As the sun starts to shine, we all love to get out and experience the great outdoors. Getting out on your bike is a fantastic way to enjoy the sunshine, while also keeping active.
If you’re searching for some new UK cycling routes to make the most of the warmer weather, we’ve got you covered. Here is our pick of the best bike rides around the UK to help keep you active this summer. Each bike route is well-signposted and simple to follow, so you can whizz away with ease.
We’ve also included a mixture of difficulty levels, so whether you’re a cycling enthusiast or a leisurely rider, we’ve got a cycling route to suit you.
Chew Valley Lake Loop – North Somerset
24.2 miles/38.9km
- 2 hours by bike
- 8 hours on foot
Difficulty level: Medium
Best type of bike: Hybrid or Mountain Bike
Taking you out of Bristol and into the Somerset countryside, the Chew Valley Lake Loop is a longer route that’s still quite smooth and flat, so perfect for less experienced riders who still fancy an extended ride.
As the name suggests, you’ll follow the roads and paths that wrap around Chew Valley Lake, giving you some stunning views along the way.
There are a number of bike routes around the Chew Valley, so feel free to customise as you wish!
Rea Valley Route – Birmingham
5.7 miles/9.2 km
- 29 minutes by bike
- 1 hour 54 minutes on foot
Difficulty level: Easy
Best type of bike: Hybrid
The Rea Valley Route links the urban Birmingham City Centre with the beautiful Cannon Hill Park and King’s Norton Park.
Following National Cycle Route 5, you’ll avoid heavy traffic and escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. The cycle route continues up to the Lickey Hills, where you can enjoy the incredible views of the Midlands before heading back to the big city refreshed and revitalised.
Afan Valley Aberavon – Wales
6.9 miles/11.2 km
- 35 minutes by bike
- 2 hours 30 minutes on foot
Difficulty level: Medium
Best type of bike: Mountain Bike
The Afan Valley is home to some of the world’s most incredible mountain bike trails, and they’re easily accessible to everyone. This 6.9-mile route takes you from Port Talbot to the Afan Forest, through wide-open hills, exposed trails and exciting technical sections. Leisure riders can break up the route with a stop at Port Talbot shopping centre.
If you’re a serious off-roader, check out Afan Bike Park for some of the best biking Wales has to offer.
Comber Greenway (Route 99) – Belfast
7 miles/11.2 km
- 35 minutes by bike
- 2 hours 20 minutes on foot
Difficulty level: Easy
Best type of bike: Hybrid
This short but sweet traffic-free route through County Down follows an old disused railway from Belfast to Comber.
You’ll pass sights like CS Lewis Square with bronze Narnia character statues, the iconic Titanic Belfast, and the Stormont Parliament Buildings, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Wye Downs (and ups) – Kent
16.4 miles/27km
- 1 hour 45 minutes by bike
Difficulty level: Hard
Best type of bike: Mountain Bike
The Wye Downs boasts some of the most picturesque and far-reaching views in the UK. You’ll find beautiful woodland tracks and quaint English villages plus a thrilling descent back off the downs on this challenging 16.4-mile route. Suitable for experienced cyclists, it’s a testing trail that you’ll love every time you ride it.
And that concludes our best summer cycle routes in the UK. For further inspiration, apps like Kohmoot are great for discovering new cycling routes, with the ability to filter by location and difficulty level.
At Halfords, we have a wide range of bike accessories and cycle tech gadgets to keep you going during the summer months to assist you on your adventures.
If you want the best range of cycling products, you want Halfords.
