National Cycle Route 5
Ride overview
By the time you arrive in Chester, after some 400km, you’ll have been in the company of Wilde, Shakespeare, a winking angel, Wedgewood and Brindley. You’ll haver ridden over the pastoral landscapes of England, rolled up and down its gentle hill through woods, bumped on bridleways and steered along canal paths. You’ll have passed, if not stopped at some of England’s treasures, its world famous gardens, a palace, two cathedrals and many a moated Tudor manor house. You’ll have been shaken out of the rural topor by riding through part of its industrial heart, past chimneys, red bricked factories, kilns and salt mines. To say that the NCN 5 is by some measure, (in terms of places to visit on the way, the National Cycle Route 5) is the richest and most rewarding of all the long distance routes in the UK, is a veritable English understatement.
However, the journey does not end at Chester, it continues through a very different landscape, that of the North Wales Coast. It’s a flatter ride, but harsher, for this is a land conquered by Edward I, whose suppression of the Welsh is still very evident with the UNESCO World Heritage listed castles. There’s sea, plenty of it, fish and chips, bingo, garish beach toys and a briny air.
It is a veritable immersion into both the old and the new, the industrial as well as the rural. The route passes through the lands of Druids, of Shakespeare, Wedgewood, Brindley and Edward I. Saints appear at regular intervals. There are quiet woods and canals, the sea and rolling fields, four world-famous gardens, a palace, castles, cathedrals and several Tudor mansions. And in the industrial heartlands of England, the so-called ‘Black Country’, you encounter salt, coal, stoneware, porcelain, and iron. Some of the old factories remain as do many of the workshops, now preserved as ‘heritage’ icons. In cycling terms, the NCN 5 is a gentle route, avoiding high ground and challenging terrain. You ride on a combination of purpose built cycle tracks, canal towpaths, quiet country and city roads, as well as some former railway tracks.
The route, as with any long distance route, has it dull moments. In an ideal world, there’d be less suburban riding and fewer kilometres bumping along beside canals. However, since the route passes through five cities which were and still are, industrial powerhouses, it would be naïve to think that the route is all green lanes. Much of the city riding is on dedicated cycleways through quiet neighbourhoods. Riding along the canal network also guarantees many kilometres of traffic-free riding.
The official route begins in Reading, which is an odd choice. Either London or the Isle of Wight are far better places to start. London, because the historical route linking the capital with Holyhead, initiated by the Romans and made modern by Thomas Telford’s turnpike road, begins at Marble Arch and finishes at Holyhead. To begin on the Isle of Wight would mean connecting two of Britain’s bigger and best known islands, with the added bonus of crossing some of Southern England’s finest downland scenery. To ride the route from London before continuing on the National Cycle Route 5, click here.
Yes, the route passes some of the most famous places in Britain; Oxford, Stratford, Birmingham, Chester and the Castles of North Wales and they are as you’d expect from UNESCO World Heritage listing, remarkable, fascinating and packed with others seeking to enjoy the same. But its the shorter threads of history, the monuments to forgotten events, to the poignant as well as noble, that will perhaps linger for longer. England’s little curiosities;
THe little bits of empire,,,
Wedgwood's anti-slavery medallion is a symbol of revolution and is still used today. The medallion depicts a kneeling enslaved person begging for freedom.
Note that the whole route as shown below is purely to illustrate an overview. For the most accurate and detailed downloadable maps, refer to each stage below.
Ride practicalities
The route is well signed as NCN 5, other than the section between the north of Birmingham and Stafford. In order to link these two cities, we have mapped a route which uses the quietest roads across the National Landscape of Cannock Chase and we include a short diversion to delightful pocket-sized city of Lichfield. Other than high summer weekends, the connecting route is reasonably quiet and should not pose a problem for experienced cyclists.
START/FINISH: Reading/Holyhead DISTANCE: TOTAL ASCENT:
TERRAIN AND SURFACES: quiet country lanes, quiet urban roads, cycle lanes, former railway tracks, bridleways and by-ways. As with the whole of the National Cycle Network, surfaces are mixed and you should expect from time to time, variable surfaces including loose gravel even mud, especially after rain. That said the whole route is very rideable on any bike with more than 28mm tyre, which means any touring bike is ideal.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ROUTE USING THE WEBSITE?
The whole route has been split into seven sections, each between 60-100km. The shorter cycling days take account of the opportunities to visit some of the key places along the way. Of course, you can decide to increase or decrease the length of each day according to your needs and abilities. Each stage has a free-to-download map which you can put directly onto your navigation device. Each stage has a detailed explanation of what you are likely to see.
RECOMMENDED CAFÈS/PUBS/ACCOMMODATION: Only places which meet our exacting criteria for quality and price are listed. They have each been tried and tested. Where there is no listing, you are free to use your apps and guides to find your own special places. Feel free to add your suggestions to the ‘Ride Review’ section at the foot of each stage’s page. A popular choice of accommodation for cycle tourists in the UK are the Premier Inns. They are well-priced, found in many of the major towns and allow the bike to be taken into your bedroom.
NEARBY MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: The route is well served by trains. Advanced reservations are required for cycles on all intercity routes.
PLACES TO VISIT: Each stage highlights the most significant places to visit along the route.
LINKS TO OTHER ROUTES: London to Holyhead, The North Wales Coastal Route, NCN 8
REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE RIDE: If you have ridden a stage, or indeed the whole route please post your review and comments in the Ride Review section at the foot of each page. It is so useful for other cyclists who follow in your tyre tracks. Alternatively email me using the link on the website.
Every route on this website has been carefully researched as well as ridden. However situations on the ground can change quickly. If you know of changes to this route, or cafes, pubs and the like which you think other cyclists need to know about, feel free to share your thoughts below.
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Stage 1 67km