| Two wheels are catching on! |
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| Written by Marguerite Shaw, 2005 | |
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Page 2 of 2 Route D, Castles and Palaces, 25 miles Via Tenby, St Florence, Lamphey and Manorbier, this is a ride taking in a cheese farm and wildlife park in addition to a palace and castle. A pleasant day out. National Cycle Network (NCN) routes I am lucky enough to live near Route 46, which uses a canal path and an old railway track to make a 20-mile traffic-free way from Newport to Blaenafon in South Wales. It is a joy to see whole families out enjoying themselves on wheels here. Countrywide, many thousands of people ride thousands of miles in safety on the routes mapped out by Sustrans, keeping themselves fit at the same time. For those wishing to follow such routes, with a minimum of hazards and help in finding their way through towns, the purchase of NCN maps is a must but local authorities usually supply maps of the routes in their areas. In May 2004, our friend Margaret, one of the WI Denman Derailleurs, set off from Harwich to ride the first stage of National Cycle Route 1, which circumnavigates the North Sea, a total of 3,500 miles through seven countries. From Harwich to Edinburgh, she cycled for nearly a month, sometimes alone and sometimes with friends. We joined her at Middlesborough and experienced eight days of NCN 1. We cycled through lovely countryside, along coastal paths and promenades as well as quiet lanes. It was interesting to see the former industrial north-east transformed into country parks, with sculptures here and there. Food and drink had to be carried and accommodation booked ahead, because out-of town means away-from-facilities, but Margaret and her mobile ensured our comfort. We had a wonderful time, with some minor adventures and setbacks. In places, I felt we would have been more comfortable finding our own route than sticking doggedly to NCN 1. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the experience, found the route from Berwick to Edinburgh particularly scenic and are looking forward to joining Margaret in September 2005 on her next stage northwards, from Edinburgh to Inverness. National Cycle Network has been designed with a number of different users in mind. Catering for walkers, wheelchair users and even dog walkers as well as cyclists, the routes are not necessarily the quickest means from A to B, and because of the different user groups are not intended to be used as high-speed cycle tracks. All users need to be considerate of other groups using the paths. The vast majority of people are not experienced cyclists and it is for those people primarily that the National Cycle Network has been designed. This is why one-third of NCN routes are traffic-free (with the rest being on minor or traffic-calmed roads) and so away from the dangers of motor traffic. Independent touring My idea of heaven is to leave home with my panniers packed for a fortnight's touring, knowing roughly how far I want to ride each day and able to decide on my own route. There are still thousands of miles of quiet roads in the UK, which with the aid of a good map will enable you to make long or short tours. Main roads can, by and large, be avoided and crossed with care and NCN routes may be of use if you happen to come across one leading in the right direction. Safe cycling demands a lot of preparation, consideration for other road users and confidence in one's own skill. With the bicycle in good shape, plenty of emergency rations and weatherproof clothes, you are all set for a healthy holiday. Accommodation will depend on individual taste and locality. The more remote the route, the more advisable it is to book ahead, for the onset of darkness while you are miles from civilisation is not a pleasant prospect. We use Tourist Information Centres (TIC) a lot, making enquiries on our way through a town and either making a booking then and there or getting some B&B numbers. For this purpose, carrying a mobile phone is essential. I had a slight accident last year in which my front wheel was badly buckled. Thanks to the mobile and the TIC at Kington we got a taxi to take us to Builth Wells for repair and rest. Cycle touring is only cheap if you enjoy camping or hostelling. At current prices, we find the cost of comfortable accommodation and food comes to at least £450 per person per week. Coffee/tea stops with snacks make a big hole in the budget, but provide a real boost when tired, wet or hungry. The wayside picnic is an equally important part of the adventure. There are several holiday firms offering cycle tours both at home and abroad, in which bicycle hire and transport of luggage from one hotel to another is included. For touring with a group on your own bicycle, the CTC has a list of varied tours to suit different tastes. We went with our daughter and grandson at Easter 2004 to a CTC tour based in Leominster for four days and found the people very friendly, the tour suitable for us and the leader considerate. Our mileage was about 35 per day in slightly hilly terrain, with a longer option for the fitter riders. Another family-friendly organisation is the Company of Cyclists. Their annual holidays take place at different venues in England, from which daily rides are made. This is fun, with bikes of all descriptions available to trial-ride. Tourists on the Continent can travel out on the Bike Bus during summer months, as we did a few years ago through Bolero Holidays. |
