U.K,s TOP cycling area.

2

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  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    Basically anywhere in Scotland apart from the main central belt. I love Perth, Fife the central and west highlands but below are my fav's

    Number 1 - Sutherland, its big sky country, quiet, amazing scenery(really amazing). I like the area North of Ullapool and around Unapool and along the Shin etc. Smashing.

    2nd Number 1 - Everybody raves about the North of Scotland but for me the Borders are every bit as good as the North and better in some ways.
    Brian B.
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    To me the best riding area has nothing to do with whether it's hilly or flat it has more to do with the roads available to me to ride on. That's why i love Norfolk so much, we have an amazing amount of back lanes that can take you right across the county without coming into contact with heavy traffic. Having lived in Sussex for instance I know they have some great roads but you can't go far without having to join something major which spoils it for me.
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

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  • gavbarron
    gavbarron Posts: 824
    markos1963 wrote:
    To me the best riding area has nothing to do with whether it's hilly or flat it has more to do with the roads available to me to ride on. That's why i love Norfolk so much, we have an amazing amount of back lanes that can take you right across the county without coming into contact with heavy traffic. Having lived in Sussex for instance I know they have some great roads but you can't go far without having to join something major which spoils it for me.

    I'd agree with that. No there aren't always the best views, although head north to the coast and it is undulating and has nice scenery. The wind can make some days miserable but it only makes you tougher.
    Another thing I've noticed is that Norfolk drivers are generally a bit more tolerant of cyclists than other parts of the country I've lived and ridden in
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    France
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  • gavbarron
    gavbarron Posts: 824
    NapoleonD wrote:
    France

    Geography a weak topic for you? :roll:
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Yes, I only recently found out that N0b End was a real place near Bolton.
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  • Bordersroadie
    Bordersroadie Posts: 1,052
    amaferanga wrote:
    Northumberland / Scottish Borders / Dumfries and Galloway. Great roads and virtually no traffic.

    Well summed up.

    These areas are superb in that they have hundreds of miles of backroads so it's easy to ride long distances without going on a main road. The scenery is unspoilt and even in summer there is almost no traffic, so the roads are pretty much all yours (well, mine). It's hilly too, if you like that sort of thing, which I do, but if you want flatter, there are lots of river valley roads as well.
  • bobbydazzla
    bobbydazzla Posts: 289
    Bordersroadie wrote:
    amaferanga wrote:
    Northumberland / Scottish Borders / Dumfries and Galloway. Great roads and virtually no traffic.

    Well summed up.

    These areas are superb in that they have hundreds of miles of backroads so it's easy to ride long distances without going on a main road. The scenery is unspoilt and even in summer there is almost no traffic, so the roads are pretty much all yours (well, mine). It's hilly too, if you like that sort of thing, which I do, but if you want flatter, there are lots of river valley roads as well.

    Another vote for Northumberland / Borders.

    Empty roads, scenic, lumpy. Perfect.
  • silverpigeon
    silverpigeon Posts: 327
    Guernsey - Coastal roads, stunning views, nice weather (usually) and a maximum speed limit of 25mph means it is possible to get a speeding ticket whilst cycling - although I haven't managed it yet.
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  • marylogic
    marylogic Posts: 355
    Another vote for Scotland (the entire country is an area according to Simon Whatsit's 100 greatest cycling climbs)

    If I had to narrow it down I really like the area around the Cairngorms - there is some great climbing and even a couple of Alpine style ski station finishes.

    And there is nobody here.
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    Cornwall and devon
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    Wiltshire has some really nice roads and some great scenery and are very own westbury white horse with some stunning views across wiltshire :D
  • johnny25
    johnny25 Posts: 344
    All of it.
  • jcondylis01
    jcondylis01 Posts: 50
    I'm not sure about the top area to cycling in as I've only really cycled around the Hampshire/Wiltshire/West Sussex area so far, but the South Downs has a good mix of lovely scenery, quiet roads (so long as you avoid the a272), hills and plenty of little villages to stop in and on a clear day the view from the top of the South Downs Way is really beautiful.
  • Flexisurfer
    Flexisurfer Posts: 249
    Norfolk and Suffolk as I live in Suffolk and I guess the TOB wouldn't come here if it were rubbish. My mum lives just outside Perth and its a cracking area to ride, I'll be doing the Etape in May and can't wait to get back up there.
  • drewduncan
    drewduncan Posts: 32
    South Ayrshire in Scotland - home of the Ayrshire Alps. Very quiet roads and amazing scenery.

    http://ayrshirealps.org/wp/
  • Cheshire Cat
    Cheshire Cat Posts: 309
    Surprised no one has mentioned Cumbria, and the Lake District...or is it too steep for most folk :lol:
    “Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” Hunter S Thompson
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    Cheshire Cat wrote:
    Surprised no one has mentioned Cumbria, and the Lake District...or is it too steep for most folk :lol:
    A lot of traffic on very narrow roads

    My favourite area is probably the Welsh Marches
  • wotnoshoeseh
    wotnoshoeseh Posts: 531
    The Mournes
  • charliew87
    charliew87 Posts: 371
    Devon has to be worth a shout. Dartmoor has hills, epic scenery and nice empty roads. South Hams is full of short sharp climbs and sea views and heading north from Exeter towards Barnstaple is rolling and beautiful.

