National Cycle Route 13 — Where my wheels go

Ride Overview

Is this the most eclectic of all cycling routes in the UK? It begins handsomely enough at the Tower of London and passes the old London docks, now neatly tidied up rather than the raw heart of Empire. Then, cutting across the glass and steel forest that is The Isle of Dogs, it is out onto the wild lands of the Thames Estuary, where industry and nature co-habit in not-to-be-underestimated brilliance. Rainham Marshes for instance is home to the Tilda Rice factory as well as the greatest collection of migrating birds in southern England. Continuing downstream, you ride on some of the world’s largest land fill sites, although you would not know it. For all the declaiming on how we are wrecking our countryside, these ex-landfills are testament to our conservation successes. Leaving the river, the way heads north into Essex, to the first night’s stop at Maldon, a town famed for its Thames barges, oysters and salt. The next day, the route heads north through Constable country to Bury St. Edmunds, a beautiful town. All that is missing are the elm trees painted by Constable, and perhaps a haywain or two, but otherwise all is as it was in Dedham Vale, as complete a contrast to the first day’s riding out of London as you could ever imagine. The official end of the NCN 13 route is at Dereham, a market town of little distinction as well as not having any rail links. The solution is to extend Route 13 along the North Norfolk coast to King’s Lynn, passing through the forests and flints as well as the Sandringham Estate, to finish at one of England’s most historic towns and best preserved towns, where there are regular train connections back to London.

Ride Practicalities

START/FINISH: The Tower of London/Dereham or King’s Lynn DISTANCE: 260km TOTAL ASCENT: m TERRAIN AND SURFACES:mixed surfaces, bridlepaths and quiet lanes. Some rough sections of rutted or flint paths, but all do-able on a touring bike with 28mm tyres or more RECOMMENDED CAFÈS/PUBS; CAMPING: ACCOMMODATION: Maldon: The Hythe NEARBY MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: King’s Lynn and London Fenchurch LINKS TO OTHER RIDES: NCN 1, Chiswick to Greenwich, The Tower to Rainham Marshes, Ingrebourne Way (Route 136)
*WMWG only list places for food, drink and beds which have met our strict quality standards. They will promote local growers, are independent who set high standards, but who are not necessarily the cheapest place in town.Distance: 260km

Ride the Route

Ride the route

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