6 Family-Friendly Cycling Routes

With the combination of lockdown restrictions easing and some good weather on the way, it is the perfect time to plan a fun family bike ride to get out and enjoy the best of the British outdoors. For family bike rides, you will want to find somewhere safe and preferably quite flat, to suit younger cyclists. Here’s our top picks:

Loch Lomond Cycleway, Scotland

There are very few more scenic places in the UK than Loch Lomond and the Loch Lomond Cycleway is perfect for an enjoyable family bike ride. There are a few different traffic-free routes around the Loch Lomond area, including the West Loch Lomond cycle path that takes you through the beautiful village of Luss. There are also some great little picnic areas to stop at along the way. You can get to Loch Lomond by train from Glasgow in just over an hour and the station at Balloch is a short distance from the loch.

Mawddach Trail, Snowdonia, Wales

This trail goes along 10 miles of disused railway, making it completely traffic-free and flat. It runs along the edge of the Mawddach estuary, providing you with spectacular views across the water. You can also cross the famous railway bridge heading into Barmouth and there are plenty of great picnic areas along the trail. Snowdonia is a great location for a UK staycation for families, as there are plenty of other fun activities to enjoy, such as watersports and other outdoor adventures.

Coast to Coast Cornwall

Going ‘coast-to-coast’ might sound like a very long ride but on this trail, you can ride from the north coast of Cornwall to the south coast in just 11 miles. It runs along the former mineral railway track, so it is almost fully traffic-free and there are some very interesting places to see on this route, including a hamlet and fishing villages. The route starts at Portreath and finishes at Devoran, both of which are easy to access by train.

Marriott’s Way, Norfolk

One of our favourite family rides in the south east of England is Marriott’s Way, spanning from Norwich to Aylsham. The trail is 26 miles long and follows the route of two disused railway lines. It takes you through the stunning East Anglian countryside and there are also a few shorter loop distances to suit younger cyclists.

Millennium Greenway, Chester

The Millennium Greenway runs from the outskirts of Chester city centre to the Wharf at Connah’s Quay. You can take a short detour to stop by the beautiful River Dee in the city centre to visit one of the cafes or take a walk around Chester Roman Gardens. The cycle path is traffic-free and also has train stations at each end, making it a good option if little legs get tired!

Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

The Forest of Dean is popular with cyclists of all abilities as there is a huge range of different trails, including ‘the family trail’ which follows an old railway line and is 12 miles long. There are loads of great activities for kids including playparks and the Elton Farm Maize Mazes are also fun to explore. If you are looking to combine a family bike ride with a great day out, this is the perfect destination.

If you want to make the most of the weekends and school holidays by getting out on your bikes and exploring new places, you will need a good quality cycle carrier to get you to these great family bike trails, or any other you find.

PF Jones has a huge selection of Thule cycle carrier designs for all vehicles. Shop Thule cycle carriers to prepare for your family bike ride.