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Raleigh’s 10 Best Cycle Staycations for Summer

Best Cycle Staycation List - the Yorkshire Dales

Raleigh’s 10 Best Cycle Staycations for Summer

Raleigh have a list of their 10 Best Cycle Staycations for Summer. This is where you can find the details of their list: https://www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/cycling-advice/uk-cycling-staycations/.

Ranging from 8.8 to 21.7 miles, they are day rides with easy cycling. They are really nice routes.

I’ve added a link to a map or guide book that would help you explore them.

The Raleigh Staycation List

  1. Scarborough to Whitby – 21.7 miles – the Cinder Track, one of many rides in ‘Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton
  2. Marriott’s Way – 18.4 miles – Norwich – Norfolk Goldeneye map
  3. Viking Coastal Trail – 9.2 miles from Margate Station to Reculver, Kent – Kent Goldeneye map
  4. London Docklands & Lea Valley – 20.7 miles – the London Cycling Guide or Cycle London guide book, plus the London & Essex cycle map
  5. Birmingham to Wolverhampton – 13.4 miles – the Birmingham Greenways map
  6. Derby Canal Path and Cloud Trail – 13.3 miles – in ‘Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton
  7. Preston Guild Wheel – 21.2 miles – Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton
  8. Route 221, the Basingstoke Canal – 8.7 miles – in ‘Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton
  9. Consett and Sunderland Railway Path – 14 miles – in ‘Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton
  10. The University Way, Bedford to Sandy – 8.8 miles – in ‘Traffic-free Cycle Trails by Nick Cotton

My Cycling Staycation List for Any Time

Best Cycle Staycation List - Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Berwick-upon-Tweed

That made me wonder about my own list. I decided this would involve longer routes that would make complete staycation holidays in their own right, and I would spread them wide around the UK. So here goes:

  1. The Devon Coast to Coast cycle route – Devon Coast to Coast guide book
  2. Circuit of the Yorkshire Dales – Harvey Yorkshire Dales Cycleway map
  3. The original Coast to Coast cycle route – the C2C guide map and book
  4. A complete tour of Wales – Cycle Touring in Wales guide book
  5. The Cornish Way, from Land’s End to BudeCornwall and West Devon cycle map
  6. London to Land’s End – the London to Land’s End guide book
  7. National Byway from Cirencester to Chester – National Byway Midlands map
  8. The Western Isles of Scotland – Cycling in the Hebrides Cicerone guide book
  9. Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Berwick-upon-TweedNorthumberland Cycle Touring map
  10. The Scottish Coast to CoastThe Ultimate Scottish Coast to Coast guide book

Best Cycle Staycation List - the Yorkshire Dales
Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales
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The best cycle route to Ardrossan from Inverness

Some hints on a route through western Scotland that sounds very, very good – from John A in Ardrossan:

The best cycle route to Ardrossan from Inverness

Take the A862, then hang a left on to the A833, that comes out at Drumnadrochit, halfway down Loch Ness. This avoids the very busy A82. Then link up with a trail at Strone to Invermoriston & join the Great Glen there. This off road route will take you all the way to Fort William, avoiding the manic A82 & possible road rage.

In Fort William there’s a new Travel Lodge, with Brewers Fayre below, superb value. From Fort William head south on the A82 for around 14 miles, then take the A828 to North Connel, then A85 to Oban, so you only suffer The A82 for 14 miles.

From Oban head south on the A816 & I recommend booking ahead at the Kilmartin Hotel, very friendly & good value. From Kilmartin it’s only 50 miles to Ardrossan via Arran, 2 ferries, 1 from Claonaig to Lochranza & the other from Brodick to Ardrossan, hey presto, great trip.

Distance for this route is around 200 miles of breath taking scenery, well worth the effort.

Hope this info can be of benefit to fellow cyclists – enjoy!

John, Ardrossan