We’ve collated our best routes from years of riding. Explore our favourite rides, landscapes and routes across Britain.
Riding abroad? Explore the Lanzarote guide
Welcome to Yorkshire, God’s own cycling country! With the Dales, the North York Moors and the North Pennines all offering some of the best riding in the country, don’t miss this part of the world.
The Dales are one of our favourite places to ride, an absolute must. Famous climbs like Fleet Moss, Tan Hill, Buttertubs and Park Rash are mixed with a landscape full of biodiversity and intense beauty. There is no better place in the world to cycle.
Base yourself at Hawes for a weekend, with camping, hostel and cottage options. Garsdale is reachable on the Settle–Carlisle line; Reeth is another good base. This ride climbs Fleet Moss, then follows Langstrothdale and Littondale towards Pen-y-Ghent. Stop at the café in Horton in Ribblesdale before returning by Ribblehead Viaduct.
Head north from Hawes to Tan Hill, England’s highest pub, then cross Buttertubs into upper Swaledale. Stop for lunch at the Dales Bike Centre in Reeth.
Skipton makes a good base, with direct trains from Leeds and some direct services from London. Ride through Wharfedale, take on Park Rash and Fleet Moss, and stop for lunch at the old station in Hawes.
Take Fleet Moss as the main climb, cross Ribblesdale to Ribblehead, then return through Wharfedale. It limits the climbing but is still a substantial day out.
Settle is a good base for a day trip and easy to drive to from Manchester. Explore the south-west Dales, Littondale and Malham Tarn; extend the route towards 100km for a longer day.
The North York Moors offer wide open spaces and heather. Rosedale Chimney Bank is best climbed in reverse. The Wolds and Howardian Hills bring rolling limestone country and quiet lanes.
Pickering is a useful weekend base, with a hostel option in Helmsley. Ride across the moors and tackle Rosedale Chimney Bank’s 33% ramps. In August, the heather is in bloom; stop for lunch in Danby.
Follow the Wolds’ limestone hills and valleys, passing Castle Howard. The quiet lanes, friendly people and good cake make this a lovely day out.
Some of the most exciting cycling in the UK is in Scotland. It is a mainstay for our multi-day adventures, and the Central Belt also has great day rides.
Start at Carstairs (check train times) or Lanark to climb the Green Lowther, Scotland’s highest paved road. The car-free road leads to a radar station with big views, often above the clouds.
Begin at Johnstone, which is accessible by train from Glasgow, and ride out to the Clyde coast.
A fun loop of Bute as an alternative to the Five Ferries. Take the train to Wemyss Bay and a ferry across; check ferry times before setting off.
From Glasgow, take the train to Gourock and Western Ferries to Dunoon. Quiet, car-free roads lead through classic Scottish mountain and loch scenery.
Start at Ayr for a ride through south Ayrshire, with views of Arran and a quiet stretch through the wild forest south of Straiton. Expect few cars.
A remote ride from Carstairs, where trains are infrequent. Consider a summer Saturday, or start in Biggar for a shorter route.
Reach the area by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Dunblane trains do not require bike reservations.
A high route close to Edinburgh, with fine views over the surrounding countryside.
Cross the Forth Road Bridge and ride to St Andrews. Trains return from Leuchars; some services require bike reservations.
Routes to be added. Drop us an email if you’d like them sooner!
Routes to be added. Drop us an email if you’d like them sooner!
Routes to be added. Drop us an email if you’d like them sooner!
The High Peak, Monsal and Tissington Trails follow old railway lines, now turned into cycling superhighways.
We usually start our rides in Buxton, which is easy to reach by train from Manchester. The White Peak’s eroded limestone makes for scenic riding; in mid-April, daffodils line the lanes. Routes can be made longer or shorter, with cafés at Tissington or Hulme End.
North from Buxton takes in Winnats Pass, formerly an underwater canyon through a coral reef, with lunch at Hathersage Station Café.
Ride through the Vale of Belvoir and the wooded Nottinghamshire Wolds, with a lunch stop at Café Velo Verde.
From the mountains of Snowdonia to the unspoilt, traffic-free lanes of Powys, Wales has some of the best cycling in Britain and has given us some of our best memories.
Ride from Bangor, a good base for a weekend. Our local member Aled planned this route to avoid the busiest roads in the national park and keep the climbing manageable, heading along the coast via Caernarfon.
Wales is brilliant for linear adventures. The Welsh Century runs from Shrewsbury to Llandudno, with trains available for the return.
Base yourself in Southampton for a two-day adventure around the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.
From Manchester, ride into the hills or across the Cheshire and Lancashire plains. There are great routes from the city and a short train journey away.
Ride past Alderley Edge, Jodrell Bank and Mow Cop, with a café stop at Jodrell Bank.
Quiet lanes and wide views across the coastal plain. From Wigan or Manchester it is a long ride of 120km or more.
Start in Macclesfield for the lumpy Cheshire Peak, with plenty of climbing and elevation. Stop for lunch at Tittesworth.
Open moorland riding with good starting points at Hebden Bridge or Glossop. The Peak District routes are collected in the Midlands section.
Ride through Brontë Country and the moors of Wuthering Heights, including Cragg Vale, England’s longest continuous climb.
A big ride over Holme Moss and Snake Pass.
Most of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is owned by the Duke of Lancaster and remains traditional farming country. Check that Puddle Ducks café in Dunsop Bridge is open before riding. Whalley and Clitheroe are on the rail line from Manchester Victoria.
Avoid the Cross o’ Greet slog and enjoy a rewarding ride through the Trough.
A shorter ride for a shoulder-season day.
A tough but rewarding loop through the Trough and over Cross o’ Greet.
Windermere is on a direct train line to Manchester and makes a useful hostel base.
Ride over Wrynose Pass, alongside Coniston Water, then take the chain ferry across Windermere.