Flat parts of the UK, good for cycling?

[sergeantmajor]

We recently had a great time cycling round Bruges. We're now looking to repeat that in the UK. We'd need somewhere flat and easy, away from traffic (we're wimpish and wobbly), where bikes can be hired for the kids.

Ideally it would be somewhere rural within a 3 hour drive of London. Any recommendations?

[mummymeister]

there are lots of holidays where you can do a bit of cycling as part of it. thinking of our favourite haunts in cornwall and going on the camel trail there. if you want a dedicated one week away cycling then in the uk these holidays tend to be aimed at adults with good skills. not sure why there aren't more like there are in Europe. suggest you google it and see what comes up but I cant find anything and I have keen cyclists in the family,

[CMOTDibbler]

How much cycling are you thinking of? A day out, or a few days of travelling?

How old are the children?

[lavendersun]

Norfolk is fairly flat . Quiet rural roads here.

I have never hired a bike but there are lots of cycle hire places near the north Norfolk coast plus one in the forest near Thetford.

There is a lovely traffic free ride next to the Bure Valley Railway which is 9 miles long, you can cycle one way and then catch the train back with your bikes, cream tea at the end well that is what we do.

I use this map a lot!

www.amazon.co.uk/Norfolk-Cycling-Traffic-Free-Goldeneye-Cyclinguides/dp/1859652328/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454426388&sr=8-1&keywords=norfolk%20cycling%20map&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I think you need a plan though, Bruges is fairly compact for cycling whereas somewhere like Norfolk is a fair sized county.

[ReggaeShark]

Camelford trail in Cornwall? Further than you want to go though. Somewhere alongside a canal?

[OTheHugeManatee]

Try the Beds/Cambs border. It's relatively rural and an hour's drive from London. If you get up to Grafham Water there's a bike hire place there and you can ride off-road all round the reservoir.

Norfolk and the Fens is pretty flat too

[LIZS]

New Forest

[AnonymousBird]

Norfolk has lovely cycling but not that flat!!!!!

[lavendersun]

Flattest place I have ever lived Annonymous .

We try to do our food shop on our bikes, I get a big online delivery every two or three months of bulky stuff and then DH and I cycle the 15 mile round trip to the nearest town for the perishable stuff - involves a climb of ..... 100ft.

I suppose that the broads might be the flattest touristy bit with lots of mapped rides.

www.thebroadsbybike.org.uk

We are moving to North Yorkshire soon, the hills are going to kill me.

[BlueChampagne]

Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk has off road trails (6 and 10 miles), an alien trail and a good adventure playground.

[Viewofhedges]

Somerset Levels. Clue's in the name . Lots of canal paths too. London 2 hrs by train to Taunton. All pretty child friendly and good pubs and choice of accomm including airbnbs. National Trust places within reach and local cinemas and museums and nature reserves etc. Really beautiful countryside and the canal I cycle along to work every day has swans, coots, otters, kingfishers etc.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

The Peak District.....seriously!

Vp base yourself near Bakewell and you're close to a lot of converted old railway lines which are now off road flat cycle routes. You would need to be able to transport the bikes by car though each day to the cycle trails.

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Millport in Scotland. Its an island, and it's flat!

Lots of lovely little beaches around it as well.

[Bunbaker]

We stayed in Wells-next-the-Sea a couple of years ago and there were loads of bike hire places there. Cycling is very popular round there. I regretted not taking my bike.

[lavendersun]

I live near there bun, tons of hire places and they are are always busy!

[BikeRunSki]

Lots of valley-bottom flat trails in the Peak District (Monsal, Manifold, Dovedale) but the hills stop it being too windy, which I have found can be a problem in East Anglia, Lincolnshire Wolds and other areas of wider flat landscapes.

[museumum]

Anywhere with canal tow paths. Lovely for cycling.

[Bunbaker]

"Anywhere with canal tow paths. Lovely for cycling."

Which makes it a pain for walkers as a tow path is too narrow for both. We found that trying to walk along the Camelford trail near Padstow was difficult due to cyclists behaving as if the path belonged to them.

[sergeantmajor]

We ended up at Rutland Water in the end, staying in a gorgeous little hotel/pub (Finch's Arms) and hiring bikes at Whitwell to cycle round the lake - loved it!

Thanks all for the brilliant suggestions, now planning our next escape!