Tag: United Kingdom

SailLink: Update For 2026

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Last year I was contacted by cycle tourist Helen Rivers. She was keen to tell me about a new ‘ferry’ service that had been set up for pedestrians and cyclists travelling across the English Channel. Helen and her husband Ben subsequently appeared on The Cycling Europe Podcast to talk about their extensive experiences of cycling in Europe over many years. It is the episode that was published twoards the end of January 2026, episode 98. However, as a result of Helen’s initial contact with me, I contacted SailLink and I included an interview with Andrew Simons, the skipper of the SailLink boat, in episode 91 of The Cycling Europe Podcast.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 095 – Claire Davies – Braver Than You Think

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In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast, we talk to Claire Davies, former diplomat, cyclist and writer. She chats about her journey along LEJOG and her ‘end-to-end’ cycles around Europe.

“Are you braver than you think? That’s the question Claire Davies began asking herself as she cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats, ill-prepared, unsupported and alone. At a mid-life low point, craving space and time to think, or not to think, Claire decided that a long bicycle ride was what she needed. Setting off for Scotland just a few weeks later, on a bike named Trixie, guided by a gadget called Guillaume, she had little idea what she was letting herself in for. It turned out to be a journey not only to better physical fitness and mental health, but also to empowerment and self-discovery, partly through the eyes of the people she met along the way.”

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 094 – From Ibiza To The Norfolk Broads (Revisited)

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In 2020, episode 23 of The Cycling Europe Podcast featured a chat with cyclist and David Bowie fan James Briggs. Inspired by the lyric of his musical hero, David Bowie, James set off on a cycling odyssey from Ibiza… to the Norfolk Broads. At the time he was writing a book about his music-inspired journey and now, five years later, it has just been published. According to the blurb, “Criss-crossing Europe, he visited French chateaux where Bowie recorded, Spanish Olympic stadiums he played, former communist states where his music was banned, and the Berlin Wall he helped topple – all while navigating angry Soviet ballerinas, suspicious village mayors, and an irate Cliff Richard fan.” In this episode of the podcast we listen to what James had to say back in 2020 and catch up with him again about what happened next. We also hear from Rob Ainsley who in episode 23 provided his own suggestions for lyric-themed cycling adventures. Will James find inspiration in any of Rob’s ideas for his next long-distance cycle?

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 093 – The English Lake District – Eskdale & Wasdale

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In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Sykes takes an autumnal short break in the English Lake District. Staying in a camping โ€˜podโ€™ at the National Trust campsite in Eskdale, Andrew sets off on two rides as described in Jack Thurstonโ€™sย Lost Lanes North. โ€˜Still Glides The Streamโ€™ takes him on a figure-of-eight loop from Eskdale to Broughton-in-Furness and up the infamous Hard Knott Pass with its 30% incline. โ€˜Mountain Highโ€™ is a there-and-back roller-coaster of a cycle along Wasdale, to the coast at Seascale and south to Ravenglass before letting the miniature train take the strain on a chilly carriage ride back along Eskdale and the warmth of the pub in Boot.

A Short Eskape – Day 3

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If yesterday was spectacular, today was fun. Lots of speedy riding along up-down twisty roads, multiple pit stops for coffee, vegan cake, hot chocolate with marshmallows, Kendall mint cake and a couple of beers back in the Boot Inn. Not forgetting a train ride โ€˜homeโ€™ from Ravenglass. I was following another of Jack Thurstonโ€™s Lost Lanes North routes – number 3 – โ€˜Mountains Highโ€™ – but the title is somewhat deceptive. There was less than half as much climbing as yesterdayโ€™s jaunt south then north and nothing like the 30% incline of the Hard Knott Pass.

A Short Eskape – Day 2

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What a ride! Everything seemed to come together in perfect linemenโ€™s for this first ride of my short break in Eskdale. The campsite is magnificent, the weather almost perfect for mid-October (no rain, no wind and, if not hot, certainly not cold), the route – Jack Thurstonโ€™s โ€˜Still Glides The Streamโ€™, cycle number 2 in his highly recommended Lost Lanes North book – a mixture of challenging climbs and gentle valley saunters, and the landscapeโ€ฆ well, this in the Lake District but even the high bar of Cumbria can seldom be surpassed more than by this remote south-western corner of the National Park.ย 

A Short Eskape – Day 1

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To Eskdale. Get it? Anyway, the burgers of the Together Learning Trust (my employers) have given their staff a day off. Yippee! As Iโ€™m now working only Tuesday to Friday, I have a four-day weekend and am hoping to make the most of the opportunity by โ€˜eskapingโ€™ to the western Lakes. And here I am, in the pub in Boot.

Yorkshire Day: Tour De (West) Yorkshire

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I didn’t set out with the intention of cycling very far; just a short trip down the valley to Brighouse, along the Spen Valley Greenway and perhaps pay a visit to the new market in the centre of Bradford. Well, I did all that… but kept going. By later in the afternoon, via several coffee stops, I had clocked up nearly 103 km in what turned out to be a long Tour de West Yorkshire. Admittedly most of it was along familiar routes although not all. Some sections seemed familiar; the long climb out of Keighly for example, which I’m sure I’ve cycled before… but in the opposite (easier) direction. For a county that most in the country probably percieve as an urban post-industrial sprawl, it’s much more green and pleasant than dark and satantic. Full details below.

Cycling Heaven… And Hell

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Yesterday was a blissful day on the bike. The new Ribble performed to perfection, the ride was challenging, the scenery was stunning, the weather played ball, I loved the National Trust pod where I was staying and I finished the day with a couple of beers and my favourite ‘on tour’ meal.

