Touring - Touring in the UK - April 2010......

Hi Everyone,

I am planning on some touring in the UK in April. Not sure where or when yet (suggestions welcome!) Would anyone like to come along? I will be starting on the BH Friday and have 7 days free.

Look forward to hearing from you all.....

Jamie

I'd suggest Lon Las Cymru, the Welsh national Cycle Route. Cardiff to Holyhead, with some very cool off pavement options. Get maps from www.sustrans.org.uk

The West Highland Way runs from Milngavie in the north of Glasgow to Fort William. It is a great offroad route running for around 95miles. It may be seen as more of a MTB route but you pass through some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer and there are plenty of lovely little villages along the way where you can stop off for refreshments. You would certainly need to be prepared for all weathers attempting it that time of year though, it could get very wet!

The West Highland Way runs from Milngavie in the north of Glasgow to Fort William. It is a great offroad route running for around 95miles. It may be seen as more of a MTB route but you pass through some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer and there are plenty of lovely little villages along the way where you can stop off for refreshments. You would certainly need to be prepared for all weathers attempting it that time of year though, it could get very wet!

when you say more a mountain bike route are you talking rough tracks or hard packed surface,we are thinking of scotland sometime in the summer.thanks

when you say more a mountain bike route are you talking rough tracks or hard packed surface,we are thinking of scotland sometime in the summer.thanks

The surface varies all over the route. From what i can remember the majority is on hard-packed surfaces but there are sections where you venture onto minor roads and also a number of loose gravel/rough tracks that may require jumping off and pushing. The official website at http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/ is a great resource, breaking the route down and giving detailed descriptions of what to expect in each section

April weather can be unpredictable but S and W is usually warmer, S and E is usually drier.
I have had great April tours in Cornwall. If you want something a bit gentler then Norfolk comes highly recomended.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I should've explained that I do live in the UK, but I am fairly new to the touring scene!! I have looked at all of your suggestions, which I thank you for. I am particularly interested in Lon Las Cymru. I would really like to do Scotland at some point, but I'll wait until I have a little more experience for that. Keep the suggestions coming though!

Thanks again. Jamie

New Forest Beautiful countryside (woodland and open heath),and villages, low traffic speeds because wild horses have right of way on roads, lots of cycle trails. See the Rufus Stone where an ancestor of mine shot king William Rufus in the year 1100. Not far North is Salisbury, a very interesting small city and Stonehenge. Train from London to Brockenhurst takes you into the middle of the New Forest. Hotels have secure parking for bikes.