Top Family Cycling Holidays in Cheshire
On a cycling holiday, children will welcome any chance to express themselves creatively; consider purchasing an inexpensive camera and notebook so they can document their trip and keep track of important details such as destination stops. It could even serve as an informal educational exercise by providing homework for them to complete during their trip.
Find an operator offering package holidays for an enjoyable trip and seamless transportation of luggage between each day’s destinations. This way you don’t have to worry about finding accommodation and transport for bikes on each leg of your journey!
1. Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest offers miles of cycle routes perfect for family adventures. Situated in Cheshire’s northwest corner, this vast woodland takes its name from its ancient name of De la Mara (Forest of Meres) and now serves as an enjoyable recreational area where visitors come on foot, bike and horseback to explore it all on foot, bike or horseback. Comprising mature broadleaf and conifer forests interlinked by networks of open meres, mosses and heaths; Delamere is home to an impressive array of species found nowhere else!
At The Forest, whether you are an experienced cyclist or complete newcomer to cycling, you are certain to find an adventure tailored specifically to your needs and abilities. Furthermore, cycling holiday accommodation options ranging from cozy hot tub cabins with gorgeous tree-lined surroundings for an secluded break to homes offering breathtaking views over UK countryside fields are sure to meet every cycling holiday need imaginable.
The Salt Line is an idyllic family-friendly cycle route that follows an old railway track through a forest, providing newcomers to off-road cycling the perfect introduction. As well as Hawsker village and railway station itself, along your journey you’ll pass several attractions such as Solar System Trail which introduces children to planets while Borrow Pit Meadows offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities.
Forest cabins provide guests with the ideal accommodation experience, whether for couples, pets or both. Each has been decorated in soothing tones and boast luxurious extras such as gas barbecues on deckings and log burners in living spaces – not forgetting comfortable double beds of course!
This area also hosts several lowland raised bogs, commonly referred to as mosslands, that were formed approximately 10,000-15,000 years ago during the retreat of the last Ice Age when melting chunks left depressions across the landscape. Unfortunately 94% of lowland raised bogs across Britain have been lost due to drainage and mismanagement practices, yet you may still discover some fascinating places here in Delamere Forest.
2. Middlewood Way
Middlewood Way, once an abandoned railway track, has been transformed into an enjoyable walk and cycling path suitable for walkers, cyclists, horseback riders and nature lovers. Following along a flat and mostly level route following the Macclesfield Bollington and Marple railway through beautiful Cheshire East countryside with car parking, toilets and information points along its route.
At Rose Hill railway station in Marple, cycle hire stands nearby and rents out characterful post-office bikes suitable for children – complete with front baskets and jaunty styles – which can be hired out. From there the ride follows a gentle rise between hedgerows past an old farmstead before crossing Booth Green via an attractive stone bridge into Ryles Wood where at its end a wooded track veers off to the right and follows an undulating terrain before crossing Macclesfield Canal on an impressive red-brick aqueduct which feels more like tunnel than bridge!
As it travels past Booth Green and its hamlet of Booth Green, Middlewood Way quickly inclines to reach a junction with a lane leading to a church. After turning left here, the road quickly reaches a triangular junction with Middlewood Way; soon after turning right there’s an immediate right turn leading directly into churchyard where signs indicate the boundaries of Pott Shrigley parish; Cawley Lane soon turns right at corner onto Brookledge Lane which continues upward through trees until reaching Red Acre Farm Lane which connects at another junction alongside Red Acre Farm Lane at its intersection alongside another lane leading from Red Acre Farm lane.
This rural lane can be joined to Middlewood Way via a wider trail. Soon it veers right and descends toward Waters Green before the surface changes slightly to self-compacting gravel near Marple outskirts – still offering a fairly smooth ride suitable for any bike type.
From here, you have several options for returning to the station: you could either take a bus (see below for travel details), retrace your steps backwards or follow Middlewood Way by turning left at its junction and following Jackson’s Brickworks to Poynton.
3. Salt Line
Salt Line Restaurant stands out as an extraordinary dining experience with postcard views, outdoor patio seating and expert cocktails – something few other establishments can match. Owners Jeremy Carman and Greg Bailey have managed to add nautical charm (such as old ships’ prows, cedar shingles, white subway tile flooring and sea-green booths) without overshadowing diners’ experience – creating an experience similar to having an entire beach vacation for just the duration of your meal!
As well as offering tasty food and cocktails like blue cheese-infused vodka martinis, there’s also an electrifying dance floor and cocktail lounge staffed by an expert mixologist who specializes in creative martinis such as blue cheese shakes. Not to be outdone, the cuisine at Old Line Fish Co is truly unforgettable: oysters, lobster tails and crab claws served up on crushed ice in giant towers are sure to leave an impressionful taste in any guest’s mouth! Their approach emphasizes sustainability while supporting local fishermen – thus most of their fish comes through Old Line Fish Co while their Dock to Dish initiative which acts like an organic CSA of sorts by connecting fishermen directly with restaurants (and consumers) alike!
This easy family cycling holiday in Suffolk is ideal for beginners as the routes are mostly flat. Along these scenic bridleways and canal towpaths you’ll encounter stunning castles, picturesque countryside scenery and charming villages that you’ll take in during daily distances that range between 19-40 miles per day – break them up if your kids need some breathing room!
Cornwall, famed for its beautiful coastal scenery, offers some of the best cycling holidays in England thanks to its safe paths and abundant natural beauty. Rent bikes from Wadebridge’s Bridge Bike Hire (adult bikes start from PS13 per day), cycle along side Camel Estuary until reaching Padstow where you can relax with pasty in hand and stunning harbor views aplenty!
Strawberry Fields Cycling Route, as its name implies, provides an accessible cycling adventure ideal for families with young children or those new to UK cycling holidays. The mostly traffic-free terrain offers lush valleys, breathtaking coastline views and historic landmarks like Cheddar Gorge.
4. Beeston Castle Loop
With careful planning, family cycling holidays can be safe and rewarding experiences. To ensure an enjoyable cycling holiday for all involved, it is important to consider how children will respond to cycling distance and terrain; otherwise it could turn into an unpleasant journey with tired or cranky children at the end of it all!
Mercifully, there are many routes suitable for families across the UK that can be found easily. Chester Cycling Campaign’s seven Family Cycle Rides take advantage of quiet lanes and cycle paths to stay away from busy roads as much as possible – ideal for kids of all ages who can manage moderately strenuous rides.
Herding Hill Farm Loop is another family-friendly bike trail, perfect for those wanting a less strenuous cycling experience but still taking in all of the sights of New Forest. Along this route you’ll pass various historic landmarks as you make your way towards Windmill Wood – or join one of The Carter Company’s cycling holidays for even more enjoyment and breathtaking scenery – from historical sightseeing tours to natural play trails!
Cycle holidays for families that involve traversing challenging terrain often over long distances can be made more family-friendly by planning for return transport options – this is especially helpful if your children aren’t used to cycling over longer distances.
If you love the idea of cycling holidays but are worried about how your children will fare, seeking advice from professionals is always beneficial. They can advise on suitable routes and suggest accommodations near bike trails – like Swan Cottage near Box Hill for instance!
Stay at Goose Barn in Pembrokeshire to explore its exciting cycle trails, Neyland Marina, Westfield Pill Nature Reserve, and fantastic family games room – just minutes from all these attractions!
