It’s a few weeks into the summer holidays and the kids are getting bored. What’s to do? Well, we’ve listed a few places to go cycling with the kids. Not only will this keep the kids active, but it’ll get you out of the house too!
These places are great for long weekends away or even a day out. But in case of any unexpected situations, we recommend that you always carry a spare hanger, because the last thing you want is to be on a cycling holiday and your hanger snaps. Not much of a cycling holiday then, huh?
Swansea Bike Path
This picturesque place offers 6 miles of easy and traffic free cycling. Located in South West Wales, the route starts at Swansea Marina and follows the coastline all the way the down to the Victorian town, Mumbles. This route is tarmacked, so it’s the perfect place to take the kids to.
Camel Trail, Cornwall
Camel Trail offers a lengthy 18 miles of beautiful scenery. This is one of the most popular routes in the country. Starting off in Padstow, you will travel through Wadebridge and Bodmin, with your final destination being Poley’s Bridge. This trail offers a mostly traffic free route, and in fact, this route is an old railway line that was used by the London and Southwest Railway.
This family-friendly route is smooth, making it easy for kids to cycle. If you’re not up for cycling 18 miles, the journey can be split up. Maybe try Padstow to Wadebridge (5.5 miles), Wadebridge to Bodmin (5.75 miles) and Bodmin to Wenfordbridge (6.25 miles).
Souter to St Mary’s (South Shields)
This route links the Souter lighthouse and St Mary’s lighthouse, not to mention it has a ferry crossing at the River Tyne Estuary. This route is family friendly as there are no big hills that require extra manpower. But keep in mind that this route does have a few quiet roads included, so consider the age range.
Cardiff Bay Trail
This route runs around Cardiff Bay and across to Penarth. The total distance is 6.2 miles and is mainly traffic free with tarmacked surfaces. Cardiff Bay has beautiful waterfront cafes, bars, restaurants, heritage sites and activities that take place inside the new International Sports Village. The surrounding area has attractions such as the Dr Who Experience, Techniquest and the Millennium Centre, which are a handful of fun activities to do on top of the cycling. Bonus.
Rhos-on-Sea to Pensarn
Located in the North East of Wales, this route is a distance of 7 miles and takes approximately 1 and a half hours to complete. This route is completely traffic free and all tarmacked, which means it is friendly for all ages. This scenic area is filled with wooded hills which are over 600ft and has numerous caravan sites.
General Places to go Cycling
Some general, open places you may want to consider are parks, disused railways, canals and rivers, and, national trust places. These options are a total winner for if you’re on a budget!
Parks
Parks are nice green areas which can be found in any town or city, making them more convenient. They tend to be clear of traffic and it’s the perfect spot to have a picnic after you’ve had been for your cycle.
Disused Railways
Disused railways are amazing, historic places to ride down. They were originally designed to be as flat as possible, which is great for children as it ensures a smooth ride.
Canals and Rivers
Canals and rivers tend to be a peaceful and quiet route to take. The surface isn’t even though, so be wise with your age range and expect some lumps and bumps along the way.
National Trust Places
The National Trust maintains over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient gardens, parks and nature reserves. Most of these destinations are cycle friendly, so why not make a weekend of it? They tend to have special activities that run through half-term, so there is sure to be something for the kids to do.
