UKC

Way of the roses was superb; done the trans pennine trail- good. Any suggestions for a 3 to 5 day cycling trip for the summer in the uk??

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Up through the Western Isles, South to North using the ferries, I've not done it yet, but friends have said its amazing.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Thanks. Sounds interesting; not quite sure about ferries- had a bad experience on the isle of man ferry in a force 9! Reading? guidebooks?

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Loads of info on the cal-mac website. Plenty of other good cycling around arran, Bute and Argyll peninsula. https://www.calmac.co.uk/cycling

In reply to Nbrain:

Great; thanks, I'll have a look. I don't know the area at all, so I'll have to do a bit of proper research.
MM

In reply to Martin Thomas:

I had a good 3 day tour in Shropshire in October, great lanes and some cracking little country pubs! I'm just planning a 5 day tour around Norfolk which may be worth considering...

In reply to Martin Thomas:

If you liked the Way of The Roses, this is great: http://www.lakesdalesloop.co.uk

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Hebrides
Yorkshire Dales

In reply to Martin Thomas:

What type of bike are you on? Are you looking for something proper off road? Or a mainly on road tour? I've done bits of the Trans Pennine trail so I guess you are happy enough on gravel paths. Two summers I did a two day bikepack using the start of the Pennine Bridleway and then the Trans Pennine Trail. http://lightfromthenorth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/bikepacking-around-peak-dis... Now I want to follow the PB further north, maybe all the way to the end at some point, but I think it's more of a mountainbike route. I rode the bit around Kinder on my CX, but I enjoyed it more another time on my mountain bike.

In reply to TobyA:

Thanks for those replies. Done lots in Yorkshire- love it. Hebrides looks good if I can sort out the logistics.
Ta

In reply to Martin Thomas:

The Heb ferries are no hassle.

In reply to Martin Thomas:
Bryan Chapman audux route in Wales look good, essentially from Anglesey to South Wales
Maybe a gogarth to Pembroke variation

In reply to Martin Thomas:

A circular ride from your house?

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Lon las cymru
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/lon-las-cymru-holyhead-cardiff-che...

In reply to Martin Thomas:
i bet you could make a good route out of the Yorks Dales cycleway and combine it with the northern loop of the Lancs Cycleway. They very nearly touch near Settle/Ingleton so you could maybe use the train to start from Settle, ride YDCW clockwise in a couple of days (70m a day, split it near Leyburn ), then head over Cross 'o Greet and do the LCW over two days as well.

http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/viewdoc.asp?id=21024&mode=edit

Looking at that map you could split the LCW in Blackpool for a quality night's entertainment too!

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Done Glasgow to Inverness a couple of times. Lovely scenery and a well signposted Sustrans route.

Bit chilly going over Drumochter though. Get your thermal underpants on.

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Another vote for the Hebrides. I'd recommend staying in these bunkhouses: http://www.gatliff.org.uk/

There is now something called the Hebridean Way cycle route, but to be honest there are so few roads to choose from, you can just make it up as you go along (https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/active/cycling/hebridean-way-cycling-r...

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Get to Ardrossan by train. Take the summer ferry to Campbeltown. National Cycle Route 78 goes all the way to Inverness. Fabulous and usually wind assisted all the way. An extra day can let you git in a loop round Arran.

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Lots of ideas on Sustrans' website

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/walking-and-cycling-inspiration

In reply to Lion Bakes:

I have done a lot of good rides from home; Prefer to explore new places when it comes to cycling.
Thanks

In reply to becauseitsthere:

Sounds very interesting; I'll have a good look at my map!
Thanks

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Thanks for getting this thread started, I've been thinking about a bit of touring myself and need the ideas.
As a slight digression, what sort of bike are you using? I'm considering using fairly old trek 1.2 and wondering how much weight I could carry in panniers. It has dedicated rack mounts so I guess it's designed to take a bit of weight and I'm thinking I could squeeze 28mm tyres in. Otherwise my other option is sorting out my 1996 Marin hard tail MTB which I have toured on before but would require a fair bit of work to bring up to a standard I'd be happy to use again.

In reply to Martin Thomas:

Reasonably simple if potentially expensive:

Train to Strathcarron/Kyle, ride round Applecross - Gairloch - Ullapool - Coigach then follow the NW until you need to get back. Several options back to a train at Lairg; Oykel Bridge road, Loch Shin road or if you are going well, round the top and back down via Altnaharra.

It's the best riding on these isles, 95% on quiet roads and i'm sure I don't have to tell you about the scenery.

In reply to Martin Thomas:


I'm sure you have, but how many 3-5 day tours? Halfway through the first day you'd be outside your home riding area and moving further and further away. Till you return into that area on last half of last day. I rode to the Alps, did some cols , and rode back home in 14 days to total and very satisfying it was. So you could do it one way in 5 days.

In reply to gethin_allen:

Hi, either hiring bikes- hybrids? OR taking a specialised cyclocross 2012; may change depending on what I learn about the terrain. I usually prefer to travel very light and use a Giant Defy 3 with a rear extended saddlebag designed for mountain bikes and a rucsac. I don't fancy riding a mountain bike for 5 days! I think the Giant Defy 3 may be too fragile.
MM

In reply to Removed UserStuart en Écosse:

Sounds good; another possibility, but might be 2018's project. Been thinking about the Hebridean Way for a bit now; want to get it done!
Thanks,
MM

In reply to Martin Thomas:
Thanks Martin,
Maybe I should look into minimising my luggage. I have considered a bit a credit card touring on the nice road bike but I'm not sure the credit card could take the strain in this case.
The MTB I'm considering wouldn't be considered much of a MTB these days seeing as it has a massive 3 inches of travel on the front, a slim steel frame and weighs about 12kg with fat tyres on it. So if I were to put the old rigid forks back on and get some slick tyres it would pretty much be a tourer, but that would require me to give it a good going over to ensure it would be reliable.