Best cycling roads in the UK?

[Mrbez]

Hi Guys,

If this has already been done on here, I apologise, but I thought it would be good to share some of the best cycling roads that you have found in the UK?

I would be interesting in seeing a list, where perhaps I could take the bike one weekend and go for a nice 30/50 mile ride on some nice quiet, smooth roads if that is possible?

Thanks!

 

[snorri]

I think you will have to be a little more specific, do you like hilly roads, or flat roads, and how far from your home?

 

[Mrbez]

I don't mind either, although flat first sprung to mind when I read your reply! Lol.

Not too bothered about distance, I live between Manchester and London at the moment and so I don't mind taking trains or driving if I am back in Manchester.

 

[Moodyman]

Get yourself to Otley/Ilkley area of West Yorkshire. It's the gateway to Yorkshire Dales.

Quiet & hilly country if you like that, but there are plenty of undulating roads along the valley bottoms.

Edit: well served by trains that don't require pre-booking

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I love Hadrian's cycleway. Could be the novelty factor of it not being in London clouding my view though!

 

[gaz]

I love the roads in dartmoore, can be a bit sketchy at points but when there are no cars or sheep on the road, then it's beautiful.

 

[totallyfixed]

Cornwall for me, though I am spoilt where I live too. Would love to show others via a forum ride how good the lanes are round here but never sure of what the response would be. Tried it once as a fixed gear ride when I lived just outside Leicester and not many interested [maybe it was the fixed gear

]

 

[Hip Priest]

Northumberland.

There are lots of undulating country roads set in beautiful countryside.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i'm lucky and live within both excellent mtb rides (mtl, pennine bridleway and adrenaline gateway etc etc) and excellent road routes over burnley, nelson, rossendale and my favourite hilly area, hebden bridge and the hills around it over to colne.

 

[dellzeqq]

Lonesome Lane - smooth, fast, thrilling, but also quite beautiful by day or night. Riding it slowly is charming. Riding it fast is to experience every sensual pleasure that a bike can throw at you. Swooping turns, little ups and downs, corners that open out in the manner prescribed by Leon Battista Alberti, greenery thrusting itself toward you, mist skittering around your wheels, all combine to exhilarating effect. I've seen the faces of several hundred cyclists as they reach the southern end, and, whether it's for the first time or the twentyfirst time, they're all lit up with the love of it.

 

[Nearly there]

Im being biased but ive got to say Cumbria my stomping ground Keswick buttermere cockermouth areas and im sure the rest of the county is just a good.

 

[al-fresco]

Just about anywhere in Shropshire.

 

[GilesM]

Try the B709 from Innerleithen the Langholm, and any of the B roads that head out of Langholm, compared to most places in Britain these are amazingly quiet roads, compared to Manchester or London, you will probably think you are stuck in some pre car time warp.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Pont-Y-Cob, Gowerton and the road afterwards going north up there with Lonesome Lane but with better view...<br><br>NCN4 north of Llanelli, not a road, but better surfaced than the roads I ride on and again splendid sea views.<br><br>The road around the edge of Carmarthen Bay, from Kidwelly to Ferryside. I fell off gawping at the view.<br><br>Underhill Lane along the northern foot of the South Downs<br>

 

[Andy500]

For the very best cycling road in the country you need to head for the North Yorkshire moors and cycle from Brough Sowerby through to South Stainmore and then head up a road called the Long Causeway to Tan Hill (with a reasonable amount of fitness it isn't too challenging). Stop at the Tan Hill pub right on the top of the moors which stands at 1732ft above sea level making it the highest pub in England. Once you've recovered from the climb head across the tops of the moors on beautiful quite rolling roads with stunning scenery down into Arckengarthdale (isn't that a brilliant name, rolls nicely off the tongue) and finish at a lovely village called Reeth. The distance is approximately 20 miles, so not too far, in fact short enough that you can then have the pleasure of a return 20 miles over Tan Hill back to your car! Doesn't that sound brilliant?

When I cycled it back in August as a part of a coast to coast ride we only encounted two cars during the whole 20 miles and the roads were in lovely condition.


I have cycled all over the uk and never cycled a route as fantastic as this one. If the weather is kind to you its a stunning ride.