The best way to experience a landscape’s true beauty is on two wheels and nowhere boasts out-of-this-world cycling routes quite like Britain. While it might not immediately spring to mind compared to China’s Friendship Highway and the Great Ocean Road, the UK is brimming with hidden gems that offer stunning scenery and a sense of peaceful seclusion.
Cycling holidays are the perfect way to explore new destinations, make new friends, and experience new cultures. So, take your bike off well-trodden paths and enjoy the serenity of three of the best-kept cycling destinations in the UK, all promising a view that can’t be beaten.
New Forest National Park, Hampshire
For lovers of gravel cycling, the New Forest National Park is an impressive combination of ancient woodlands, a 40-mile secluded coast, and quaint villages with charming thatched-roof cottages. There is a route for every cyclist’s level and ability, from seasoned professionals to young beginners.
Pedal along the Burley Hill Fort Loop to catch sight of roaming ponies and deer or take the quiet country lanes of the Brockenhurst to Rhinefield route. Stop off for a refreshing drink at a local pub or explore the ruins of medieval settlements and structures.
Isle of Wight
If you’re looking for idyllic cycling holidays in England that offer unparalleled scenery, the Isle of Wight is the answer. Offering white-coloured cliffs overlooking the English Channel and secret coves, this diamond-shaped island boasts around 200 miles of cycling routes, byways, and bridleways open to cyclists of all levels.
There are plenty of bike-friendly accommodations and bike-hire options across the island to stay comfortable on your journey. Some of the best routes include Round the Island, a circular trail that offers sea views, hill starts, and countryside rambles. Challenge yourself with a climb up Needles Battery or embark on a family-friendly riverside trail, the Medina Greenway Breeze.
South Downs National Park, Sussex
The South Downs is one of the best national parks in the UK, not to mention the sunniest, and offers the quintessential English countryside experience. It boasts more than 1,600 square kilometres of a picture-perfect landscape full of chalky ridges, colourful wildflowers, vibrant wildlife, and historic sites such as the ancient hill fort of Chanctonbury Ring.
It’s a place where the coast, woodland, and countryside meet which means it is suited to all manner of cyclists. One of the must-see spots in the park is the Seven Sisters cliffs and the stunning 2,000-year-old yew trees growing at Kingley Vale.
South Downs embodies the motto ‘let nature be nature’ so you’re guaranteed to encounter preserved landscapes that have been allowed to grow without human interaction.
