Cycling – it’s fantastic for your health, it’s great for the planet and it’s one of the most exciting ways to explore the gorgeous British countryside. It lets you zoom down hills with the wind blowing through your hair, avoids long, arduous traffic jams and allows you to veer far further off the beaten track than a car can.
What we’re trying to say is that there’s no such thing as too many cycle routes. And now, a brand new one has been created in the south of England. Charity Cycling UK has launched a new long-distance adventure route for bikes in the Chilterns, titled the Royal Chilterns Way.
The 280km route starts and ends in Reading, traversing dirt bridleways, rolling hills and ancient woodlands and passing landmarks like Royal Abbey in Reading, the semi-fortified Chennies Manor House and the remains of the eleventh century Berkhamsted Castle. You’ll go through places like Henley-on-Thames, Amersham, Wendover and Berkamsted.
Cyclists can take it on in smaller segments or do the whole loop in a three to four day bike packing trip. The 3,383m in climbing may be a bit of a challenge, but the views (and the way back down) will make it all worth it.
Max Darkins, ride guide and route planner at Cycling UK said: ‘Growing up in the Chilterns sparked my passion for cycling and inspired a lifelong love of the area. This lesser-known part of the south-east has so much to offer and in working closely with Cycling UK we carefully crafted a route that would give people the chance to escape and connect with nature.
‘Out on the trail you get to experience everything that the Chilterns has to offer, ranging from verdant landscapes to historic market towns, medieval earthworks and majestic rivers. And to top it off, the area is just bursting with farm shops, cafés, vineyards, breweries and country pubs. We all known how much cycling can improve our physical and mental health, and with every new route launched, we introduce that to more and more people.’
Find out more about the route with the official Cycling UK guide here.
The charity has created eight other adventure trails since 2018, including King Alfred’s Way in south central England, West Kernow Way in Cornwall and Traws Eryri in Wales. Discover Time Out’s favourite cycling routes across the UK here. And to combine your cycle adventure with a bit of sightseeing, have a read of Time Out’s best things to do in Reading.
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