Beginner-friendly cycling routes

Looking for a range of entry-level cycling routes suitable for families or new cyclists? We are exploring the lengths of breadths of the country to bring you our favourite locations when it comes to safe, traffic-free cycling routes suitable for beginners.

How we use our bikes as a family

Making the transition to riding your bike as a family can be daunting to some. It’s easy to jump in the car and drive to your destination irrespective of how close it is. As a country, we have become heavily dependent upon cars with over 40 million in circulation. Even journeys under 1 mile are … Read more
Trans Pennine Trail Cycling To Hornsea Beach

Skirlaugh to Hornsea Cycling for families (Trans Pennine Trail)

Skirlaugh is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in an area known as Holderness. It is situated approximately 7 miles northeast of Hull city centre on the A165 road. Originally a farming community, it is now primarily a commuter village for Hull. Having stayed last October at Willow Pastures … Read more

Greenwich Meridian Trail Cycling For Families: Fitties Beach to Cleethorpes

We recently had the pleasure of visiting the East Lincolnshire coast for a half-term trip to our family members’ caravan. Of course, with any trip of this nature, we load the bikes on the back looking for a great spot to cycle traffic free. Having researched before setting off we came across part of the … Read more
The Monsal Trail Cycling For Families

The Monsal Trail cycling for families

The Monsal Trail is located in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England. This scenic trail runs along the former Midland Railway line and offers a unique experience for families to enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. We parked at the old Hessop train station (Hassop Station, Hassop Rd, Bakewell DE45 … Read more
Sutton Bank Cycling For Families

Sutton Bank Cycling for families

Introduction: Sutton Bank, located in the beautiful North York Moors National Park, offers a variety of cycling routes suitable for families of all ages and abilities. With stunning views, well-maintained trails, and easy access, it’s no wonder that Sutton Bank has become a popular destination for family cycling adventures. In this blog post, we’ll explore … Read more

Langsett Reservoir walking for families

Langsett Reservoir is a stunningly beautiful body of water located in the Peak District National Park in South Yorkshire, England. The reservoir, which was constructed in the late 19th century to supply water to the city of Sheffield, has become a popular destination for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers from all over the country. In … Read more

Dalby Forest Cycling for families

Dalby Forest, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. It’s over 8,500 acres in size and has everything you can want in a wonderful family day out. We visited in the warmer months with our at the time 5-year-old and 1-year-old to sample the cycle routes. I must add it’s an all-encompassing … Read more

Damflask Reservoir walking for families

This is predominantly a family cycling blog but as active travel enthusiasts, we also like to walk too!  We had a quiet Saturday afternoon and decided to grab our spreadsheet of ‘free family fun’ things to do and find somewhere relatively local. Damflask reservoir was on our list. Damflask Reservoir is popular for angling and … Read more

Skirlaugh to Sutton Village Cycling for families (Trans Pennine Trail)

Skirlaugh is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in an area known as Holderness. It is situated approximately 7 miles northeast of Hull city centre on the A165 road. Originally a farming community, it is now primarily a commuter village for Hull. We had the pleasure of recently staying … Read more

Haw Park Wood cycling for families

Haw Park Wood is situated 4 miles southeast of Wakefield. It’s located next to Anglers country park but can be accessed from both the Anglers country park side or alternatively via Waterton Park hotel. From the hotel, you can access the Trans Pennine trail Barnsley canal route which takes you to Haw Park Wood if … Read more
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What are beginner-friendly cycling routes?

Beginner-friendly cycling routes are typically flat, have low traffic volume, and are easy to navigate. Here are some examples of beginner-friendly cycling routes:

Rail Trails: Many former railway lines have been converted into cycle paths, providing flat, straight routes that are perfect for beginner cyclists. Examples include the Nidderdale Greenway, The Trans Pennine trail (in parts) and the Tarka Trail in Devon, England.

Parks and Gardens: Urban parks and gardens often have dedicated cycle paths that are traffic-free and great for families with young children.

Coastal Paths: Coastal paths are often flat and provide scenic routes along the ocean.

Canal Towpaths: Many canals have towpaths alongside them that make for ideal cycling routes. These paths are mostly flat and often follow the water, providing scenic views. Examples include the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Towpath & Calder & Hebble Navigation.

Greenbelts: Many cities have greenbelts, which are parks or protected areas surrounding the city that provide excellent cycling routes. Examples include the Capital Ring in London.

Beginner-friendly routes can vary in terms of difficulty and distance which is why here at family cycling we are visiting hundreds of cycle-friendly routes around the UK and beyond to help you and your kids enjoy the world of cycling.