Rebellion Way

[VinSumRox]

Likely to be doing this later in the year with another couple, any helpful hints?
Also is it better done on a road bike or something with off road capability?

 

[fossyant]

Have you checked out the main web site, and I'd also look up Guy Kestevan's videos. What bikes do you have. Looks like gravel or hybrid with capable off road tyres is best. Looking at the pictures on the official site, I can't see a road bike. Guy is on a gravel bike !

 

[alpine fenlander]

It's fairly local and I've done various sections of it. The off-road bits in Thetford forest are very gravelly and slippery when wet. A gravel bike is ideal I think, but if you go by road bike then it wouldn't be hard to use alternative quiet roads instead.

 

[VinSumRox]

It's fairly local and I've done various sections of it. The off-road bits in Thetford forest are very gravelly and slippery when wet. A gravel bike is ideal I think, but if you go by road bike then it wouldn't be hard to use alternative quiet roads instead.

Thanks, that's helpful.

 

[mjr]

I'm outside King's Lynn and think it is a bit of an odd route, prepared by a blow-in looking at OS maps who didn't consult any locals.

A fast road-friendly MTB would be best around here, unless you modify the route. Before Lynn, it uses some roads that are deep sand and one that is flooded 10 months of most years, which even gravel bikes will struggle on. After Lynn, it sticks to tarmac far more than necessary because its creator didn't know the permissive paths through the royal estate.

 

[VinSumRox]

I'm outside King's Lynn and think it is a bit of an odd route, prepared by a blow-in looking at OS maps who didn't consult any locals.

A fast road-friendly MTB would be best around here, unless you modify the route. Before Lynn, it uses some roads that are deep sand and one that is flooded 10 months of most years, which even gravel bikes will struggle on. After Lynn, it sticks to tarmac far more than necessary because its creator didn't know the permissive paths through the royal estate.

That's useful , have you got any details of those paths I can use?

 

[mjr]

That's useful , have you got any details of those paths I can use?

They're mainly around Babingley and Hunstanton on my alternative GPX track downloadable from https://cycle.travel/map/journey/372214 which also avoids the flooded Gayton Common Lane and the worst of the deep sand through Leziate. There's still deep sand near Bawsey St James Ruins but that's difficult to avoid without sacrificing a lot of off-road.

 

[blackrat]

I'm outside King's Lynn and think it is a bit of an odd route, prepared by a blow-in looking at OS maps who didn't consult any locals.

A fast road-friendly MTB would be best around here, unless you modify the route. Before Lynn, it uses some roads that are deep sand and one that is flooded 10 months of most years, which even gravel bikes will struggle on. After Lynn, it sticks to tarmac far more than necessary because its creator didn't know the permissive paths through the royal estate.

I know you probably know this, but anyone can amend OSM maps, so, with your local knowledge? I believe CycleTravel would be a good place to confirm routes and surfaces.

 

[SuffolkBlue]

Weirdly - I was looking at this again earlier. I've been thinking about it for a while and as well as the Rebellion Way I am also thinking about walking the Peddars Way/Norfolk Coast path too.

I'm in North Suffolk and my Sister lives near Acle so I was considering joining the route at South Walsham. However, I also have some concerns about the route in certain areas. Just as an example and thinking from experience that some paths can be fine deep sand up on the North Norfolk Coast. I suppose there's only one way to find out and as the OP says - it's probably not that difficult to find a nearby alternative quiet tarmac section to detour along?

@mjr I was up at Snettisham area a little while ago and took more notice of the permissive paths at Sandringham. Are these better signed and more obvious to the casual observer than they have been in the past or have I not been paying enough attention previously (I'm not a regular visitor to that area).

 

[mjr]

I know you probably know this, but anyone can amend OSM maps, so, with your local knowledge? I believe CycleTravel would be a good place to confirm routes and surfaces.

Yes, I try my best to keep OSM maps up to date around here, along with several others. I just checked and the sand roads are correctly marked as sand and requiring robust wheels, but they are still roads and not even CyclOSM shows them that clearly. I did add "Flood Prone" to Common Lane: I'd not noticed that tag before. I will check the far bigger network of permissive paths when I have more time.

Someone has marked Rebellion Way on the map as a Regional Cycle Route, which I believe is not strictly correct because it's completely unsigned, with not even the infrequent map sign boards of the Norfolk Coast AONB Routes, but I've not yet found time to do anything about that (most likely tag it as proposed, like some other unsigned published routes, which would make it a dotted line on maps).

 

[mjr]

@mjr I was up at Snettisham area a little while ago and took more notice of the permissive paths at Sandringham. Are these better signed and more obvious to the casual observer than they have been in the past or have I not been paying enough attention previously (I'm not a regular visitor to that area).

The west end of Princess Drive aka The Scenic Drive is much better-signed than before, and the Elizabeth Way (King's Lynn to/from Heacham) is completely newly-signed since the Platinum Jubilee. Those are much easier to spot than the old signs, but still not as complete as I'd like. There are also a couple of loops out from the visitor centre which seem well-marked. I think most signs are still the old rectangles, where the "PRIVATE ESTATE: PERMISSIVE PATH ..." signs are not very different to the "PRIVATE ESTATE: NO PUBLIC ACCESS" ones at a glance (some with the added "Serious and Organised Crime Act" extras!), and Icknield Way North between Flitcham and Sedgeford still mostly doesn't have either and you're just relying on noticing a lack of "PRIVATE" signs!

 

[SuffolkBlue]

Someone has marked Rebellion Way on the map as a Regional Cycle Route, which I believe is not strictly correct because it's completely unsigned, with not even the infrequent map sign boards of the Norfolk Coast AONB Routes

I think Rebellion Way (at least as posted on Cycling UK website) joins up with NCN 1 at some points - has there been some confusion there?

 

[oxoman]

Looked at various YT clips and some people moan about some bits being overgrown and almost impassable in summer due to vegetation. Looking at doing it solo at some stage using various campsites along the way. Looking at missing Norwich out, hate city roads.

 

[mjr]

I think Rebellion Way (at least as posted on Cycling UK website) joins up with NCN 1 at some points - has there been some confusion there?

Not that I'm aware of. On OSM, Rebellion Way follows NCN 1 exactly from King's Lynn to Sedgeford, ignoring loads of good off-road routes, then takes the B1454 to Heacham (which is hard to avoid until the Ken Hill Link opens, hopefully in the next few years) and off until it takes the tarmac roads back to Ringstead (ignoring a stone road) to rejoin NCN1 until Wells-next-the-Sea (ignoring bridleways and byways nearer the coast), where ironically it's NCN1 that takes a near-unrideable rocky road. Does that sound like what you saw?

In most of those sections, the NCN 1 marking hides the Rebellion Way marking on most OSM renderings, only leaving "Rebel" or "RW" visible next to the NCN 1 line.

I don't think whoever added to the map was confused that the NCN1 signs meant the RW, as they've added the rest of it too!

 

[VinSumRox]

They're mainly around Babingley and Hunstanton on my alternative GPX track downloadable from https://cycle.travel/map/journey/372214 which also avoids the flooded Gayton Common Lane and the worst of the deep sand through Leziate. There's still deep sand near Bawsey St James Ruins but that's difficult to avoid without sacrificing a lot of off-road.

Thanks