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Hi STW,
I'm after a bit of collective knowledge, its my parents birthday next week and they have recently got into biking. So as part of their present i'm looking for places for them to go ride and i'll book them an overnight stay.
They're pretty good with distance and can manage 30+ miles on flattish ground, but not really up for any big hills.
So i'm looking for flattish marked trails, either small country lanes, cycle routes, old railway lines, firetracks etc.. nothing too off road and bumpy. But ideally in a scenic location.
Any suggestions on routes I can line up for them? and nice near by towns for B&B or Clamping? Ideally within 100 miles of Birmingham.
Thanks in advance
I reckon this is one area where the NE does pretty well for itself. The old waggonways go to some interesting places on very non challenging routes, there's the coastal rides, the C2C paths and then there's more quiet back lanes than I'll ever get round to riding.
Unfortunately I've just realised it's too far away - I should read the whole of posts.
flattish ground, but not really up for any big hills.
Weirdly, the two aren't mutually exclusive: http://www.strava.com/segments/4227883?filter=overall
Bath would be a good base, interesting City to visit. Good cycle track (old railway path) to bristol in one direction and you can explore the new two tunnels route out of Bath. Alternatively, it is easy to get onto the canal path to head towards Bradford on Avon.
Lots of places to stop off at on either routes.
Leeds/Liverpool canal out from Bingley to Gargraveish. About 20 miles I think?
Nice and solid for the most part, potentially muddy in a couple of spots.
You can get the train back to the start from Gargrave.
Taff Trial is nice as scenic as is Brecon as a base. Possible to do it one way using the bus, too.
Mawddach trail. approx 20 miles there and back from Dol.
Great scenery and nice pub George the something.
White Peak?
You have the High Peak Trail (start at Middleton Top and head north, not Cromford Canal as there are 2 massive hills!), Tissington Trail, Carsington Water, Monsal Trail (great view at Monsal Head) and Manifold Trail.
All old railway lines so easy riding, Carsington is about 8miles, but you can go round twice! Tissington and High Peak can be linked using quiet roads to form a triangular route.
Loads of B&Bs and small hotels too.
+1 for the Peak District. Loads to do and see if/when they get bored of riding. Cheshire is not far away if they'd like to explore some quiet country lanes with no hills, some of which are marked as national cycle routes. There's also some nice canals to ride along once you get into Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Thanks guys, plenty to research there which is great. Up for more suggestions if anyone else has a gem.
Muffin man beat me to it.
Also loads of sustrans and riverside routes around Derby. Cloud Trail heads south, you can do a great flat route from Derby to Nottingham with hardly any on road. There's now the Erewash Trail as well.
rutland water and surroundings, there's bugger all hills round there.
Mawddach Trail is a good suggestion. Had forgotten about that one.