padstow to pick and choose section(s) to ride. Terrain: The first section to Leven Wadebridge: 6 miles. Wadebridge to Terrain: There are some big hills uses mostly roads and paths, then Bodmin: 5 miles. Bodmin to Poley’s along the way, as well as some long it becomes off-road, with some Bridge: 6 miles flat sections, and the route mainly sumptuous sections of singletrack Terrain: A railway path alongside the follows well-surfaced, traffic-free, estuary of the River Camel climbing cycle paths, with a few (optional) “You leave the hubbub of the gently as it heads inland into the sections along more challenging woodland around Poley’s Bridge. off-road trails. city and reach the seaside, Time: Calculate 6-7mph or about an Time: It can be done in two days hour for each of the three sections quite easily, but it’s easier still over barely touching the roads” between Padstow and Poley’s Bridge. three or even four. Start/finish: Padstow (Grid Start: Ilfracombe SS526/478 along the rugged coastline. The trail Reference SW 922749), Wadebridge, Finish: Plymouth SX477/538 gets rougher the further you venture Bodmin or Poley’s Bridge (Grid Maps: OS Landranger maps 180, on until you reach St Andrews where Reference SX 083741). 191, and 201. you join the easy going Sustrans cycle Maps: OS Landranger 200 Access: Train stations at Barnstaple path (no.1), northwards, along the Access: Bodmin is the nearest (near start), Okehampton (middle), coast, to the and Dundee. railway station. and Plymouth (end). Time: Depending on your fitness Local information: Padstow, tel: Local information: Barnstaple and which section of the ride you 01841 533449. Wadebridge, tel: tourist information, tel: 01271 choose to do, it should take one or 01208 813725. Bodmin, tel: 01208 375000. Okehampton, tel: 01837 two days to complete. 76616. Also try www.visitcornwall. 53020. Plymouth, tel: 01752 264849. Start: Inverkeithing train station com/site/activities/cycling. NT131/833 7. Fife Coastal Path Finish: Dundee train station 9. The Lune Cycleways This is a fantastic ride along the NO406/305 The Lune Cycleways are two railway coast from Edinburgh to Dundee, Maps: OS Landranger maps 59 and 65. trails, linked via a short road section using some great singletrack Access: There is a train station at the alongside the river in the historic

JUNE/JULY 2008 cycle 25 greatrides town of Lancaster, running south Maps: OS Landrangers 97 & 102. Time: 2 hours each way. from Caton and following the stately Access: nearest station Starting points: choice of: 1, River Lune from near the wide bend is Lancaster. Cragganmore, at the end of in the river known as the Crook Local information: Lancaster tic, tel: the B9137, off the A95 between o’ Lune down to Glasson, with its 01524 32878. For information about Grantown and Aberlour (Grid marina, docks, pubs, cafes and wide cycling in Lancashire including Reference NJ 167367); 2, views out over the estuary. downloadable leaflets visitwww. Craigellachie, at the junction of the The northern path follows the lancashire.gov.uk and enter ‘Cycling’ A95 and A941, southeast of Elgin course of the old Lancaster to in the website’s search engine. (NJ 292453); or 3, The trail car park Wennington railway and passes about 1 mile north of Dufftown on beneath the remarkable Lune 10. , east of the A941 (NJ 321417). Aqueduct carrying the Lancaster Inverness Maps: OS Landranger 28 Canal. As an extra option, a steep The Speyside Way follows the River Access: Elgin or Keith are the nearest flight of steps takes you up to the Spey, famous for its fishing and stations. canal, where the improved towpath whisky distilleries, from Aviemore Local information: Elgin tic, tel: can be followed for seven miles to the coast at Spey Bay. Although it 01343 542666. north to Carnforth or for three miles is primarily a long distance walking Useful publications: The Footprint south through Lancaster to Aldcliffe. route, there is a long rideable Speyside Way Map (£4.95) shows the Distance: 11 miles one way, 22 miles middle section for family cyclists whole 66-mile walking route from round trip. largely on the course of an old The Lune Cycleways Aviemore to Buckie. For this map Terrain: Wide, flat traffic-free trails railway line between Ballindalloch are two railway call the Ranger Service (tel: 01340 trails near Lancaster alongside the River Lune and its (Cragganmore) and Craigellachie linked by a short road 881266) or visit the website www. estuary with a short section on road with a spur that bears away from the section speysideway.org. on NCN Route 6 to the south of the Spey alongside the River Fiddich to Millennium Bridge in Lancaster Dufftown. linking the two trails. Set in spectacular scenery, the Time: Allow 3-4 hours for the return trail passes close to the famous trip plus time for refreshments. distilleries of Tamdhu and Start: choice of: 1, Bull Beck car park Knockando. The southern end of on the A683 (Grid Reference SD the Speyside Way, from Aviemore 542649) about 5 miles northeast of to Boat of Garten, also offers an Lancaster; 2, Lancaster city centre, easy traffic-free ride and is used by on the southern side of the new National Cycle Network Route 7. Millennium Bridge; or 3, Glasson car Distance: Up to 16 miles one way, 32 park at the southern end of the bike miles round trip. path (Grid Reference SD 448560). Terrain: Riverside and railway path.

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26 cycle JUNE/JULY 2008 CTC1