10 unique cycling routes in the UK by well-known cyclists

By Victoria Hazael

Discover some of the best cycling routes in the UK

As part of Cycling UK's 140th Birthday celebrations we want to inspire more people to experience the joys of cycling, so we've asked the more famous members of Cycling UK to share their favourite bike rides with us. Here's ten unique routes with GPX files from names you'll recognise.

Clare Balding

TV presenter Clare Balding is best known for her love of horses, but she also likes to ride a bike and presented Britain by Bike. She's shared a picturesque route around the shore of Loch Katrine in the Trossachs.

View Clare's Loch Katrine route

Chris Boardman

Olympic champion and world-record holder Chris Boardman is also now Manchester’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, he has chosen a 28 mile loop in Aviemore as his favourite place to ride off-road.

View Chris's Aviemore route

Mark Beaumont

Adventurer, broadcaster, round-the-world record holder and Cycling UK member Mark Beaumont likes a long ride, so his favourite is a Scottish coast-to-coast route that's 240 miles.

View Mark's Argyll to Aberdeen route

Timmy Mallett

Cycling UK member and children's TV legend Timmy Mallett shares a fine ride from Pangbourne to Maidenhead in Berkshire.

View Timmy's Berkshire route

Karen Darke

Paralympian gold medal hand cyclist and member of the Adventure Syndicate, Karen Darke takes us on one of her favourite Highlands routes to visit three lochs and loop back to Inverness.

View Karen's three lochs loop route

Isla Rowntree

Isla Rowntree the eponymous children’s bike designer and longstanding Cycling UK member lives and works in Shropshire, she shares one of her favourite trails in the Ludlow area.

View Isla's Ludlow to Wenlock Edge route

Jesse Norman MP

MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, and Cycling Minister, Jesse Norman shares one of his favourite routes which is a good challenge for the regular cyclist (or a time trial route for the experienced), but also has something for those looking for tasty local produce and a bit of history.

View Jesse's Two Valleys route

Josie Dew

Cycling author and Cycling UK Vice-President Josie Dew reveals a coast-to-coast with a difference: across the beautiful county of Devon, it's 100 miles but she rode it with her children (the youngest is 5 years old!)

View Josie's Devon coast to coast route

Emily Chappell

Emily Chappell is a founder and director of the Adventure Syndicate and author. Although she has cycled all over the world, she grew up in Mid-Wales and recommends a 18 mile road ride on the Clywedog Loop.

View Emily's Clywedog route