We will be in the England in July and would like to spend 4-5 days in a pleasant, smallish town where we could rent bikes and take day trips into the countryside ideally on cycling paths. If you have towns, itineraries, bike rental, or any relevant recommendations, I'd appreciate your advice. We are not big time cyclists, but rides of 20-30 miles are reasonable for us. If it's very hilly, we would hope to rent e-bikes.
Posted by
Land of La
8674 posts
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/nine-ace-bike-rides-in-and-around-london
https://secretldn.com/bike-hire-london/
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/routes-and-maps
You could also simply enjoy walking into and around Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath or along the lengthy Thames River path.
Posted by
96 posts
Not sure how big a smallish town is but Bath may fit the bill as there is easy cycling along the Kennet and Avon canal towards Bradford upon Avon and towards Bristol. Both were well-maintained and relatively flat paths and there was a cycle rental located right on the canal in the town. The route to Bristol follows a rails-to-trails set up and you could take the train back.
Cycle UK has a list of cycle routes, although they tend to be longer distance, and also a very active forum. I think that you would get a better response on their forum.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16287 posts
HF Holidays partners with Skedaddle bike rental to offer guided or self-guided cycling holidays with accommodations and meals provided in a comfortable manor house. This is one in the Cotswolds:
They have other locations in the Lake District (Derwentwater), Yorkshire, and Northumberland.
https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/special-interest/activity-breaks/cycling
We have not done cycling with them, but we have enjoyed several walking holidays, including one at Derwentwater in their lovely manor house right on the lake.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3761 posts
This company offers rides in many areas; your choice of eBike or standard mountain or racing bikes:
https://www.macsadventure.com/us/biking-tours/uk-biking-tours/
The area I immediately thought of was the Cotswolds.
I might do one of the Mac's Adventure tours, or if on my own, I'd rent an eBike and stay in the town of Bourton-On-The-Water, doing rides to other towns.
I'm intrigued by the 3 posts above. I love Claudia's suggestions. Richmond and Richmond Park are lovely. Plus a ride along the Thames Path, beside the River Thames would take you through lovely villages with pubs along the way where you could stop for lunch.
I like Al's suggestion of cycling along the Kennet and Avon canal from Bath to Bradford upon Avon.
I love Lola's suggestion of HF Holidays (partners with Skedaddle bike rentals/holidays). I want to do the trip detailed in the link she gave with a base in Bourton-On-The-Water.
Posted by
York
117 posts
How about York?
https://www.getcycling.org.uk/hire/
Has a map of some cycle routes from /around York
You could also follow part of the c2c route 66 check out Sustrans) to say Pocklington (nice and flat about 15 miles) have lunch/burnby hall gardens, cycle back. Or longer route (66 plus 1) and come back on the bus from Beverley with your bike. Guarantee you won’t hear another American accent in either town!
http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/york-to-beverley-cycle-route
Another day you could catch the coastlines bus to Pickering. Steam train (hogwarts express) to Whitby then rent bikes there and cycle cinder trail to Robin hoods bay and back. Then catch the bus back to York after wandering around Whitby and fish and chips (best eaten near the sea not in a pub imo).
Lots of cycling on relatively quiet lanes in East Riding. Check out Tour de Yorkshire on youtube. It’s a very popular cycling area because of the Tour, which sadly is no longer, and because lots of long distance cycle routes go through it.
Posted by
Preston UK
877 posts
Saddle Skedaddle are not a bike rental company - they are a respected cycle touring holiday company based in NE England but operating around the world. I guess they are running the cycling operation for HF Holidays.
York is a good suggestion although it’s exactly a small town.
Another option would be Bakewell. A gorgeous small town right in the middle of the Peak District NP and right next to Chatsworth, probably the country’s most impressive stately home. There are a number of cycle trails close to Bakewell built from old railway routes to explore as well as plenty of country lanes for which you might need e-bikes.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3761 posts
This may be of use to you. A link to the National Cycle Network (Sustrans) and its maps:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/national-cycle-network/
https://shop.sustrans.org.uk/collections/sustrans-maps-and-guidebooks
https://shop.sustrans.org.uk/collections/books
Posted by
York
117 posts
York not a small town I agree, but not a large city either and lots more to offer in between cycling than many small towns would for 4-5 days.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5764 posts
Wadebridge in Cornwall. The Camel Trail Cycle Hire (and another one just up the road- . It's riverside, at the start of the path along the old railway to Padstow (The Camel Trail), just along from the Route 39 American Diner.
I'm not a cyclist at all, I just noticed it last year when passing through Wadebridge.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
I appreciate the information and comments very much. After lots of reading, we are zeroing in on a Saddle Skedaddle self-guided tour. The hard part is deciding which one!