The 7 best cycling holidays in the UK
17 July 2026
In the UK, we’re a nation of cyclists. According to Cycling UK, around seven million people cycle more than once a week, with cycling holidays continuing to grow in popularity.
If you’re considering hitting the open road in summer 2026 to sample the best cycling hotspots in Britain, these are seven of the must-visit locations to check out this year. We’ve covered the best routes, the bike you’ll need and the top places for a much-deserved pitstop.
1. The Lake District
It’s easy to see why The Lake District is one of the most popular locations for cycling holidays in the UK. The views are epic, with 16 lakes in total to enjoy, including the largest, Windermere. UNESCO gave it World Heritage status in 2017, too.
When it comes to open space, there are 2,000 square kilometres of countryside to explore and endless options for cycling, whether you’re a family looking for circular lake routes or an advanced cyclist after extreme mountain biking trails.
Popular routes:
Coniston, Windermere & Southern Lakes
This 35-mile scenic circular road cycling route takes in the spectacular lakes of Windermere, Coniston and Esthwaite Water. You’ll cycle right under the watchful eye of the Old Man of Coniston Mountain.
- Length: 35 miles
- Ideal for: Road cyclists
- Where to stop: Herdwicks Cafe in Coniston for coffee and cake. It’s directly below the Old Man of Coniston.
A 38-mile circular route beginning in Keswick. You’ll tackle two of the Lake District’s most classic road cycle climbs: the Whinlatter and Honister Pass. The latter winds through England’s only true mountain forest, while the former is much steeper and much more rugged, with gradients reaching 25% and a climb up to 1,176 feet.
- Length: 38 miles
- Ideal for: Experienced road cyclists
- Where to stop: The Skye Farm tearoom at Buttermere.
Head to Grizedale Forest for the North Face MTB Trail, promising a thrilling ride for experienced mountain bikers. The trail offers sections of single-track descent to get the adrenaline going, and uphill sections where you’ll feel the burn. There are tricky boardwalk sections through meadows and plenty of incredible views along the way.
- Length: 10 miles
- Ideal for: Experienced mountain bikers
- Where to stop: Café Ambio, right by the visitors centre, offers hearty meals and great coffee.
2. The Peak District
Located at the foot of the Pennines, the Peak District spans over 1,400 square kilometres, and is a haven for cycling adventures. There are some epic, renowned climbs, like Winnats Pass, and adrenaline-pumping MTB adventures.
And what better way to reward yourself after a long day on the bike than with a traditional Bakewell pudding? Plus, villages like Castleton, Edale and Bakewell are packed with country pubs catering to thirsty cyclists.
If you’re considering the Peak District for a family holiday, there are many bike hire centres dotted around, so you don’t even need to bring your bikes with you.
Popular routes:
This 39.2-mile route is one for experienced cyclists and requires a good level of fitness. Look out for the likes of Chatsworth House and the view of Stanage Edge as you pass. The final climb up Winnats Pass is a 1.1-mile ride with an average gradient of 11.4% and a max of 18.3%. It’s demanding and is number 33 on Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs.
- Length: 39.2 miles
- Ideal for: Experienced road cyclists
- Where to stop: The Bull’s Head in Castleton – just one mile down the road from Winnats Pass.
Hollins Cross and Jacob’s Ladder
This 14.6-mile mountain bike ride is a hard ride, requiring decent fitness. You’ll begin in Edale and enjoy a varied terrain climb up to Hollins Cross with incredible views into the valley. The Mam Tor descent is fast and flowy, before you head back up on the Rushup Edge. Look out for the bumps along the Pennine Bridleway before you descend down the Hayfield Descent, up the Kinder Traverse and back to Edale through Jacob’s Ladder.
- Length: 14.6 miles
- Ideal for: Fit and experienced mountain bikers
- Where to stop: Enjoy a well-deserved drink at the Old Nag’s Head in Edale.
An ideal option for a family day out, the Monsal Trail is a traffic-free route that stretches for 8.5 miles. It runs from Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Coombs Road in Bakewell, with lots of access points along the way. The route follows the former Manchester to London Midland Railway line, and the flat surfaces are perfect for kids of all ages.
- Length: 8.5 miles
- Ideal for: Families and children of all ages
- Where to stop: Bakewell for a classic Bakewell pudding
3. Wales
Wales offers an incredible diversity of cycling routes. You really are hard pushed to find a better escape for cyclists looking to blow away the cobwebs. You’ll find endless mountains, rugged beaches and rolling hills all ready to explore on two wheels.
