PEDALLING CLOSER TO HOME
Fancy something on home shores? Here are some of the best British cycling breaks for 2021
► THE NORTH COAST 500: A RIDE FOR RECORD BREAKERS Five hundred miles of punishing climbs and hairpin descents (right), this gruelling route ascends more than 35,000ft in the Scottish Highlands – that’s well over an Everest. It’s mostly a doddle to navigate, because there’s only one road to follow. Mark Beaumont cycled the route in three days in 2019, but most would need a week.
If you’re feeling really hardcore, take a tent, a stove and a sleeping bag. Wild camping is allowed in Scotland, but remember: leave no trace. Pedal Britain (pedalbritain.com), meanwhile, has a group tour leaving on Sept 3 if you fancy warm beds and a support vehicle.
FOLLOW THE MERIDIAN:
A RIDE FOR GEOGRAPHERS
You may not be able to travel overseas much this year, but by following this imaginary line from Hull to Eastbourne you’ll be on the same longitude as the Pyrenees and the Sahara Desert. Only a quirky few have completed this zany route in the past, but the next time someone tries to impress you with their LEJOG exploits, this ride should certainly stop them in their tracks.
If you make it through London unscathed, then Greenwich is always worth a pit stop. Tickets to “see” the Meridian Line and Historic Royal Observatory (rmg.co. uk) also include admission to the Time galleries and the Great Equatorial Telescope.
► SEA TO SEA: A RIDE FOR SWIMMERS
This iconic 137-mile route dissects England at one of its narrowest points, starting in Whitehaven and ending in Tynemouth (right). Most riders follow the tradition of dipping their back wheel in the Irish Sea at the start of the journey and their front wheel in the North Sea when they finish. Some crazy souls even take a swim.
Why west to east? The prevailing wind should give you a gentle pat on the back as you climb over the Pennines and descend on to the railway paths of County Durham. Cycle Active (cycleactive.com) offers three-night packages, including B&B accommodation, energy gels, luggage transfers and emergency mechanical breakdown support. Conveniently, their tours meet on Thursday evenings and end on Sunday afternoons.
▼ COASTS AND CASTLES: A RIDE FOR HISTORIANS This 101-mile ride starts in Newcastle and ends on the Scottish border at Berwickupon-Tweed. It passes by four North Sea castles: Warkworth, Alnwick, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh (below). The last is regarded by many as Britain’s finest coastal fortification and boasts spectacular views along the Northumberland coastline. You can stay there, too. There are a handful of rooms and cottages and the Clock Tower welcomes overnight guests (crabtreeandcrabtree.com).
Saddle Skedaddle (skedaddle.com/uk) offers a two-night, three-day itinerary, with B&B accommodation and luggage transfers. On day three, you’ll visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne; it’s accessible via a causeway, open when the tide is out.
► CYCLING THE ISLES OF SCILLY: A RIDE FOR FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN
Not quite Britain’s flattest region (that would be Cambridgeshire), but certainly easy going for small children and grandparents alike. The island of St Mary’s (right) is best suited for a day or two in the saddle, with white sand beaches, craggy coves and clear waters. England’s westernmost isles often cling to the summer for an extra few weeks, and the sunshine could easily extend into the October half term.
St Mary’s Bike Hire (stmarysbikehire.co.uk) in Hugh Town has a good selection of mountain bikes, hybrids, e-bikes and trailers for children and pets. Elsewhere around the islands, Tresco is best for castles and subtropical gardens, while St Agnes is ideal for coastal walking.
DALES AND FINE DINING: A RIDE FOR COUPLES
Base yourself at the luxury Middleton Lodge Estate (middletonlodge.co.uk) and you’ll be within cycling distance of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks. Richmond is just six miles to the west, and from there you can follow the Swale River towards Reeth and Grisdale. To the east, the North Sea is 30 miles away at Redcar and to the north you’ll hit the North Pennines AONB within 20 miles.
This is a great location from which to launch multiple day rides, but without the faff of moving all your kit from one hotel to another. There’s a spa, a heated outdoor swimming pool due to open in the summer, and awardwinning dining at The Coach House restaurant.