5k ParkRun / 60k LakesRide

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A memorable summer solstice. I was up early. (I always am.) Beautiful morning. Coffee brewed, I drove into Ambleside for the ParkRun. A friendly affair with far more โ€˜touristsโ€™ than your average ParkRun. I chatted to a few others and then we were off! A creditable 25:42, only […]

Cycle Touring 2.0

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Itโ€™s been a funny old year. A year of changes in my life. I have – in mid-life (if I survive to 112 that isโ€ฆ) – become a lot fitter. I have become a ParkRun regular. I ran the Leeds 10k in 53 minutes, 39 seconds last Sunday. […]

Big Jim’s Big Boozy Bike Trip to Braemar

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Cycling contact Simon Johnson sent through a link to this video a few days ago. We tend to think we innovate in cycling but much of what we do is simply reinventing the past. Off-road adventure cycling is nothing new… “Join Big Jim Collie – a Scottish crofter who lives alone in a bothy in the foothills of the Cairngorms – as he embarks on one of his epic cross-highland trips. Jim is on his way to Braemar, which is 60 miles away – if you plan on sticking to the roads. Luckily, Big Jim knows a shortcut through the Lairig Ghru – the highest mountain pass in the highest mountain range in Britain – that brings the journey down to a more manageable 22 miles, albeit over some of the harshest terrain in Scotland. Fortunately, Big Jim has a secret weapon; the Lairig Flyer, a rickety old bicycle. Furthermore, he has a wealth of experience – this is his 105th crossing of the Lairig Ghru. Perhaps most importantly of all, he has strategically stashed an armful of whisky bottles along the route – just the thing to keep his spirits up.”

New Film: A Short Escape To The Yorkshire Dales

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Last week, as the weather forecast was looking so promising, I decided to head to the nearby Yorkshire Dales for a couple of nights of early-season cycle touring. Camping in April in the UK is not for the fainthearted (although I’m sure many people reading this will have camped multiple times in the depths of winter) but the daytime temperatures of around 20 degrees made up for the chilly mornings and evenings.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 089 – The Yorkshire Dales Monologue Special

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Andrew Sykes heads into the Yorkshire Dales for a few days and this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast sees him travel from Bradford to Skipton, Appletreewick, Grassington and Buckden, via a canal and a couple of steep hills. Much of this episode, however, is given over to other cyclists who have recently contributed to the podcast in the form of a monologue. We hear from Justin Shiels about Welcome To My Garden, Neal Porter about his cycle around the coast of Britain in aid of MND and from Richard and Cath Jeffries about their winter LEJOG…

April: The Start Of The Cycle Touring Year (For Me…)

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February and March have been a quiet couple of months here on CyclingEurope.org. Indeed in March there was just the one update to the website and even then it was all about, err… hiring cars at Tirana airport in Albania. (I have to pay the website fees somehow…) But it’s now April and things are beginning to warm up, metaphorically and literally.

The Cyclist Film Festival: Coming To A City Near You In 2025

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A few years ago, Ian Street, Leeds’ leading welshman, organised what he called the Leeds Bicycle Film Club. I used to travel over once a month to watch the films that he curated and which were shown in the projection room of a pub just outside the city centre. Cycling films form a rich genre of celluloid splendour, although what quite contitues a ‘cycling film’ is a grey area. Ultimately, who cares? The events were good fun and usually involved beer so what’s not to like?

Le Grand Tour… : The Danish Opinion? “A Classy Exponent Of A Cycling Story”

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“A cycling book with great insight, humor and self-irony! In conclusion, it must be pointed out that the book naturally requires a certain amount of English skills to get the full benefit, not least on the humorous level… Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda is a classy exponent of a cycling story that can get other than just hardcore adventure cyclists on the steel horse!”

The Marcher Castles Way: Just For Bikepackers?

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I see that Cycling UK have just launched another of their routes. This one straddles the English-Welsh border and has been named the Marcher Castles Way. The route – there are now eight of them in total – appear to be aimed more at the bikepacker than the traditional cycle tourist. I wonder how feasible it is to ride them with a pannier set-up on a touring bike rather than a mountain bike and ‘packs’. Looking carefully at the videos and the photos, the surfaces seem to be OK. They remind me of cycling along the Yorkshire coast a few years back from Scarborough to Whitby. Any thoughts?

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 083 – Part 2 – The Northern Isles – Orkney

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After a week on Shetland (listen to part 1 of this two-part podcast), The Cycling Europe Podcast takes the late-night ferry south to Kirkwall on the islands of Orkney. Following a day spent exploring the capital, Andrew Sykes cycles west for three nights of camping in the historic town of Stromness. From here he heads first to Hoy, home to the spectacular beach and cliffs at Rackwick and the Scapa Flow Museum where he discovers more about the wartime importance of the deep water harbour. After spending a day off the bike investigating the delights of Stromness itself, Andrew cycles off on a journey around the mainland taking in prehistoric Skara Brae and the bucolic Brough of Birsay before a return to Kirkwall and his ferry home via Aberdeen.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 083 – Part 1 – The Northern Isles – Shetland

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The Cycling Europe Podcast travels to the most northerly islands of Britain for a week of camping, hostelling and cycling. Renowned for its wild beauty, but also its capricious weather, Andrew Sykes sets off on a ride that will stretch the entire length of the archipelago from Unst in the north to Sumburgh in the south taking time to explore the attractions, meet the locals and compare notes with fellow travellers as he cycles.

The Northern Isles: Day 12 – Stromness To Kirkwall

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The final day on Orkney and a journey around the west, north and east coast of the western wing of the mainland. Skara Brae was impressive – very well presented – but the Brough of Birsay was the highlight. A great place to sit and watch the world go by in front of a magnificent backdrop. Once back in Kirkwall, I bumped into other cycle tourists I had come to know a little in recent weeks for a drink and then meal. As I stand here in Aberdeen station, we have all gone our separate ways, homeward bound. Where next?

The Northern Isles: Day 11 – Stromness

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No cycling today. Just a slow wander along the flagged Main Street of Stromness and back again, via the Khyber Passโ€ฆ Tomorrow is my final day, but it will be a long one as the ferry taking back to Aberdeen doesnโ€™t leave Kirkwall until 23:45. Iโ€™m booked in to visit Skara Brae (11 km) at 11:30 and the Orkney Brewery is close by (4 km) leaving either a direct return to Kirkwall (30 km) or a cycle around the northern side of the mainland (50 km). I have plenty of time and will decide once I see how I feel leaving the brewery and / or the weather.

