20 of the UK’s best long-distance cycling routes for bikepacking
Cycling on an empty road in the Outer Hebrides
The UK is full of long distance cycling routes. Some are road based, others are gravel tracks, and then there are the remote mountain routes. There really is something for everyone!
Whenever I go on a multi-day cycling adventure, my day to day worries get left behind. Life is stripped back to the rhythmic turning of the pedals, seeking out fab cafe stops, and working out where to stay overnight.
It feels so simplistic and whether it’s a short ride to wild camp overnight, or a longer route, the adventure of loading up my bike never fails to bring a smile to my face.
10 long-distance cycling routes on my adventure bucket list
If you’ve read my adventure bucket list blog post, you’ll already know about the following ten ideas for bikepacking routes:
The Rebellion Way, Norfolk (232 miles)
King Alfred’s Way, historic Wessex (220 miles)
The Badger Divide, Glasgow to Inverness (210 miles)
The Hebridean Way, The Outer Hebrides (185 miles)
The Advocacy Way, North Yorkshire to the Peak District (124 miles)
Tour de Holme Moss, West Yorkshire (42 miles MTB route, 40 miles gravel route)
LEJOG, the length of the UK (900 - 1,000 miles)
Black Sail Hostel, The Lake District
The Pennine Bridleway, Derbyshire to Cumbria (205 miles)
The Trans Pennine Trail, coast to coast Merseyside to Humberside (215 miles)
I wanted to include a few of them here, but it seemed crazy to repeat the information. So, instead, I recommend you pick up the details for the ten above by checking out my adventure bucket list blog post - and then scroll down to read about ten more!
Here’s that link again: Adventure bucket list: 40 amazing ideas in the UK and Europe
10 more long-distance cycling routes in the UK
1. Traws Eryri: Wales
Traws Eryri (translated as Trans-Snowdonia) is 112 miles of rugged terrain in the Welsh mountains. It’s an off-road adventure from Machynlleth to Conwy, taking you on forest tracks, moorland trails, and mountain summits. It has over 4,000m of climbing and described as “not for the faint-hearted”.
More details: Traws Eryri on the Cycling UK website
2. The Great Glen Way: Scotland
Running for 79 miles from Fort William to Inverness, the Great Glen Way is a mix of canal towpaths, forest tracks, and roads. The section from Fort William to Laggan tends to be on a traffic free towpath alongside the Caledonian Canal. From Laggan, the route becomes hillier with long climbs and steep descents - at times, it climbs from 35m to over 300m.
More details: The Great Glen Way on The Highland Council website
3. Sea to Sea (C2C): Cumbria to Tyneside
The Sea to Sea cycle route starts in Whitehaven or Workington in the Lake District, and ends 137.5 miles later in Sunderland or Tynemouth. Just under 45% is traffic free, and 83% is on asphalt. Riding west to east takes advantage of the prevailing winds and shorter uphill sections.
More details: The Sea to Sea route on the Sustrans website
4. The Great North Trail: Peak District to Cape Wrath or John o’Groats in Scotland
This epic cycling route covers 800 miles from the Peak District to the tip of Scotland. It starts by following the Pennine Bridleway, and continues heading north on existing trails such as the John Muir Way and An Turas Mor. The finishing point is either the remote Cape Wrath on the north-westerly point of the UK or John o’Groats on the north-eastern tip. Parts of the route go through wild and remote upland areas without a phone signal.
More details: The Great North Trail on Cycling UK’s website
5. The Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route
This 144 mile cycle route from Sustrans takes you on a circular tour of the gently undulating Yorkshire Wolds in East Yorkshire. It passes through market towns and small villages, visiting the seaside town of Bridlington along the way. The route is signed, and the recommended direction is clockwise.
Read more: The Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route website
6. The West Kernow Way: Cornwall
The West Kernow Way starts in Penzance and is a 150 mile figure of eight loop in Cornwall. It mostly goes along quiet roads, byways, and bridleways, keeping away from the busy main roads in the area. Suitable for gravel and mountain bikes, it’s classified by Cycling UK as a Blue route using the off-road grading system.
Read more: The West Kernow Way on Cycling UK’s website
7. Belfast to Ballyshannon: Northern Ireland
This 242 mile cycle route is Irelands first fully signed coast to coast cycling route. It begins just north of Belfast in Whiteabbey village. It goes on towpaths and quiet minor roads, travelling through the Sperrin Mountains to reach the Atlantic Coast at Donegal. Most of the route is on quiet minor roads.
Read more: Belfast to Ballyshannon on the Sustrans website
Belfast to Ballyshannon route taken from the Sustrans website
8. The Cantii Way: Kent
This 147 mile circular route in Kent uses traffic-free cycle paths, bridleways, and quiet roads. It’s aimed at those wanting a leisurely ride using touring and hybrid bikes. It’s not signposted, but tends to follow the coastline or signed National Cycle Network routes. There’s a PDF route guide and GPX file of the Cantii Way. The name come comes from the Celtic tribe which inhabited the area during the Iron Age.
Read more: The Cantii Way on the Cycling UK website
9. The North Coast 500: Scotland
The North Coast 500 (actually 516 miles) is a route around the northern tip of Scotland. It takes in coastal scenery, rugged mountains, and remote villages. Well-known as a scenic driving route, expect to share the narrow roads with cars, motorbikes, and camper vans. The North Coast 500 website had an itinerary based on cycling around 65 miles per day - you can also take some of the suggested minor roads to avoid the heavier traffic.
Read more: Cycling the North Coast 500 on the North Coast 500 website
10. The South Downs Way
Running from Winchester to Eastbourne, the 100-mile South Downs Way takes cyclists anything from two to four days. It’s an off-road route, following bridleways and byways. A mountain bike is recommended due to the terrain, which tends to be a mixture of grass and chalky soil.
Read more: Cycling the South Downs Way on the South Downs Way website
There you have it - 20 long-distance cycling routes to get your teeth into. If you want more inspiration, definitely browse around on the Sustrans and Cycling UK websites. Both are charitable organisations working hard to create more cycling routes across the UK.
If I’ve missed your favourite long-distance cycling route, drop a comment below.
Happy cycling 🚴
More of a walker?
Read: Best multi-day walks in the UK
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Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, an outdoor adventure and marketing content writer for brands that care about their impact on people and the planet.
