cycling on roads in the UK???

[Ninne]

Hi! I would really appriciate if anyone had the time to gove me some advice. Im planning to cycle from Glasgow to London via Edinburgh and the coast roads of the east coast. I've never been to England or Scotland, so I´m not sure what the rules are as far as cycling on official roads go. Im guessing the motorways are of limits, but what about the A-roads? And what are these roads like, are there seperate lanes for biking? I´ve figured out a rough route but would sure like some input on how this looks. Im not thinking if breaking some sort of record here! Im guessing I'll spend 3-4 weeks, stopping to see different places along the way.




this link shows the route I've worked out so far...




http://iform.nu/ruteplanlegger/trondheim/skottland-til-england

 

[PoliceMadAd]

Motorways are off limits, as you've written, dual carriageways are dangerous, unless the traffic is very light, you're best to stick to A\B country roads.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I am sure I have seen a "No Cycling" sign on slip roads leading onto parts of the A470 Taffs Well to Cardiff. The accepted wisdom is you can cycle anywhere except Motorways (it now seems "unless otherwise stated")

Also discussed here

 

[Cubist]

Ninne

Route looks a bit A road to me. I would suggest you take a route which encompasses some of the most beautiful coastline, and follow the National Cycle Network route from Edinburgh to Newcastle, called the Coasts and Castles route it is a tourist heaven, with hospitality at its best along the coast rather than the inland road you have sown, which is fast, straight, and a bit bleak.

Visit the Sustrans website, and have a look at this map. The routes are designed to be traffic free or at least cycle friendly.
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/general/sustrans_nationalmapposter_2010_web.pdf

Enjoy..... I'm a bit jealous to be fair!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Ninne

Route looks a bit A road to me. I would suggest you take a route which encompasses some of the most beautiful coastline, and follow the National Cycle Network route from Edinburgh to Newcastle, called the Coasts and Castles route it is a tourist heaven, with hospitality at its best along the coast rather than the inland road you have sown, which is fast, straight, and a bit bleak.

Visit the Sustrans website, and have a look at this map. The routes are designed to be traffic free or at least cycle friendly.
http://www.sustrans....er_2010_web.pdf

Enjoy..... I'm a bit jealous to be fair!

Cubist - All I would add is that Sustrans routes are not point to point. They often go from A to Z rather than A to B. That said you do get some amazing scenery and quite roads sadly also a few unnecessary hills.

 

[pepecat]

Personally I avaoid A roads as much as possible due to the speed limits on them (60mph). Ok, B roads also have the same speed limits, but A roads tend to be busier and I prefer to keep off them.
You may end up doing a more roundabout route, but often, following B roads leads you thruogh much prettier villiages and you see more interesting things.

As the others have said, check out the National Cycle Network, large parts of it are traffic free and link up with the A/B roads so you can easily put a route together using them.

 

[Wednesday]

NCN routes aren't always the most practical, but certainly worth looking at. I took NCN routes between Brighton and London last week and wouldn't go that way again because navigating those tiny quiet roads through towns added hours to my journies, but it did take me though some nice parks and nature reserves that I'd never have selected on my own, and there are the paths alongside dual carriageways which aren't lovely but a lot nicer than cycling on the road itself (I'd never ride on a dual carriageway and avoid A roads when practical since they can be scary; some are fine though).

NCN routes are marked out on the open cycle map, and you can see them in more detail on Sustrans' map.

Check this thread for route planning links. Some of them have more cycle-friendly options. http://www.cyclechat...-to-route-plan/

 

[Red Light]

Have a look at the North Sea Cycle Route which goes from Edinburgh to just outside London

Also CycleStreets journey planner

 

[snorri]

You might consider the route for the Pedal for Scotland event from Glasgow to Edinburgh, slightly longer than your route but more scenic.
http://www.pedalforscotland.org/the_ride.htm
There is also a route mostly on canal towpaths between these cities which might appeal to you.

 

[Ninne]

wow, lots of helpful answers coming in! My route being traficed and perhaps not that scenic was defiantly one of my greatest worries. Some of the alternate routes listed here sounds like much better alternatives. Like I said, I'm not looking to get there as fast as possible, so the ride being beautiful and interesting is absolutely more important.




The general plan is covering about 40-80km a day. I might stay at some places for longer then over night doh. Im thinking I'll take my chances and not reserve hotels and such in advance, instead I'll more or less "wing it" I've traveled like that before, having my trusted tent with me if all fails. I'll take a closer look at these sites you all tipped me on, thank you SO MUCH everyone

 

[Angelfishsolo]

wow, lots of helpful answers coming in! My route being traficed and perhaps not that scenic was defiantly one of my greatest worries. Some of the alternate routes listed here sounds like much better alternatives. Like I said, I'm not looking to get there as fast as possible, so the ride being beautiful and interesting is absolutely more important.




The general plan is covering about 40-80km a day. I might stay at some places for longer then over night doh. Im thinking I'll take my chances and not reserve hotels and such in advance, instead I'll more or less "wing it" I've traveled like that before, having my trusted tent with me if all fails. I'll take a closer look at these sites you all tipped me on, thank you SO MUCH everyone

I have to say I am in envy of you. One day I want to be able to do such a ride. I have done the Lon Las but the planning was so lousy it ruined the experience.

 

[Ninne]

In my experience the most important part of a trip like that is getting the route right. If you´ve got a pretty good detailed plan of where you´re going, you can always figure out things like where to stay along the way (having a back-up helps ) What kind of trouble did you have that took away from your trip?

I have to say I am in envy of you. One day I want to be able to do such a ride. I have done the Lon Las but the planning was so lousy it ruined the experience.

 

[_aD]

I hosted a chap I met on warmshowers.org who was doing a cycle tour across the UK over several months. On his departure a friend and I accompanied him for 30 miles or so and he was very glad of our local knowledge as he was going to take the busy A3 road. Instead we took the picturesque, quiet and enjoyable back roads. Local knowledge will really help - you'll find that if you're outside with a loaded bike that people are more likely to come over and chat so you may get some route advice from them.

If you're really keen and, like me, obsess over maps, Ordanance Survey's Landranger maps will help as they'll also show gradient and pubs, but you'll need quite a few for that distance. On my last tour I gave a few away to fellow cycle tourers which helped us both :-)

Being a technogrouch I always go for the OS Map method but then I don't mind the extra weight.

 

[Red Light]

In my experience the most important part of a trip like that is getting the route right. If you´ve got a pretty good detailed plan of where you´re going, you can always figure out things like where to stay along the way (having a back-up helps ) What kind of trouble did you have that took away from your trip?

To the contrary I enjoy making it up as we go along with just a vague idea of where we are going. We've discovered so many great places and had some great experiences from following curiosity down a side road rather than sticking to a route.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

In my experience the most important part of a trip like that is getting the route right. If you´ve got a pretty good detailed plan of where you´re going, you can always figure out things like where to stay along the way (having a back-up helps ) What kind of trouble did you have that took away from your trip?

Was suposed to be a supported ride but that meant the tents being put up only. Were left high and dry re water stops [would have taken additional water otherwise]. Also loads of heavy drinking. Worst was it was a charity ride. Two girls only rode about 10 mile in total but collected the money had had cheak to complain when I was pissed off. Would do it on my own in a heartbeat [if I had enough kit]