The Northern Isles: Day 9 – Kirkwall To Stromness

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There was a strange – but welcome – calm outside the hostel this morning. Barely a whisper of wind. Alas this encouraged the midges to start hovering around me as I was preparing to leave. Then the wind picked up. The wind does have advantagesโ€ฆ The plan was to cycle straight to Stromness. As ever, the plan changed as I took a quieter road from the southern coastline of the โ€˜mainlandโ€™ to cut across in the direction of the Ring of Brodgar. It was a lucky decision as it happened to be open to the public. Itโ€™s often closed to limit numbers but they decide on conditions on the day itself. Weather is a factor. So is the presence of a cruise ship that might bring too many people on the grass paths. Impressive stone circle. From memory, far more impressive than Stonehenge or Callanish on the Outer Hebrides. Then onwards to Stromness, over a low hill and with the lump that is Hoy now dominating the view, a trundle through Stromness. Whatโ€™s not to like? Beautiful little coastal town that – minus the cars on the narrow flagged street that runs almost as far as the campsite – could host a period film crew within minutes. Look forward to exploring more over the weekend. Is the museum worth ยฃ7.50? Iโ€™d be interested to know. Campsite location is fabulous, but exposed. Itโ€™s a busy place so choice of pitches was limited. Iโ€™m bang in the middle with limited (well, noโ€ฆ) shelter. If the wind picks up I could be in trouble. At least the viewโ€™s nice. As for the sign about the โ€˜walking and cycling friendly roadโ€™, surely it would be a lot more friendly if they changed the 40 for a 30 or even a 20โ€ฆ Tomorrow I might venture up the Khyber Pass (watch the video).

The Northern Isles: Day 7 – Levenwick To Lerwick

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Glorious start to day 7, my final morning on Shetland and the weather held to take in a visit to St Ninianโ€™s Isle on the west coast of the Sumburgh peninsula. (Slightly marred by the collection of junk – including caravans and campervans – on the mainland side of the tomboloโ€ฆ) A relatively short (28 km) wind-assisted ride north brought me back to my starting point, Lerwick. A โ€˜smallโ€™ cruise ship (just 1,000 people rather than the 6,000 people that some ships can bring) was in town and Wandaโ€™s belt drive provoked the usual spike of interest from passing ship-bound tourists. I met for coffee with Cycling UKโ€™s newly appointed project coordinator on Shetland. An interesting chat! Then the very bumpy ferry to Kirkwall on Orkney. A late-night 4 km dash in the rain brought me (and several others) to the SYHA hostel. A former military base no less. My main preoccupation today is to find the local laundrette. I need some clean clothesโ€ฆ Tomorrow I will cycle west to Stromness for a final three nights of camping.

The Northern Isles: Day 6 – Scalloway To Sumburgh Head

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A very different day from the previous two. Although quite misty and damp when leaving Scalloway, the rain all but held off. Just a few short showers in the morning and gradually the sun started shining. Never quite wall-to-wall blue sky but on occasions you could actually believe it was August. The road south in the direction of Sumburgh was another busy A road and there was a very close pass but that aside the traffic didnโ€™t detract too much from the increasingly interesting scenery. Much nicer down here than up on bleak Yell. I paused at the campsite to erect the tent and continued sans panniers to the head. Crossing an airport runway was a novelty (although I have done this before when entering Gibraltar) and the road to the head itself – and the lighthouse – were delightful. Spectacular even once the lighthouse had been reached. A fabulous room framed the views perfectly. Superfluous on a day like today but often, no doubt, essential. Tomorrow I return to Lerwick and the ferry to Orkney. Before I leave Shetland, Iโ€™m hoping to visit nearby St Ninianโ€™s โ€˜Isleโ€™.

The Northern Isles: Day 4 – Unst To Brae

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Definitely type 2 fun today. Glad the cycling is over. The island of Yell is a bleak, unforgiving place. Very few traditional โ€˜attractionsโ€™ other than the vast expanse of remote moor. I spent much of the day cycling across it. Perhaps in normal times, an enjoyable slog. Today was not normal although probably more normal than I give it credit for. A relentless headwind. Iโ€™ve been anticipating it for days but when confronted, itโ€™s only โ€˜funโ€™ when reflecting upon the experience in the local fish and chip shop – Frankieโ€™s no less (it is, apparently, famous) – replenishing the body with calories. It has given returning to the mainland of Shetland extra meaning. I feel as though I have found civilisation againโ€ฆ There is, however, more wind to come tomorrow as I make my way south to Levenwick in the south where I will stay for two nights on the campsite.

The Northern Isles: Day 3 – Unst

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I cycled to the northerly point on the National Cycle Network today. Itโ€™s beside a beautiful beach called Wick of Saw (see map below). Itโ€™s actually no longer on the National Cycle Network as Sustrans removed the designation of route 1 from the cycle route than runs up the spine of Shetland (as itโ€™s an A road) but there you goโ€ฆ The sign marking the point is still there. Weather better today: just a few short heavy rain sheets encouraged by the wind. Talking of which, it was a battle after turning around and heading south back to the hostelโ€ฆ

The Northern Isles: Day 1 – Lerwick

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An early arrival in Lerwick after an on-off night of โ€˜sleepโ€™ on the ferry. Four seasons (well, at least three) in one day but predominantly dry. Visited the main attractions of Lerwick which included a large short ride around the impressive headland at Knab Point. The museum was interesting; the deep fried halloumi in the cafรฉ upstairs delicious. Now back at the โ€˜best hostel in the worldโ€™ (2011/12) to plan tomorrowโ€™s ride north.

Shetland / Orkney: T – 1 Week

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Scrolling through social media last night – currently a very sobering activity – I noticed a tweet from the environmental journalist and activist George Monbiot. It made reference to the weather here in the UK at the start of next week and included a picture (from the excellent Windy app). You can see the tweet below. George is ‘astonished’ and ‘concerned’. The screenshot shows a weather system over the sea to the west of Wales. I’m travelling to Shetland at the other end of the UK the following day. Should I be concerned myself?

Shetland / Orkney August 2024

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Shetland and Orkney it is… Earlier this week I carefully pieced together five train journeys and three ferry journeys, the combination of which will see me travel to Aberdeen, then Lerwick on Shetland, then Kirkwall on Orkney and back to Aberdeen nearly two week later. Whilst on Shetland – 6 nights – and on Orkney – 5 nights – I will head out across the small Scottish archipelagos, camping when I can, to seek out the wild attractions of Britain’s most northerly outposts. Including the two nights on the overnight ferries to and from Aberdeen, it will 13 nights – 14 days – of adventure.