If you’re a family looking for a relatively easy ride, there are plenty of road cycling routes dispersed against the backdrop of the Welsh countryside. The Wales Coast Path is a great opportunity to get out into the sea breeze.
Wales caters to experienced mountain bikers too, promising both marked trails and extreme downhill freerides. You could hit the Antur Stiniog downhill trails one day and tackle Penmachno the next.
Popular routes:
Brecon Beacons – Cycle Across the Beacons
If you’re up for a two-day cycle on your trip to Brecon Beacons, Cycle Across the Beacons offers a challenging 55-mile cycle with some incredible views. The route begins in Abergavenny, runs along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, skirts the edges of the Brecon Beacons National Park, takes in the Usk Reservoir and finishes in the lovely town of Llandeilo, with plenty more delights along the way.
- Length: 55 miles (two days is about right)
- Ideal for: Road bikes, hybrids or a cross bike. A mountain bike is too heavy to haul up the gradients. Intermediate cyclists will be fine.
- Where to stop: Toast your epic journey with a drink at the White Horse in Llandeilo.
This circular trail is 6.2 miles long and runs around Cardiff Bay and across to the seaside town of Penarth. You’ll travel over the 140-metre Pont Y Werin bridge between Penarth and the International Sports Village. Look out for historic landmarks like the Norwegian Church, the Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd.
- Length: 6.2 miles
- Ideal for: A family bike ride
- Where to stop: The kids will love the playground at the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the whole family can enjoy something to eat at Mermaid Quay.
Coed Y Brenin Forest Park is a haven for mountain bikers and has been serving up a great selection of trail riding for over 30 years, suitable for a range of abilities. Yr Afon is ideal for novices and less confident riders. The 6.7-mile trail runs up an open forest road that contours the hill to take in a view of the waterfalls. The descents do get a little quick though.
For more experienced riders, The Beast offers everything you’d hope for in an MTB experience. The 23.7-mile run features fast open, tight technical and flowing singletrack, as well as bone-shaking rocky sections. It’s not one for the fainthearted.
4. The Isle of Wight
Hop on the ferry with your bikes at Portsmouth, Southampton, or Lymington, and make the short trip over to the Isle of Wight for a real cycling adventure.
The island boasts over 200 miles of cycling routes, from coastal cycle paths to woodland trails, and is the perfect setting for a family cycling holiday in the UK. Plus, there are some more taxing rides for more experienced road cyclists.
Popular routes:
The Round the Island Cycle Route takes you around the perimeter of the island. You can cycle the full route if you’re an experienced cyclist or just do a few of the smaller sections in between towns for a family day out. There’s also the option to cycle clockwise or anti-clockwise. The easiest spots to begin depend on which port you arrive at on the island, with Yarmouth and Cowes the closest ferry terminals.
- Length: 65.1 miles clockwise route / 64.8 anti-clockwise route
- Ideal for: Road bikes
- Where to stop: The Buddle Inn, Niton
Lighthouse, Needles, and Downs
This 55-mile route takes in 1,300m of climbing across country roads, with some epic viewpoints to feast your eyes on. It’s one of the best ways to see the Needles, one of the most famous landmarks on the Isle of Wight.
- Length: 55 miles
- Ideal for: Road bikes
- Where to stop: Chessell Pottery cafe, Yarmouth, for one of the best cream teas on the island.
5. Yorkshire Dales
Host to the Tour de France back in 2014, the Yorkshire Dales National Park isn’t just a fantastic location to travel to with your bike, but it now has its own place in cycling history. Alongside road cycling, there are over 900km of mountain biking trails promising both historic and scenic sights, and that always put your skills to the test.
There’s even a dedicated cycling website, cyclethedales.org.uk, with plenty of tips and routes for cycling in the area. So be sure to check it out before you visit.
Popular routes:
Ideal for a family mountain biking adventure, the Swale Trail stretches from Keld to Reeth across 12 miles. It takes you on a low-level journey along the valley on tracks and quiet country lanes. There’s also an easy mountain bike trail between Reeth and Gunnerside, which is mainly traffic-free. You’ll find a few tougher climbs from Gunnerside to Keld, but the stunning views are well worth it.
- Length: 12 miles
- Ideal for: Mountain bikers of all levels
- Where to stop: The traditional Grade II-listed King’s Head in Gunnerside.
