10 cycling routes for beginners in the UK
Portsmouth Harbour to Hayling Island
Cycling UK Vice President Josie Dew outlines this easy trip out from Portsmouth Harbour over to Hayling Island. Think everything the British seafront has to offer – fish and chips, fairgrounds and fun.
View the Portsmouth Harbour to Hayling Island route
Moravian Settlement and Manchester Velopark
The destination for this route is Manchester Velopark, with the tranquil Fairfield Moravian Settlement on the way. With much of the mileage of this route on NCN route 6, the Manchester Cycleway and canals, it’s flat, quiet and well-surfaced and suitable for any rider with any bike.
View the Moravian Settlement and Manchester Velopark route
Back o' Skiddaw loop
Don’t be disheartened – England’s highest summits of the Northern Fells can still be enjoyed by those new to cycling, thanks in part to the C2C cycle trail. As well as mountain views, this route offers beautiful, colossal lakes and perhaps even glimpses of some of the country’s most elusive wildlife, such as the red squirrel and the golden eagle.
View the Back o' Skiddaw route
Brockmoor CCC training route
Cycling UK’s Community Cycle Clubs are forever scoping out places where their less confident riders can go when they are learning to ride or returning to cycling after a break. This one is in the West Midlands and is one of Brockmoor’s Community Cycle Club’s favourites – on a canal pathway to a great pub.
View the Brockmoor CCC training route
London East End loop
Work in East London? This short stint is a great one for lunchtimes or after hours. It starts at London Cycling Campaign’s new home at Wapping Wall but can be picked up at many easily accessible points. It incorporates soon great spots of East London industrial history and finishes up in the popular Victoria Park.
Newcastle-Under-Lyme to Swynnerton
This 32-mile mix of gentle climbs and peaceful lanes begins in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and winds over to Swynnerton. Expect fantastic viewpoints, pretty houses and fun descents as a rich reward for those manageable hills.
View the Newcastle-Under-Lyme to Swynnerton route
Norbury loop
South Shropshire may be hilly, but there are ways to spare your leg muscles and make your cycling experience more gentle. Liz Colebrook wrote up this route and rhapsodies about its suitability for beginners; she even chose it for the Cyclofemme ride, which is aimed at encouraging women and girls to feel confident on two wheels.
Edinburgh all-ability loop
This 4-mile route takes advantage of Edinburgh’s traffic-free cycle infrastructure on the north side of the city. It’s accessible to everyone – it’s used by Cycling UK’s inclusive cycling project, Edinburgh All-ability Bike Centre – and still boasts beautiful views across the sea and a range of pubs, cafes and fresh seafood restaurants.
View the Edinburgh all-ability loop
Rutland Water loop
Are we saving the best for last? England’s smallest county promises a slice of cycling heaven with this loop around Rutland Water. Directions are clear and precise, the path is flat and unspoilt by traffic, and there’s plenty of points of interest for shopping, photographs and picnics. It’s near-perfect for those new to a cycling day out.
A Dorset Bimble
This Bimble (noun: a leisurely walk or journey) in north Dorset loops out from Gillingham Station and back. You can do the 30 miles at whatever speed you like; the route is mostly quiet lanes, taking in fields of pigs, an old mill pond perfect for a dip, and plenty of places to stop for beer and local produce.
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