The Summer Holidays Are Hereโ€ฆ

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Not having renewed my passport since it ran out in May, the answer will have to be โ€˜somewhere in the UKโ€™. I return to work (school) six weeks tomorrow so I have a good amount of time to make any decision and execute a plan. Iโ€™m still toying with the idea of a trip to Shetland / Orkney but with the weather gods yet to make their minds up as to whether summer has indeed arrived, Iโ€™m reluctant to commit to a trip to the far north. The weather on the Outer Hebrides in August 2021 was reasonable to good. The weather along the north and west coast of Scotland in August 2014 was biblically dreadful. Itโ€™s always a lottery north of the border.

Diving Into The Deep End At Bespoked 2024

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Scrolling through the archive of CyclingEurope.org (no mean feat as there are now getting on for 4,000 posts on here), I discover that I first attended Bespoked: The Handmade Bicycle Show back in 2013 when it was taking place in Bristol. Over a decade later, the show continues to take place but has been on its travels: to London and Germany and in 2024 to the Victoria Baths in Manchester. This morning, along with a cycling friend, I headed over the Pennines (in my friend’s Volvo rather than on our bikes…) to visit the show. Here are a few notes.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 081 – Cycle Touring On Shetland (& Orkney)

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Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, 170 km from mainland Scotland and only 220 km from the Norwegian coast. Of its 100 islands, only 15 are inhabited (by a population of just over 20,000) but according to the local tourist board, the remote archipelago โ€œโ€ฆhas everything a cyclist could hope forโ€. Tim Sanders, Anne Lawther and Jayne Moore have all visited Shetland in recent months and the writer Martyn Howe has been a regular visitor over the years both on foot and by bike. The Cycling Europe Podcast asked all four travellers to recount their cycling experiences. Does Shetland really live up to the tourist hype? Anne, Jayne and Martyn also reflect upon their visits to nearby Orkney. How does it compare to its near-Nordic northern neighbour?

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 080 – Cycle Touring 1970s Style – Rob Ainsley

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Writer Rob Ainsley has cycled from Barmouth to Yarmouth because they rhyme. Heโ€™s cycled from Britainโ€™s smallest church in Rhos to its largest church in Liverpool. Heโ€™s cycled the London Monopoly board. And he continues to amass a long list of โ€˜end-to-endโ€™ country cycles. So for Rob, cycling from Morecambe to Bridlington along the Way of the Roses cycle route may at first glance appear to be a little, errโ€ฆ pedestrian. But think again. He decided to cycle the route 1970s style. In this episode of The Cycling Europe Podcast we chat to Rob Ainsley in York where he reveals all. Was the naffest decade of the 20th century as good a time as any to be on two wheels? Or better forgottenโ€ฆ

Brompton Bikes Meets Car-Centric Mindsets

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There was a crazy news item this week – reported by Road.cc – about Ashford Council having reservations about a new factory for Brompton bikes because of lack of, err… parking. Are we ever going to be freed from the shackles of the car with such small-minded thinking? It seems unlikely. Highways England are bleating about the impact that such a factory could have on the local road network. A bicycle factory. A factory making bicycles.

Route YC: Cycling The Yorkshire Coast

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Markus Stitz has been featured several times on this website and here he is again. And when I write ‘here’, I really mean ‘here’. He’s been to Yorkshire with Mark Beaumont and Heather Graham to cycle the length of the Yorkshire coastline. The route the trio followed has been rebranded and relaunched as ‘Route YC’ (Yorkshire coast) and Markus has made another beautiful film to add to his growing collection of stunning cycling films.

…And I’m Back!

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I last wrote something for the website about a month ago, way back on the 23rd September in the run-up to the Cycle Touring Festival. Since then, I’ve been a little busy with cycling and non-cycling matters. Hopefully this post brings everything up-to-date as autumn gradually edges towards […]

The Cycle Touring Festival 2023: Next weekend!

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The 2023 ‘in-person’ (as opposed to online) Cycle Touring Festival is only a week away! Taking place in Clitheroe and now in its 9th year, it will gather together the cycle touring community (or a small part of it) at Waddow Hall for two days of talks, discussions and kit comparison. All washed down with good food and beer. I have nothing to say this year and am not speaking (although I am leading the discussion on ‘France’ which will hopefully have more input from the audience than from me).

Crossing Europeโ€ฆ By Train – Part 1

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Iโ€™m off on my summer travelsโ€ฆ but without the bike and initially on the train. Or, rather, quite a few trains. My plan is to get as far as Chamonix by Saturday afternoon where I will meet up with a group of people for a guided hiking holiday – the Tour de Mont Blanc – and I am current awaiting the departure of my next train from one of Parisโ€™ lesser-known stations, Bercy.

2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

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This website tends to be about cycle touring and related matters, but quite often veers off in the direction of other cycling-themed areas, for example professional cycling. I can’t say that I follow professional cycling religiously. I have a reasonable passing interest in it and will take the time to follow if I can. I remember working in France in the 1990s and watching the Tour de France on the TV in the afternoons after work. It was – and remains – a brilliant way to get to know France! When Le Tour came to Yorkshire that was fun and last year on my Grand Tour of Europe I had the opportunity of visiting the world headquarters of the UCI in Aigle, Switzerland which was interesting (see video below).

Happy Yorkshire (Cycling) Day

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The weather may be more reminiscent of winter but it is August 1st and that means it’s Yorkshire Day. What better an opportunity (especially bearing in mind that it’s chucking it down outside) to sit back and watch three Yorkshire-themed cycling videos from recent years. If you happy to live in Lancashire, you’ll also benefit from a few minutes of your county at the start of the Way of the Roses film. Happy Yorkshire Day!

A Look At The Top Cycle Routes In North Yorkshire

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If youโ€™re thinking of booking a cycling holiday, thereโ€™s no better place than North Yorkshire.ย  Given itโ€™s the UKโ€™s largest county by area, itโ€™s no surprise that there are some incredible cycle routes just waiting to be explored. Travelling with a bike is also very easy. If you have enough space in the boot of your car, you wonโ€™t have to find a suitable transportation rack. If you do need one, just make sure to follow the general driving laws. Alternatively, you can travel by train. Most operators allow bikes in designated areas, so ensure you reserve a space in advance. Whether youโ€™re looking for a trip down quiet country roads, a tour through historical cities, or a visit to seaside resorts, weโ€™ve got you covered. In no particular order, here are our favourite cycle routes in North Yorkshire.

