Rides worth riding

A39 Atlantic Highway

Somerset to Cornwall

The Atlantic-facing run through Exmoor, past Clovelly and on towards Cornwall. Sweeping bends, sea air and classic coastal riding.

Around 70 miles from the Minehead area to Bude · Easy to moderate. Sweeping coastal A-road

A39, 1.05x the national motorcyclist casualty rate per mile ridden

Bealach na Bà, Applecross

Wester Ross, Scottish Highlands

Britain's most dramatic mountain pass. A single-track climb over the hairpins to Applecross, with views across to Skye on a clear day.

About 12 miles over the pass to Applecross · Hard. Steep hairpins, single track, very remote

Cat and Fiddle (A537)

Peak District, Cheshire and Derbyshire border

The short, sharp climb from Macclesfield to Buxton over the moors. Famous, windswept and best enjoyed at a pace that lets you actually look at it.

About 12 miles between Macclesfield and Buxton · Moderate. Short, high and very exposed

A537, 0.72x the national motorcyclist casualty rate per mile ridden

Hardknott and Wrynose Passes

Lake District, Cumbria

England's steepest tarmac. Tight hairpins, single-track sections and gradients that test your clutch control as much as your nerve.

A short, intense run through the central Lakes · Hard. Steep, narrow and committing

North Coast 500

Scottish Highlands, loop from Inverness

The great Highland loop from Inverness around the top of Scotland. Five days is about right; three is rushing something special.

Just over 500 miles in a full loop · Moderate. Long distances, remote sections

9 numbered roads, 0.59x the national motorcyclist casualty rate per mile ridden

Snake Pass (A57)

Peak District, Derbyshire

The classic trans-Pennine run. Big moorland views, long sweepers and a proper sense of being up in the hills, all within easy reach of Manchester and Sheffield.

About 25 miles between Glossop and Sheffield · Moderate. Fast, open and exposed

A57, 2.41x the national motorcyclist casualty rate per mile ridden

The Camel Trail

Padstow to Wenfordbridge, Cornwall

A flat, traffic-free former railway along the Camel estuary from Padstow. One of the most popular family rides in the country, and rightly so.

About 18 miles, almost entirely traffic-free · Easy. Flat and family-friendly

The Rebellion Way

Norfolk, loop from Norwich

Cycling UK's Norfolk loop. Quiet lanes, coastal paths and big skies, and one of the friendliest introductions to multi-day bikepacking there is.

About 230 miles as a loop · Moderate. Mostly gentle, with off-road sections

Trans Cambrian Way

Mid Wales, Knighton to the Dovey estuary

A coast-to-coast epic across the roof of mid Wales. Big climbs, open moorland and a real sense of getting away from it all.

About 100 miles across the Cambrian Mountains · Hard. Remote, hilly and committing

BikePark Wales

Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales

The UK's benchmark bike park. Uplift-assisted descents for every level, from first-timer flow trails to genuinely serious expert lines.

A trail centre with dozens of graded descents · All levels, from gentle flow to expert

Coed y Brenin

Snowdonia (Eryri), North Wales

The birthplace of purpose-built UK mountain biking. Waymarked forest trails for every level in the heart of Snowdonia.

A forest trail centre with waymarked loops · All levels, from family loops to technical blacks