Pedalling the Royal Chilterns Way with Freddie van Mierlo MP and Cllr Ben Higgins
Last Monday (27 October), Cycling UK joined Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, and Councillor Ben Higgins, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Economy and Innovation, for a ride along a section of Royal Chilterns Way – Cycling UK’s newest long-distance route. Our Public Affairs Officer, Tomos Owens, recounts the ride.
The idea for the ride came from Robin Tucker, one of Cycling UK’s Trustees and a very active cycling campaigner in Oxfordshire and beyond. He was keen to show Freddie and Ben the benefits of the route, both for local riders and for the wider economy. I was delighted to join them to discuss Cycling UK’s wider work, including our women’s safety campaign, My ride. Our right.
We rode a section of the 175-mile Royal Chilterns Way, launched earlier this year as part of Cycling UK’s Adventure Route Series. The full route runs from Reading in the southwest to Dunstable in Bedfordshire, passing through five counties and showcasing some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside.
Local routes, local rewards
Robin has been closely involved in promoting the route locally and shared some remarkable early results. He said:
We had over 10,000 downloads in the first month alone.
Most riders take three to six days to complete it, and from our experience with King Alfred’s Way we know cyclists spend around £84 per day on food, drink and accommodation. That could mean millions of pounds flowing into local economies across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
That impact is already visible on the ground. The manager of the Henley Piazza café told us they’d noticed more cyclists stopping in since the route launched in August - an encouraging early sign that the route is boosting local trade.
Cllr Higgins agreed, noting the potential for cycling to support Oxfordshire’s visitor economy:
It was fantastic to hear about the route and get out for a ride. I’m doubly interested in this as it passes through my Division, and also because it demonstrates how diverse the Oxfordshire visitor economy is; our fantastic rural settings can play their part alongside our world-recognised heritage and cultural assets. I’m looking forward to exploring more of the route soon!
Beyond leisure – why cycling matters
Our conversation also turned to the wider importance of cycling beyond leisure and tourism. Including cycling in daily life – even for short trips – has major benefits for health, wellbeing and the environment. But to make it a realistic option for more people, safe and high-quality infrastructure is essential.
Freddie van Mierlo is a strong supporter of cycling in Parliament and brought forward a Westminster Hall debate earlier this year focussed on cycling provision in rural areas. Freddie told us about his ongoing work to secure new active travel links in his constituency, including between Sonning Common and Reading, and between Thame and Haddenham. These links could be transformative for people in the area, safely linking these smaller settlements to jobs, train stations, and high streets by bike.
A shared vision for cycling’s future
It was a great day to be out on the bikes and to see firsthand how a well-designed route like Royal Chilterns Way can support local economies, connect communities, and showcase the beauty of Britain’s countryside.
Robin and I were grateful to Freddie and Ben for taking the time to join us, and for their enthusiasm for cycling as both recreation and transport. With routes like this and continued political support for active travel, we can help more people discover the joy of exploring by bike – and the many benefits it brings to people, places and the planet.
If you would also like to tackle Royal Chilterns Way, visit the route page to buy the guidebook or download the route.