The Culzean Way

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Here’s an interesting email from the cyclist and filmmaker Marcus Stitz… I’ve featured his films on CyclingEurope.org before; he is based in Scotland and many of his films are about routes in Scotland but he also ventures further afield. The Culzean Way, however, is one of his Scottish films and when I saw the name I did think it sounded familiar. I’ve just realised why… Culzean Castle!

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And Here’s A Round Up Of The Cycling Europe News…

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The holidays are here! Well, half term. Just a week but the sun is shining and my bicycle – the one I use when I’m pottering around and about the area where I live – will be back from its impromptu service tomorrow morning. On my commute to work earlier in the week I got a puncture. Not in itself a reason for giving the bike a service but since I purchased the Ribble hybrid bike about 18 months ago, I’ve been keen to replace the Schwalbe G-One tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus, and here was my opportunity. It made sense to give the bike a service at the same time and the mobile mechanic that I use will be delivering the bike back to me in the morning. I hope the weather continues to be nice for the rest of the week and, indeed for the rest of the summer (that’s perhaps hoping for too much) as I continue my daily commutes to and from work.

YOUTUBE EXCLUSIVE: Episode 071 Of The Cycling Europe Podcast

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Mark Wedgwood had always been a lover of maps. In 2022, newly liberated from the constraints of a full-time job, he decided to cycle across every Ordnance Survey Landranger map of Britain. He spoke to The Cycling Europe Podcast about the challenge that took him from the northernmost point of Shetland (map 1) to Fowey in Cornwall (map 204)โ€ฆ the long way

Camping & Hiking In Wasdale And Eskdale

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I’ve just made a return trip to The Lake District and the National Trust campsite in Wasdale. I stayed there for a couple of nights back in 2018 when I climbed Scafell Pike (see the film at the foot of this post). Last week I was there with a friend to do some hiking in and around the valley. I wasn’t on the bike so this is one for HikingEurope.org rather than CyclingEurope.org although we did drive up the Hardknott Pass, one of Britain’s more challenging cycling climbs. It was hard work in a car never mind on a bike but perhaps one to add to the list of future two-wheeled challenges…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 065 – Matthew Sturgeon โ€“ Cycling To Mainland Britainโ€™s Lighthouses

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Matthew Sturgeon is an architect and cyclist from Ilkley in Yorkshire and heโ€™s onย  a mission to visit every one of mainland Britainโ€™s 186 lighthouses. Inspired by his late late wife Angela, who raised ยฃ40,000 for cancer research, Matthew is raising money for his A Bit Of A Break charity. It funds visits for cancer patients and their families to holiday properties around the UK. He started collecting his lighthouses with a ride along the Northumbrian coast and has now visited 100. But why lighthouses? Whatโ€™s his favourite lighthouse? What has been the most disappointing lighthouse? What has been the most difficult to cycle to? And what will be lighthouse number 186? Matthew tells his story to The Cycling Europe Podcastโ€ฆ

Gaslight Alert: “ยฃ200 Million To Improve Walking And Cycling Routes And Boost Local Economies”

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Here we go again… The announcement of another pot of cash which will fund a handful of schemes across the country and have minimal impact on the lives of the majority of people in the country. Good for those who receive it but for those that don’t, simply gaslights us into thinking that the government are committed to transforming our country into one where active travel is the norm. (Remember Boris Johnson’s “golden age of cycling”?) There is a scheme near where I live in West Yorkshire – a disused railway that runs along the Ryburn Valley from Sowerby Bridge to Ripponden and Rishworth (see below) – that would be a great candidate for a slice of this cash but it’s unlikely to happen. Expect the money to be allocated predominantly in Tory ‘red wall’ constituencies. And when the beauty contest decisions are made later in the year, expect the same announcement to be made again. Meanwhile in The Netherlands they are putting their money where their mouth is (as they have being doing for decades) and have just opened an underwater bike parking facility in Amsterdam…

Markus Stitz: Home Is Where The Trails Take You

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A new film from Germanyโ€™s permanent representative to the Scottish bike packing fraternityโ€‹. His reputation precedes him and he has featured many times previously on the pages of CyclingEurope.org. He is, of course, Markus Stitz. This time his filmmaking skills have taken him to the Cairngorms National Park to discover is cycle routes and meet its peopleโ€ฆ

“ยฃ32.9 Million To Create A National Network Of Walking And Cycling Experts”

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An interesting email from the Department for Transport. Very laudable that the government are using nearly ยฃ33 million to create a network of expertsdedicated to encourage active travel; walking and cycling. Yet I can’t help but feel that I would be slightly more delighted – excited even – if the headline was tweaked slightly. Just a couple of very minor modifications are needed. Here goes…

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 060 – Cycling The Route of โ€˜The Wheels Of Chanceโ€™ By H.G. Wells

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Tristam Newey is a science-fiction writer from Southampton who loves all things sea, air, space.. and cycling. Inspired by H.G.Wellsโ€™ 1896 comic novelย The Wheels of Chance, in July 2022 Tristam set off to retrace the journey of the bookโ€™s main protagonist, Mr. Hoopdriver โ€“ a frustrated draperโ€™s assistant from Putney โ€“ from London to the south coast of England (and halfway back). As he travelled, he rediscovered the places that H.G. Wells wrote about and recreated the sketches that appeared in the original book. In the words of H.G. Wells himself, โ€œWhoop for freedom and adventure!โ€,

Le Grand Tour: Day 0 – Halifax To Hull (17km)

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Welcome to Le Grand Tour! I canโ€™t decide whether the cycle officially started in Halifax when I shut my front door behind me or whether it will start when I get to the Hook of Holland tomorrow. Iโ€™ve compromised and called this โ€˜firstโ€™ day, โ€˜Day 0โ€™. Now I think about it, thatโ€™s not a compromise is it? Oh wellโ€ฆ