    Richmond Park is disproportionately nice for how close it is to central London, on a sunny morning it's spectacular in there.
    Canyon AL Ultimate 9.0
  • stinger53
    stinger53 Posts: 135
    elderone wrote:
    In my limited experience I have to say north shrops/welsh border..More than enough hills but can head down onto the shrops plain for flatter/lumpy ride.

    Must agree i love cycling around Shropshire/Welsh border. but it will be different for each persons view.
  • wellbeloved747
    wellbeloved747 Posts: 406
    Devon..Hahah...No never!!
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  • gloomyandy
    gloomyandy Posts: 520
    Although I love Scotland and especially the North West and Islands there are downsides. Not that many roads to choose from (though they are often wonderful), a long way between cafes and some of the hotels have a "what other choice do you have" feel to them!

    I live in West Yorkshire and love many of the roads but it is hard to avoid the major ones and it is very busy at times.

    I think my vote would probably go for Northumberland!
  • IanREmery
    IanREmery Posts: 148
    Grill wrote:
    chuckla wrote:
    South Wales butt! Every kind of road you can think of down here!

    This. Any terrain you can think of is within reach.

    Thirded, although admittedly I've only ever cycled on the South Downs and in South Wales (grew up near the Downs, now live in the Rhondda).
  • Courage Monsieur
    Courage Monsieur Posts: 534
    bernithebiker wrote:
    Flasher wrote:
    Has to be Surrey, not only because of the Olympics, but it's where I live, so also very convenient!

    I lived in Richmond for 10 years, and did a bit of road riding in that time. Have to say, a bit underwhelmed; i always found the roads in Surrey busy, narrow and poorly surfaced, maybe I just never found the right ones.....!

    Totally agree. You can say the same about a lot of the Kent roads nearer London too.
  • Courage Monsieur
    Courage Monsieur Posts: 534
    Having lived and ridden in Northumberland, Cardiff/Gwent, Pembrokeshire, and SE London, I'd say Pembrokeshire in summer was very nice, though some of the lanes were a bit too narrow and risky with holiday traffic.

    Maybe around Cardiff was best - lots of good and varied routes, and some hills up the valleys. Northumbria was nice but that was 20 years ago so I imagine traffic levels are different now.

    If I had my pick I'd imagine the Peak District and Shropshire / Welsh borders are damned good. Scotland would be awesome, but you've got the weather.

    Unsurprisingly, SE London and the Kent lanes don't fare too well against this competition. It's OK though. Have to make do with what's available.
  • y33stu
    y33stu Posts: 376
    Having spent the last 4 months travelling the UK for work purposes, to mainly rural areas, (with bike in tow) I can honestly say I'm pleased to live so close to Northumberland and North Yorkshire, as I think these are the best places, for both scenery and quiet roads.

    Anyone that says Surrey or Richmond Park are the best places do so because they have never cycled anywhere else. Why cycle around a park like Richmond when you can cycle round a whole county like Northumberland over 7 hours, and see about 10 other people the whole time. Baffles me.
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  • Scotter
    Scotter Posts: 52
    I live in the North West so I have some great areas within 1 to 2 hour`s riding or driving.

    However, if I want to ride good quality roads with very little traffic, and a massive range of different climbs, then I drive to the area around Bala in North Wales.
    Heaven!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I live on the Hampshire/Surrey border and with good local knowledge, it's possible to find challenging and rewarding rides with little traffic - and there's plenty of nice places to stop on route. Regular excursions down to and around Isle of Wight, plus the Southdowns Way-in-a-day are plenty tough enough.
    I also get down to the Southwest a couple of times a year, and again with careful route choice, Cornwall has some great rides - the north coast road from St Just to St Ives is one of the best stretches of road in the UK IME - particularly with a good westerley.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • john5339
    john5339 Posts: 10
    No votes for Essex yet?

    Its flat and once you get away from the population centres, pretty well empty - roads are generally good and riding up to Suffolk via Castle Hedingham and on to the coast is a great ride.

    Also, I like Dorset as well - riding out of Swanage up into the country - great ride.

    My in laws used to live in Sheffield so I did a fair amont in the Peaks - great riding but roads too busy on a decent summer week-end.

    Cornwall/Devon are fine -- ouy of holiday season

    cheers

    John

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