Family Cycling Breaks

[DialANumber]

We've really enjoyed cycling with our dc along some family traffic free cycle routes near us - there's a couple of canals with circular routes and an old railway line that's been converted. We're thinking of trying to go on holiday at Easter to do similar but elsewhere in the UK. Needs to be flay, traffic free and have refreshments easily accessible preferably (for bribing purposes..) Any suggestions?

We generally stay in Youth Hostels or Air BnBs as we prefer to keep costs down and self cater so that's the kind of thing we're looking for.

TIA

Where have you been already?

There are a few in the Peak District that might fit the bill. There is the Monsal Trail, several places with refreshments and toilets, it also has tunnels! Also High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail.

I always think the Peak District will be hilly! We did the Manifold Trail years ago and liked that but it was pre kids!

The Peak District is hilly but the trails along old railway lines are flat.

We walked 8 miles on the Monsal Trail yesterday and it was lovely despite the weather. There were quite a lot of families with young children.

The Camel Trail in Cornwall is a 19km path along a disused railway line. It’s largely traffic-free. It starts in Padstow before following the well-surfaced estuary path to Wadebridge. If your legs are tired, you can call it a day here or carry on towards Bodmin, passing through woodland and some breathtaking landscapes. Check out the Camel River Festival or the Cornwall Folk Festival, both in Wadebridge each August.

The Exe Estuary trail in Devon goes Dawlish - Exeter- Exmouth you can the go further through Exmouth onto Budleigh it’s mostly off road and runs along the estuary but there’s a couple of bits you need to go on road/path through Topsham. We’ve done it though with kids on tag-a-long bikes. There’s the bonus of trainline and/or boat connections to enable one way options.

There’s also Devon Granite Way 10m, starts from Okehampton YHA edge of Dartmoor, check out sustrans for the route.

These are all fab, thank you!

Also Ladybower reservoir in the Peak District is closed to cars at the weekends and lots of people cycle round that with kids. it has a few hills but nothing major.