‘Cycling Stuff’: Hostels In Scotland And Great British Gravel Rides

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Having a presence online, as I do, can create a rather skewed image of the person writing this. The books, podcasts, films, social media etc… don’t help in this regard. I dare say some of you think I lead a rather different life to the one that I actually experience myself. Yesterday, a colleague in the school where I toil asked if my work as a teacher subsidised the ‘cycling stuff’ or the other way around. I broke the news gently that, without my income from cajoling the 11 to 18-year-olds of my small town in West Yorkshire into engaging with the educational process, I would be living on the streets. Perhaps one day the ‘cycling stuff’ will be the bread winner and the teaching a nice add-on. For the time being however…

Cycling The Way Of The Roses: The Film (Premiere)

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If you are reading this before 7pm on Thursday 2nd June 2022 you are invited to a film premiere tonight at 7pm! That doesn’t happen every day, does it? It’s the film that I’ve made about my recent cycle along the Way of the Roses from Morecambe to York. If you are reading this after 7pm tonight well, your invite to the premiere is no longer valid, sorry. But you can, of course, still watch the film in all its 4K glory below. Don’t forget that you can get the full story of the three days of cycling across the Pennines by listening to episode 50 of The Cycling Europe Podcast. Full details below.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 050 – Cycling The Way Of The Roses

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To celebrate its 50th episode, Andrew P. Sykes takes The Cycling Europe Podcast out on the cycle path and travels from Morecambe on Lancashire’s west coast to the county’s historical capital at Lancaster, across the Pennines and through Yorkshire via Settle and Ripon, completing his trip in that county’s historical capital at York. The Way of the Roses is a route of contrasting landscapes and, at times, challenging terrain; join Andrew (and his bicycle Wanda) as they spend three days following one of northern England’s most popular cycle routes.

Coming Soon: The Film And The Podcast Of The Roses

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Now back home in West Yorkshire after my-day trip across the Pennines from Morecambe / Lancaster to York. It was a fun weekend with varied terrain; flat by the sea, beautiful gentle-sloping valleys, sharp climbs, even-sharper descents and then the flatlands of the Vale of York. Many of you will have been following the posts that were published here on the website in recent days – you can find them linked to below if you missed them – but there will also be a podcast and a longer film that uses the majority of the video that it wasn’t possible to use in the short films I managed to edit in the tent at the end of each day, including much more footage from the air, in glorious 4K.

The Way Of The Roses: Day 4

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It was flat and it was a tale of two cities; Ripon and York. A functional day of cycling but enjoyable nevertheless. The route was a turney-twistyโ€‹ one sending me in most directions; east, south, northโ€ฆ but never west. With a wind from the south-west, I invariably had to fight against it, rewarded at the next turn with the push of the gusts.

The Way Of The Roses: Day 3

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Anything that followed yesterday morningโ€™s bucolic ride through the Lune Valley / Forest of Bowland was always going to come second in the rankings, especially when there are so far only two contenders for โ€˜morning of the tripโ€™ ride. That said, it was still a good one. A short ride from the campsite in Horton-in-Ribblesdale (very highly recommended) to Settle (where the service and food at the Singing Kettle Cafรฉ and the fact that it was open at 9am on a Sunday morning also deserve placing in Cycling Europeโ€™s โ€˜highly recommendedโ€™ category).

The Way Of The Roses: Day 1, Part 2

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So here I am in Morecambe. I’ve pedalled just over 30km but made zero progress along the route of The Way of the Roses. However, this was never part of the plan for day 1 of this trip. Train to Morecambe, explore Morecambe, pitch tent at campsite near Morecambe. In a nutshell, thatโ€™s what happened.

The Way Of The Roses: Day 1, Part 1

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I think itโ€™s fair to say that the Northern Trains service from Leeds to Morecambe isnโ€™t one of the operators premium routes. Iโ€™m currently standing next to a bin in the area reserved for bicycles. Wanda, my bike is under careful observation as she is jolted from side to side in perfect synchronisation with the movement of the carriage. There is no warning of when a jolt might fling the poor bicycle from its resting place in the direction of the toilet just opposite. I am posed to pounce if needs beโ€ฆ

Coast To Coast: The Way Of The Roses – The Plan

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Before heading off to the continent in early July, I’d like to take the bike out for a shortish camping trip over three or four days. So, following on from the discussion I was having with myself a few weeks ago regarding completing one of the coast-to-coast cycling routes here in northern England, I’ve decided to take the train over to Morecambe in Lancashire and cycle east along the Way of the Roses from Lancaster to York. I may continue as far as Flamborough (the end of the route) but we’ll see how that goes at the time. As far as York will be planned, anything after York unplanned.

New Cycling / Cat Film: The Cat Cyclist

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Remember the ‘lockdown project’? It seemed that most people had one; tiling the bathroom, writing an anthology of poetry, organising a series of parties that you would later deny were actually parties to the UK parliament (and even if they were, you had nothing to do with them…). That kind of thing. My lockdown project was to make an audio documentary about the life and times of Maximilian J. St. George. (I’ll post the link below.) Well, Easter has just finished and I had an ‘Easter Project’ (you heard it here first)…

The Highway Code Hierarchy Of Responsibility: A Work In Progress…

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Social media can be a force for good but it is, all too frequently, an opportunity for the ill-informed to broadcast their thoughts to the world. Here is the transcript of a cycling-themed conversation that took place yesterday evening on Facebook. The original comment was posted to my personal Facebook page but the construction company was tagged in the post allowing people other than ‘friends’ to see it and comment upon it, as Paul T and Paul M did. I have tidied up the punctuation, but not the syntax of the comments made by Paul T. You may have to read his comments a few times before you actually understand the point he is attempting (and usually failing) to make. I have removed the name of the construction company to save their blushes… Brace yourself; we are going in!

Cycling Coast To Coast In Northern England?

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It would be good to head off somewhere on Wanda – perhaps for a few days to get me back into the swing of cycle touring. But to where? Well, people frequently mention the various ‘coast to coast’ routes that link the east and west coasts of England and perhaps it’s time to attempt one of them. After all, I live not far from most of them and it wouldn’t be much of a logistical issue to join one of them, either at one of their extremities or, indeed at a point in the middle. So what are the routes?

