Inspiring routes
Join an event near you
Bike Week is a unique and exciting opportunity to join a ride, meet some new people in your area or the chance to discover a new route. Groups and clubs across the UK are holding rides as part of Bike Week, there is a huge variety to choose from.
Riding in your local area
Discovering new routes in your local area is a great way to enjoy Bike Week. There’s nothing like heading out for an adventure from your front door. Cycling UK's county guides gives you routes, events, advice and more.
Cycling is a fantastic way to improve your local community making it quieter, happier and with cleaner air for all as well as benefiting your health and well-being. Get out and explore your local area for #BikeWeekUK
This year we’re raising money during Bike Week to help support more people to cycle locally, support our campaign.
Take part in the British Cycle Quest
Discover new places near you or further afield in this unique cycling challenge in our British Cycle Quest (BCQ) . Take part alone or with friends and see how many sites you can visit and answer a question to prove you have reached the checkpoint. You'll gain your first certificate when you've visited 10 sites, and when you've visited all 402 checkpoints, we'll present you with an engraved medal. It’s a brilliant way to motivate yourself to get exploring this #BikeWeekUK, so why not start planning your quest now.
Cathedrals Cycle Route challenge
Linking together 42 cathedrals, the route starts at England's most northerly cathedral, Newcastle and from there winds its way around the country, taking in some of the best surroundings and sites that England has to offer. While the 2000 mile journey is an epic long distance adventure, it has been broken down into individual challenges and each days ride is a route in itself - perfect for day trips or one of your #BikeWeekUK rides. If you've already completed your local route, almost all destinations include train services allowing point to point journeys.
There are many ways to complete this route, both on-road and off-road, but however you arrive at a cathedral you will be welcomed. Each cathedral is aiming to appoint a dedicated cycle champion to improve the cycle-readiness of their buildings, ensuring a warm welcome for visiting cyclists, and you can collect a CCR stamp and cycle ribbon at each. Collect all 42 and you will join an exclusive group of cyclists!
200 routes to try
To celebrate the Cycling UK's 140th birthday in 2018 we collected 140 unique cycling routes across the UK, and since then we have continued to add more to the collection.
The routes were provided by people who have strong connections with the organisation, from well-known cyclists, cycling brands, cycling magazines, cycling groups, community clubs, cycling development projects and Cycling UK staff.
There are cycling rides to suit all-abilities. Every route has an interactive map and GPX file as well as a description of the route.
Hopefully they inspire you to go on an amazing cycle ride this Bike Week.
King Alfred's Way
King Alfred's Way is a 350km circular off-road adventure route through 10,000 years of history, connecting some of England’s most iconic sites.
Despite being easily accessible from cities in the south of England, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Think white horses on chalk hillsides and wide-open views across rolling waves of countryside.
The name of the trail is inspired by Alfred the Great, who ruled the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. The trail starts and ends at King Alfred’s statue in Winchester, where he is buried.
Using parts of the Ridgeway and South Downs Way, the trail is ideal for gravel bikes and can be ridden over a few days as a bikepacking trip, or if you are local to the route why not ride a section of the route for a great day out with friends?
Maritime Heritage Trail
Enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities, the Maritime Heritage Trail in Belfast is a wonderful, pleasant route taking in local history and stunning views.
The trail measures approximately 8.5km (5 miles), starting in C.S Lewis Square in East Belfast and ending at St. Joseph’s church in Sailortown. The majority of the trail is safe, car-free shared paths and cycle lanes.
It was devised as part of the Cycling UK Routes and Roots project funded by the Heritage Fund NI. It encompasses lots of the maritime history in the area; travelling along the trail you will see iconic features associated with Belfast such as the Harland and Wolff cranes, the SS Nomadic and HMS Caroline, Titanic Museum, the Great Light and the Salmon of Knowledge (aka the Big Fish).
It’s a great trail that connects two communities, but riding it is also appealing to tourists and those not from the area. Not only is it a pleasant trail to ride, or even walk, but an educational one too. You will find plenty of Belfast Bikes’ docking stations dotted throughout.
Great North Trail
The award-winning 800-mile Great North Trail links the Pennine Bridleway with the northern tips of mainland Scotland, through some of Britain’s most stunning upland areas and four National Parks.
From rolling hills and dales to remote windswept moorland, swooping singletrack and old Roman roads, the landscape is varied and inspiring.
The nature of the route varies in different areas - from rugged upland trails across exposed moorland, suitable for more experienced mountain bikers, to sections of canal path and disused railway perfect for family days out.
So whether it’s for an epic long-distance challenge, a weekend away, or a fantastic day out, get out there and have an adventure during #BikeWeekUK.
West Kernow Way
The West Kernow Way takes in many of the highlights of the western half of the Cornish peninsula, including the Botallack tin mines, the Bronze Age monument Mên-an-Tol, Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and Lizard Point. Expect spectacular coastal scenery, hedgerows bursting with wildflowers and ancient tracks across isolated moorland.
There’s no denying it will be a challenge, with over 4,200m of climbing – but all that exertion provides a worthy excuse to sample the excellent Cornish cuisine. Designed to be ridden over three to four days, the route links together bridleways, byways, lost ways and quiet lanes to escape the tourist hotspots and discover hidden treasures which reveal the history and culture of the region.
The Cantii Way
Experience the incredible 234km bikepacking tour around East Kent.
The Cantii Way combines quirky coastal towns and dramatic chalk cliffs with the rolling hills of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
You can enjoy a circular route that uses traffic-free cycle paths, bridleways and quiet roads. It’s perfect for a leisurely trip with lots to discover along the way – from remnants of military defences to vibrant art trails and vineyards.
Cantii Way forms part of the European Regional Development Fund EXPERIENCE project, which aims to develop sustainable off-season tourism activities across six regions in England and France.