This fantastic 12-mile MTB route is a circular route showcasing the best of mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales. It features walled lanes, grassy tracks, fords, and historic clapper bridges, and approximately 485m of climbing. It’s ideal for intermediate riders, taking roughly two to three hours to complete.
- Length: 12 miles
- Ideal for: Intermediate-level mountain bikers
- Where to stop: Make a beeline for Elaine’s Tea Room in Feizor for hearty breakfasts, delicious cakes and steaming coffee.
6. Cornwall
Head to Cornwall in summer for a cycling holiday and you won’t be disappointed. You can work up a sweat in the county’s warmer temperatures while you take on some of the toughest climbs in the UK. And there’s always the treat of relaxing on the beach after.
Coastal paths are certainly Cornwall’s unique selling point, but it still provides something for the mountain bikers amongst us. There are 247 MTB trails listed on trailforks.com alone, so you certainly won’t run out of options during your stay.
If you want to strike a nice balance between winding down and chasing that sense of achievement, the coast-to-coast trail is just what you’re looking for. It may sound intimidating, but it’s a mere 11 miles and can be completed within an afternoon. It’s the perfect way to relax on two wheels with the whole family.
Popular routes:
This family-friendly route runs from Padstow to Bodmin, and is one of the most popular cycle routes in the county. Along 18 miles, it takes in some of Cornwall’s most stunning scenery, including the upper Camel Valley and the Camel Estuary. The latter is a real paradise for birdwatchers. You’ll cycle along a largely traffic-free trail that follows the route of an old railway line.
- Length: 18 miles
- Ideal for: A family bike ride
- Where to stop: The Camel Trail Tea Garden for a traditional Cornish cream tea.
Enjoy a blissfully peaceful summer’s afternoon on the bikes with the family along this 11-mile route that connects Cornwall’s north and south coasts. The route is made up of two old railways: the Redruth & Chasewater Railway for the southern section and the Portreath Tramway for the northern. It’s largely traffic-free and ideal for cyclists of all abilities.
- Length: 11 miles
- Ideal for: A family bike ride
- Where to stop: Quench your thirst with a cool drink at the Old Quay Inn in Devoran.
The route begins on the upper reaches of the Camel Trail out of Bodmin and up onto Bodmin Moor. You’ll take in the beautiful Cornish village of Blisland before winding your way to Camelford. Enjoy the incredible panoramic views before you head north across some of the most remote parts of the county. Once you hit Bude, you’ll then cross into Devon.
- Length: 40.5 miles
- Ideal for: Road bikes
- Where to stop: The Blisland Inn, Blisland. A classic and quaint country pub.
7. Scottish Highlands
Last but certainly not least, the breathtaking Scottish Highlands have their fair share of scenic cycling routes.
Whether you’re visiting Loch Ness or the magical Fairy Pools of the Isle of Skye, you’ll find loads to see on and off your bike. There are some serious cycling routes to test your abilities in this part of the UK, whether you want to climb the hills on your road bike or hit the trails on your mountain bike.
Popular routes:
The North Coast 500, otherwise known as Scotland’s Route 66, offers a great opportunity to bask in some of the country’s most impressive views and iconic wild places. You’ll take in the mountains and lochs of Wester Ross and Assynt and the rugged sea cliffs of Sutherland.
It can be completed as a 7-day road cycling tour, which is highly recommended for cyclists keen to take on a real challenge.
- Length: 516 miles
- Ideal for: A 7-day cycling tour on road bikes
- Where to stop: Stop at the legendary Applecross Inn for fresh seafood, sea views and a wee dram of whisky.
Running for 73 miles from Inverness to Fort William, the Great Glen Way takes in a series of glens filled by lochs, which are linked by the Caledonian Canal. There are some challenging sections to deal with, most notably where it climbs high above Loch Ness.
- Length: 73 miles
- Ideal for: Mountain bikes
- Where to stop along the way: The Eagle Barge Inn. A converted Dutch barge that floats in the Caledonian Canal and boasts a large collection of whiskies.
This renowned MTB route runs across 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, taking in the likes of Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and Rannoch Moor. It promises a technical but blissful ride.
- Length: 96 miles
- Ideal for: Advanced mountain bikers with high fitness levels
- Where to stop: The Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha, Loch Lomond.
Specialist cycling insurance through Cycleplan
Cycling holidays are fun, but they can quickly turn stressful if something goes wrong. Getting insurance can help provide financial protection for you and your bike should the worst happen.
Discover how specialist cycling insurance can help you have peace of mind on your UK cycling holiday, and get an instant online quote today.
Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.