Next Slide Please: Sir Chris Whitty, Dutch Children And Italy

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It’s been a great week to be a commuting cyclist. I actually filled the car up with petrol on Wednesday evening, at about 5.45pm. As I drove down to the local Morrison’s I was listening to the radio and to how people were eagerly waiting to do what I was about to do until 6pm when the 5 pence reduction in the price of petrol came into effect. Spotters around the country were keeping their eyes trained upon the electronic boards outside service stations to observe the drop take place as if it were the ball falling in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Strewth. I couldn’t be bothered to wait, parked up and filled up. ยฃ65 if I remember rightly. Perhaps I’m not that fussed. Not that I’m a rich man. Far from it. But having returned to the life of a commuting cyclist recently, it just seems a little less important than it might have done a few months ago…

Bicycle Commute At Sunrise

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Visit the dedicated Baltic Sea Cycle Route / EuroVelo 10 page of CyingEurope.org to discover more about the planned cycle around Europeโ€™s other big sea. Since 2009, CyclingEurope.org has established itself as a valued, FREE cycle touring resource. There’s now even a podcast, The Cycling Europe Podcast. If […]

Wild About Bikepacking: Mull, Jura, Islay And Bute

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The newย Bikepacking Argyllโ€™s Islandsย route, created byย Bikepacking Scotlandย and commissioned by CalMac Ferries and Wild About Argyll, maps a 496km-journey (308 miles) connecting the Isles of Mull, Jura, Islay and Bute on a mixture of gravel tracks, singletrail, cycle paths and roads. The route also makes great use of ScotRailโ€™sย Highland Explorer, which provides space for up to 20 bikes, including tandems. The newly introduced train carriage offers a bike-friendly train connection between Glasgow, host city of theย UCI Cycling World Championshipsย in 2023, and Oban, where the new route begins. Bikes travel free on trains and all ferries along the route.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 043 – Monologue Special / Gavin Woodย ย 

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In 2021 I put out a call for anyone who was interested in recording a short monologue about their experiences of cycling to get in touch and, in the past year, quite a few people have come forward to record such a monologue. In this episode you have a second opportunity to hear Laura Massey-Pugh set out her plans to cycle around the world on a tandem, Laurence Warren tell the story of round-the-world cyclist Colin Martin as well as discuss his experiences of cycling in his adopted home of Austria, Robin Watkins talk about cycling in Czechia, the poet Caroline Burrows reflect lyrically upon her commute to work and Simon Garland recount his experiences of cycling the EuroVelo 15 or the Rhine Cycle Route. We also hear from Gavin Wood in an interview recorded at the time of the COP 26 climate conference. He works in West Yorkshire in the north of England as an active travel advisor and we chatted about the challenges of building infrastructure and changing minds in order that we can all live in a much more cycling-friendly place.

white bicycle road sign

Revolution! The Hierarchy Is Changing…

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And so is the Highway Code. It’s been interesting to see how the gammons, ‘kippers and Nigels (apologies if you are a Nigel who doesn’t adhere to the thoughts of the ridiculous Nigel Farage) of Britain have been reacting this week to the news that the updated Highway Code will (shock horror!) introduce a pyramid of hierarchy that sees those who are more likely (and able) to inflict death and destruction on the roads being assumed to have more responsibility that those who pose little danger to others.

WarmShowers Forums: Swedish Trains And Videos

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Earlier this week I received an email from WarmShowers, the accommodation sharing website aimed at cycle tourists, about their ‘forums’. Whenever I think of forums my mind turns back to the early days of the Internet when things were a little more ‘clunky’ than they are now. But they must still be a ‘thing’ and the fact that WarmShowers have them on their website would suggest that, actually, they are still widely used.

Markus Stitz: All Points North

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Here’s a nice film from Markus Stitz / Bikepacking Scotland featuring the landscapes of the north of England. The film follows Rupert Robinson who completed the route of All Points North in just over 60 hours. If you are familiar with the area, you’ll definitely recognise many of the places that the route of the long-distance cycling event – that took place in September 2021 – passes through. Well worth 17 minutes of your weekend.

NEW VIDEO: Cycling Stirling To Edinburgh… In 10 Minutes

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Iโ€™ve been taking a break from the website and social media but before I return in early 2022, hereโ€™s a short video about a recent trip to Scotland. In late November 2021 I attended a Cycling UK event in Stirling, where I had been asked to give a talk about โ€˜Cycling Europeโ€™. It was the perfect excuse to embark upon a wee bit of winter cycling โ€“ from Stirling to Edinburgh along the northern bank of the Firth of Forth โ€“ with a little time to explore the two cities at either end of the routeโ€ฆ

The Outer Hebridesโ€ฆ On A Bike Called Wanda: The Film!

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Britain offers some amazing places to explore on a bicycle, but there can be few locations within the UK that offer the remoteness, drama and sheer spectacle of the islands of The Outer Hebrides. The Hebridean Way takes cyclists from Vatersay in the south to the Butt of Lewis in the north: โ€œ10 islands, 6 causeways, 2 ferries and 1 unforgettable adventureโ€. The writer Andrew P. Sykes attempted the ride in the summer of 2021. This is his story.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 039 – Part 2 – The Hebridean Way… On A Bike Called Wanda (Harris And Lewis)

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In episode 038 of The Cycling Europe Podcast, Andrew Sykes spoke to a number of travellers about their experiences of cycling The Hebridean Way. Now itโ€™s his turn to get onto his bicycle, Wanda, and cycle from Vatersay in the south to Lewis in the north along one of Britainโ€™s most spectacular rides.ย In part 1 of this episode of the podcast he travelled from the island of Vatersay to the island of Berneray.ย In this second part of the podcast we see him complete his journey across the Isles of Harris and Lewis to the Butt of Lewis and the end of the Hebridean Way.

Spontaneous Cycle Touring (And Advice For Educational Welfare Officers)

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I was always planning to cycle to Skipton this weekend – I have lined up an exclusive* interview for The Cycling Europe Podcast with one of the unsung heroes of cycling touring and we are meeting at the local Morrisonโ€™s at 10am tomorrow (apparently itโ€™s half price for Cycling UK membersโ€ฆ) – but it was only a passing thought a few weeks ago when I arranged the chat that I might cycle up to Skipton from my home near Halifax and camp overnight. At the gym this morning I thought about it again. When I got home in the early afternoon I thought about it yet again. At 1:15pm I made the decision to do it, by 2pm I had packed the bike and left the house and just after 2:30pm I was on the train from Halifax to Bradford.

