Long Distance Cycle Routes

Photo: Stephanie

Travelling long-distance over multiple days by bike gives you a completely different perspective of the land you’re travelling through. It gives you a chance to appreciate the details you might otherwise miss: The landscapes, the horizons, the people and the food. And it makes you all the more appreciative of your destination — especially as your own two legs got you there.

We’re incredibly lucky in the UK as we have so many beautiful roads, trails and long-distance cycle paths to enjoy. What’s more, they tend to be well-paved and easy to ride, which makes them perfect for practically any bike, be it one with race-ready tyres and a carbon frame or a heavier touring bike made of steel. For the most part, the routes are also well-marked and easy to follow.

When cycling, you’ll cover a surprising distance each day, whilst being able to enjoy every detail of your journey — things most people never get to see from the motorway.

Long-Distance Cycle Paths To Go

Choose from our ready-to-go Collections with handpicked Tours and lots of handy information, created by passionate people like you.

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An unforeseen incredible journey – cycling from India to Nepal

Bike Touring Collection by Robin Patijn - Farawayistan

The Pamir Highway – Dushanbe to Osh via the Wakhan Valley

Bike Touring Collection by Robin Patijn - Farawayistan

Lava fields, icy glaciers and river crossings on the Iceland Divide

Bike Touring Collection by Natt Williams

Bikepacking the Catalunya Trail in the Pyrenees

Bike Touring Collection by Katherine Moore

Hebridean hopscotch — cycling along Scotland's magical west coast

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

Traversing the Dinaric Alps — bikepacking from the mountains to the sea

Bike Touring Collection by Jenny Tough

Cycling pilgrimages in Spain - Camino Francés and Camino Finisterre

Bike Touring Collection by Tobias

On the crossroads of civilisation – Georgia, mountains to coast

Bike Touring Collection by Manivelle

The long distance bicycle route Berlin-Copenhagen

Bike Touring Collection by Radfernweg Berlin-Kopenhagen

The Moselle cycle path — from the Vosges to the Rhine in 18 stages

Bike Touring Collection by Mosel Radweg

A British Solo Adventure

Bike Touring Collection by Cycling Through A Pandemic

Berlin - Usedom: to the seaside in 4 days

Bike Touring Collection by Zoe von Rambling Rocks

Berlin. Fehmarn. Copenhagen. An adventure on two wheels.

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

The Rhine Cycle Path from the source to the North Sea

Bike Touring Collection by Johanna

On the Elbe and Vltava cycle paths from Dresden to Prague

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

The Danube Cycle Path from Donaueschingen to Budapest

Bike Touring Collection by Donauradweg

Lake Constance to Königssee cycle path

Bike Touring Collection by Bodensee-Königssee Radweg

The Elbe Cycle Path — cross-border cycling pleasure

Bike Touring Collection by Elberadweg

The Weser Cycle Path

Bike Touring Collection by Weser-Radweg

Bikepacking British Columbia — Vancouver roundtrip

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

A ride through Germany's Castle Country — from the Rhine to the Eifel and back

Bike Touring Collection by Wasserburgen-Route

Altmark round-trip in Saxony-Anhalt

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

Between nature and castles – exploring the Loire by bike

Bike Touring Collection by Guillaume Favez

Discovering northern Spain's stunning coastline – Camino del Norte (in reverse)

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

The right season

The best time for your trip depends on your priorities. The warmer it is, the more pleasant it is during the day—especially in the mornings and evenings. Unfortunately, though, the roads tend to get busier the warmer it gets and you’ll always find more action on the road in summer than in spring or autumn. One thing is also clear: in winter, it is not always advisable to embark on a long cycling tour—something your feet and fingers will be thankful for. No matter when you go, make sure you take more water with you when it's warm and more food when it's cool as your body needs more calories in cold weather.

Accommodation

How you choose to spend your nights will define the nature of your trip. If you choose comfort and rent a bed every night, you’ll have to plan your stages ahead of time. Camping, especially in the wild, will result in more gear but more independence. If you’re unsure, just try it out and see what your body and mind are longing for after a day in the saddle.

Bed and Bike

Kitty Terwolbeck, CC BY 2.0

How To Stow Your Stuff

Bike Bags Or Backpack?

If you are planning to ride with a backpack, try it out beforehand on long rides. Even the lightest backpack can lead to pain and tension after a while. Bike bags aren’t cheap, but they will be your friends for years.

Classic Panniers Or Frame Packs?

This decision depends mainly on whether you want to (and can) put a rack on your bike and how much stuff you want to bring. The advantage of frame packs is that they don’t need screws or other measures – you simply strap them to your frame. However, they carry less volume than classic panniers, which are attached to a rack.

Front Or Back Rack?

This depends on your personal taste. Classically they are attached to the back of your bike, however, this makes the riding experience more cumbersome. Having a front rack will make your bike more agile, but it takes a while to get used to the steering behaviour. Of course, you can use front and back racks to bring more equipment, but be aware that you will feel every gram on long distances. You don’t need as much stuff as you think!

Kitty Terwolbeck, CC BY 2.0