Sites with "off main road" cycle routes nearby

kdee69
kdee69 Forum Participant Posts: 226
edited January 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi

I'd love to know of any sites that have really good cycle routes from the doorstep. Preferably not on busy roads but say, canal paths, disused railway lines or coastal paths, through scenic country paths etc...

 

If there is a particular cracker of a route that does use main roads for part, still really grateful to hear about it.

We are purchasing bikes and any suggestions would be wonderful

Comments

  • Riba
    Riba Forum Participant Posts: 70
    edited January 2017 #2

    The CC site at Chirk is more or less on the Llangollen canal.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #3

    In terms of Club Sites, we can recommend Old Hartley (near Tynemouth), routes off road to interesting places both North and South direct from site. Ferry Meadows, you can cycle the whole Country Park, and take a safe easy off road route all the way into Peterborough, and come back by steam train when it is running. Clumber Park, you have the whole estate, mud, heathlands and the ford if you are brave enough! We did a lovely circular ride through woodlands, bit of quiet road and then back via the dunes at Yellowcraig, into North Berwick.

    Some of the sites have cycle leaflets, but OS maps are your best friend to make up your own rides. Enjoy.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #4

    Wirral CP at Thurstaston, near West Kirby has a cycle path literally right outside the entrance, The Wirral Way. Local tourist offices have maps showing the extent of the cycle way. Excellent scenery, interesting places, pubs en route and a beach right by the site as well.

  • martin62
    martin62 Forum Participant Posts: 16
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    edited January 2017 #5

    Lady Margarets Park, Chirk. The canal tow path is about half a mile from the site you can then go left to Llangollen which is about 8 miles away then upto horseshoe falls about 2 mile. or when you get to the canal from site turn right through the tunnel go over chirk agueduct and you can go at least 5 mile before the tow path turn to grass footpath. I was there in september and had a great time.    

  • kdee69
    kdee69 Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited January 2017 #6

    these all sound great and not too far from me :) Thank you!

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited January 2017 #7

    Pembrey Country Park Caravan Club Site, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

    There is some good off road cycling from here, including a great beach to cycle on at the right time of the tide.

    Then with our "sister club" ;-) the Devizes site places you on the Kennett and Avon canal with even the potential to cycle right into Bath for a really long days ride.

    Quite rugged bikes needed.

  • Tomorrow
    Tomorrow Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited January 2017 #8

    So we have cycled direct from Chirck.  

    1.  Non club site Riverdale (ashbourne) directly onto the Tissington Trail.  

    2.  National trust Houghton Mill nice route to St Ives and back.  

    3.  Caravan Club Grafham Water great off the road route around Grafham water.  

    4.Caravan Club Crossways bikes on the train to Weymouth and straight on cycle ways to Roswell Trail (old railway line.

    5. Caravan Club Clumber Park around park.

    6.  Hebden Bridge.  Down road to canal up to hedben bridge.  Or down road to train station bikes on train and go 2 stops up the line and cycle back down the canal.

    7.  Skinfold backs onto South Downs Link.

     

    Any more I would love to know for this year 😀

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #9

    Stamford is situated on the edge of Finshades, part of Rockingham Forest, so has forest tracks directly from the site.

    Ferry Meadows at Peterborough is great for cycle route.

    Slinfold, at Horsham, has an old railway line now a cycle track right behind the site, which is a link between the North & South Downs.

    The New Forest sites must have good off road cycle route close by, although we've never stay at any of them.

    Clumber Park has lots of off road cycle routes throughout the estate.

    Keilder Water has both forest tracks & man made off road routes close to the site.

    And so on. 

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,025 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #10

    Maragowan CC site in Killin is great for cycling there are miles of cycle path from Killin that you can follow all the way down to Callander great route and lovely scenery. Strathclyde Park CC also had good access to the country park where again there is plenty of cycle trails. Chester Fairoaks CC is also within easy access of a lovely canal towpath that we have cycled along a few times very nice route. Hope this helps

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #11

    Tackle  the problem the other way round . Chose the cycle route you want to do then look for sites nearby instead of always choosing Club sites first. For example here in the South West if you want to cycle Drakes Trail there is Riverside Park at Plymouth. For the Granite Way there is the Lydford AS site. For the Camel Trail Trail there is Dennis Cove at Padstow. For the Tarka Trail there are  independent sites  at  the Torrington and Barnstaple ends of the route. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #12

    For the Camel Trail, starting at Padstow try the Dennis Cove non CC site.

    For the New Forest, Black Knowl is excellent.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #13

    Apologies Dennis Cove had already been suggested also try the long bracing sea front at Sandilands near the CC Sutton on Sea site, not too far for you. smile

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #14

    There is the coast to coast cycle route in West Cornwall.  I think it stretches from near Portreath in the north to Devoran in the south.  There are cycle hire shops for those who don't want to take their own equipment.  Globe Vale (just outside Redruth) is situated fairly close to the route, especially if you have your own equipment.  If your hiring you will have to drive to the hire shop.

    Hope this helps.  Globe Vale is a particularly favourite site of ours (as I'm sure some will know smile).

    David 

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited January 2017 #15

    Another vote for the Camel Trail.  Right next to a great little CL on the banks of the River Camel. 

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2017 #16

    Ferry Meadows miles of cycle routes including towpath and country also all the way to the city centre with no traffic

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited January 2017 #17

    There is a nice CL, The Station 1251, at Attlebridge nr Norwich that is situated alongside The Marriotts Way. Turn right and you can cycle into Norwich, turn left and you can cycle to Whitwell station and beyond. The lanes around the site are relatively quiet too.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #18

    Here's part of our outfit on the long promenade ride from Sandilands to Mablethorpe (Sutton on Sea CC.) laughing

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #19

    Edinburgh site all the way into Leith or the other way along the Forth.

    Carsington Water, all the way round the reservoir.

    Whitewater at Middlesbourgh, straight out the site along the river cycle for miles either way

     

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #20

    Southport. Cycle lane designated along the sea front towards Preston and t'other way the coast road goes slightly away from the sea but has a designated cycle lane running parallel wih it

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #21

    doent National Cycle Route 1 wend its way up past you....we used it when in Norfolk and Lincoln last year and managed plenty of 'very quiet' road cycling, if not specifically traffic free....it really was great there...

    much further south, Brighton is on NCR 2 which goes all along the south coast, mainly along promenades of the various seaside towns with dedicated tracks....another pleasant area for cycling..