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.

Anglers Country Park cycling for families

Anglers Country Park is an award-winning Green Flag destination where you can explore the unspoiled countryside, woodland, wetland and trails. Anglers Country Park is in Wintersett, Wakefield. Once known as one of the deepest open cast coal mines, Anglers has since been transformed into a park which welcomes thousands of visitors a month. It has … Read more

Leeds Urban Bike Park Cycling For Families

Leeds Urban Bike Park is a gem of a project by Leeds council, the lottery funded and British Cycling & Sports England. At the top part of Middleton park is a mountain bike trail centre and BMX Track, a bike shop with a workshop and a cafe. The bike park consists of multiple different trails … Read more

Pugneys Country Park cycling for families

Pugneys Country Park is a 250-acre park located on the A636 between Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England and Junction 39 of the M1 motorway. It is a Local Nature Reserve. The area was developed from a former opencast mine and a sand and gravel quarry and was opened to the public in 1985. As residents of … Read more

Walton Colliery Nature Park cycling for families

The nature park is on the site of the old Walton Colliery (formerly Sharlston West Colliery).Walton has a long history of coal mining, with documentary evidence of estate and field names dating local mining activities back to the 17th century. In the 1930’s it’s said up to 1200 people worked at the colliery. It eventually … Read more

Knaresborough to Ripley (Nidderdale Greenway) Cycle Route For Families

Where does the ride take me? The reason this is called 2.0 is because the first time we completed this route (but the other way round) was on Daddy’s Day a few weeks ago but unfortunately something happened to me that has never happened before…all of the photos I took had not been saved when … Read more

Sandal to Nostell Priory cycle route

As a family, we always enjoyed spending time outside vs indoors. Over the past two years, this however has been heightened by government lockdowns and the need for micro-adventures on our doorstep. I spend a lot of time on my bike; both with the family and individually. There’s nothing more liberating than exploring your local … Read more

Rabbit Ings Country Park Cycling for Families

As a family, we are always on the lookout for new safe cycle paths to explore. With a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old cycling is the perfect activity for the whole family. It’s free, safe and great exercise. Living in Sandal, Wakefield we try and explore as many places as local to our home as possible. … Read more

Spofforth – Wetherby Railway Path Cycling for Families

As a family, we are always on the lookout for new safe cycle paths to explore. With a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old cycling is the perfect activity for the whole family. It’s free, safe and great exercise. Our little boy Barney loves sitting on the back taking in all the nature as we ride along. … 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.