What is the best cycling holiday in the UK?

We are often asked the question: What is the best cycling holiday in the UK? It is such a tricky question to answer, a bit like bieng asked 'what is your favourite song?'.

I think that the answer could vary depending on the day or the season or just what you want to get out of your cycling holiday in the UK. For a small island we have an enormous variety of different types of cycle tours. We are very lucky to have many miles of quiet country roads and even more lucky to have organisations like SUSTRANS (the sustainable tranport charity) who work so hard to provide traffic free cycling routes and well thought out, waymarked rides. 

So, whilst we can't pick an absolute best cycle route in the UK we can give you some of our favourites. In no particular order you could consider these beauties!

Hadrian's Cycleway - This is a route that explores the former northern edge of the Roman Empire. It is a chance to explore some amazing Roman history with visitor centres at Vindolanda and Birdoswald as well as the Roman Army Museum, Housesteads Roman Fort and Segedunum at Wallsend. It is so much more than that however and the cycling is on lovely, quiet back roads and traffic free trails. It is a bit hilly in the middle but for most people it is a lovely introduction to multi day cycling adventures.

Coast to Coast - This is the classic. Probably the most iconic cycle route in the UK and a ride that thousands of people each year make into a fantastic cycling holiday over a long weekend or week. This ride is a good physical challenge with plenty of hills including the famous Hartside Pass and the 25% gradient of Crawleyside Bank. However there is plenty to distract you from the hard work with amazing scenery as you cycle through the Lake District National Park and the pretty town of Keswick. You also cycle through the North Pennines and more remore feeling landscape but with a barren beauty like nowhere else. Then you cycle through Northumberland with its heather moorland, before a 30 mile downhill all the way to the North Sea. The C2C is epic, iconic and well worth it!

Way of the Roses - A relatively new cycle route in the UK this has already exceeded expectations. It is arguably one of the most beautiful cycle rides in the UK with some amazing scenery as you cycle through Lancashire. Your journey then takes you on a cycle route through the Yorkshire Dales where you will see some of the iconic limestone scenery as well as past some of their famous pubs! As you continue cycling you will pass through the UNESCO World Heritage site at Fountains Abbey, before reaching historic Ripon. the flat cycling through the Vale of York is a lovely change and there is an excellent series of traffic free trails through York as you cycle past the impressive York Minster. the finale takes you through the dry landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds with their big skies and eventually wonderful views out to the North Sea. This is definitely a cycle route for the bucket list!

These are but three of the amazing cycle routes in the UK but there are so many more! Each has their unique charm and if you are anything like us as you bike along, taking in some amazing scenery you will think that whatever route you are riding is the best cycle ride you have ever been on!