The Cycling Europe Podcast: Episode 039 – Part 1 – The Hebridean Way… On A Bike Called Wanda (Vatersay To Berneray)

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In episode 038 of The Cycling Europe Podcast, Andrew Sykes spoke to a number of travellers about their experiences of cycling The Hebridean Way. Now itโ€™s his turn to get onto his bicycle, Wanda, and cycle from Vatersay in the south to Harris in the north along one of Britainโ€™s most spectacular rides.ย In part 1 of the podcast he travels from the island of Vatersay to the island of Berneray.ย Part 2 of the podcast will see him complete his journey to the Butt of Lewis and it will be published on Sunday 19th September 2021.

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 12

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Another interesting day on the road, and back on the railsโ€ฆ Itโ€™s been day two of my three-day return to Halifax and not without incident nor cycling (which is why you are here I assume). Indeed there was just over 50 km of the stuff followed by a long two-stage journey back to Glasgow. Thatโ€™s where today finished but it started back in Ullapoolโ€ฆ

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 11

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Not much text today, the story is told once again in video and photographic form. Highlight of my visit to Stornoway must surely be the excellent museum next to Lews Castle. Well with a visit if only to see the Lewis Chessmen, or some of them; the pesky British Museum are at it again keeping hold over the other 90 or soโ€ฆ

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 10

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Today was a bit of a transitory day; moving from the business of cycling the Hebridean Way to thinking about the long journey back home. But it did have its moments, starting with a 6am paddle / wash in the sea. That was an envigorating way to start the day. I returned to the tent to make coffee but within minutes the tent had been surrounded byโ€ฆ cows! They can be dangerous animals so with this thought in mind, my tent was packed up in record time and I was heading – tentatively – towards the gate.

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 9

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A memorable end to the day, wild camping next to the beach, crashing waves and the setting sun at the north-western extremity of the Outer Hebrides. Perhaps even Britain. I arrived at the Butt of Lewis at around 4pm, the end of the Hebridean Way. My only regret that they didnโ€™t manage to place the metal sign to mark the end of the route in a more photogenically accommodating positionโ€ฆ

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 8

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The headline of today is that, such was my progress on the bike, I am within 40km of the Butt of Lewis. And such was the weather today that, frankly, who wouldnโ€™t want to cycle across some of Britainโ€™s most spectacular landscapes to get to this point? My plan had been minimal; head north along the Hebridean Way and sort out accommodation later. Thatโ€™s a formula that has never let me down and (spoiler alert) it didnโ€™t do so today. I am now happily fed and watered on the small, friendly but quite busy site at Shawbost on the western side of Lewis.

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Horgabost

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Here’s the plan for my trip to the Outer Hebrides… …and here’s a podcast I made about cycling the Hebridean Way prior to setting off: More episodes of The Cycling Europe Podcast can be found on this page of CyclingEurope.org. And finally, since you’ve made it this far, […]

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 7

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Tonightโ€™s instalment of this trip to the Outer Hebrides will be brought to you mainly through the medium of video. Someone asked why I didnโ€™t add a narration to these videos. Well, it adds an extra level of complexity to do so but, as the wind today was light (anything above a gentle breeze causes horrible distortion on the iPhone microphone), Iโ€™ve added a few comments as youโ€™ll hear when you listen.

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 6

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Of all the islands that I have so far visited on this trip, the island of North Uist has been the least unexpected. Thatโ€™s not a criticism, just an acceptance that what I cycled through today gave me pretty much all the things that come to mind when […]

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 5

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Things have turned. In one way for the worse but in others for the better. Not that what preceded day 5 had been bad to turn against but you know what I meanโ€ฆ As I type Iโ€™m holed up in a small – minute one might say (โ€˜snugโ€™ an estate agent would say) – wooden shed on the south-western edge of South Uist but let me take you back to the start of the day at the campsite on Benbeculaโ€ฆ

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 4

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Itโ€™s been difficult to fault the Outer Hebrides so far (as you will continue to discover below). Only one very modern facet of life has let me down; mobile data coverage. Uploading text like this isnโ€™t a problem. Photos need 3G and video needs 4G. Why am I telling you all this? Well, you may find that the usual mix of text, images and video (that you have become accustomed over the yearsโ€ฆ) takes a few days to upload. Today, North Uist offered me a Vodafone 4G signal so, for the first tome since arriving on Barra, I was able to upload videos. You may want to look again at the previous two posts to watch those videos before you read this. (And come back to this post tomorrow or the day after for todayโ€™s videoโ€ฆ) On with the show!

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 3

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I compared notes with my fellow wild campers this morning. None of us had slept particularly well on the dunes beside the beach at Vatersay. I think for all four of us it was a combination of the winds, a little rain but also middle age. When I opened the flap of the tent at around 6am the sun was shining, just. It had managed to pierce its way through a break in the thick clouds that were, on and off, continuing to deliver light showers. It was a sunrise, of sorts. What wasnโ€™t โ€˜of sortsโ€™ was the location. It is almost as if the tourist authorities behind the creation of the Hebridean Way had ordered a spectacular place for their ride to start and it had been delivered with enthusiasm.

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 2

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I had a good nightโ€™s sleep in my private room at the youth hostel. I was fearing that the ride from the train station to the accommodation last night might involve a hill; it didnโ€™t. Far from it. Just a gentle cycle beside the harbour wall. The Rough Guide claimed it would be โ€œa fair trek with a backpack from the ferry terminal [to the youth hostel]โ€ but I can only imagine the authors have rarely hiked any distance with a backpack. A โ€˜fair trekโ€™ it wasnโ€™t. Mercifully. They also claim that the climb to McCaigโ€™s Tower requires a โ€œstiff ten-minute climbโ€ from the centre of time. Again, they were stretching the point. Iโ€™ll let you know what they think about the Hebridean Wayโ€ฆ

Cycling The Hebridean Way: Day 1

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Trains. Three of them today to kick off this journey to the Western Isles. As I type Iโ€™m sitting in the third train which is rattling itโ€™s way along the West Highland line towards my destination for the day, Oban. But back to this morning, or rather, last night.