Cycle route research round Tunbridge Wells, and yes, this is necessary work.
Author: Rob Ainsley
Arran 3: Round-island tour
Final day of route research, doing the loop round the coast of Arran.
Arran 2: Gravel roads
Continuing route research today, on the gravel roads of South Arran.
Arran 1: Scotland in miniatures
More cycle route research, on the Isle of Arran, ‘Scotland in Miniature’ – presumably a whisky reference, as the island with no towns still manages to have two distilleries. No drams for me on this trip, though. And nothing miniature about the climbs, I can promise you.
Kirkby Stephen 2: Furlong scheme
More cycle route research in the lanes and hills round Kirkby Stephen.
Kirkby Stephen 1: Great Dun Fell
More cycle route research, round Kirkby Stephen. Fabulous ride yesterday up the highest tarmac road in Britain and Ireland. The access road to Great Dun Fell’s radar station is closed to traffic and drivers need a permit – but it happens to be a bridleway, so you can cycle it. A smooth, car-free, tarmac road…
Wirral: Prom season
Cycle route research on the Wirral Peninsula, on a bright sunny day that was chillier than it looks. The traffic-free prom path from Hoylake to Birkenhead is miles long and was packed today.
Wales 6: Bangor to Holyhead
It was all very 1826 this morning. Partly this was because I cycled across the magnificent Menai Bridge (pic), one of the world’s first suspension jobs. And also because I’d had no wifi, internet, phone or postal access in my Premier Inn. To communicate with the outside world I’d have needed smoke signals. Once across,…
Wales 5: Ffestiniog to Bangor
I’d planned a short day. I’d had vague aspirations of stopping off en route to walk up Snowdon, assisted by the rack’n’ruin railway. Unfortunately the train was only running part way up, so I wouldn’t have time for any summit-bagging today. It was a swoosh down from Ffestiniog to the valley floor (pic) and a…
Wales 4: Hafren Forest to Ffestiniog
An early start, into the sheepy fields. I climbed laboriously up the mountain road towards Machynlleth past Dylife Gorge (pic). I was heading towards the highest point on the Lôn Las Cymru after Gospel Pass – 510m above sea level, and usually 100m above bottom of the cloud level. Indeed, when I did this bit…