List of National Cycle Network routes explained

This is a list of routes on Sustrans's National Cycle Network within the United Kingdom.As the cycle network has not been fully completed, some sections of routes are still under construction.

Single Digit Main National Routes

NumberRouteMajor incomplete sectionsNotesMap
DoverShetland, along the east coast, via London, Edinburgh, John o' Groats and OrkneyWhitby - StaithesMap
DoverSt Austell, along the south coast, when completed.DawlishTotnes; PlymouthSt AustellOSM
BristolLand's EndIncorporating the West Country Way and the Cornish Way, via St. Austell, Bude, Barnstaple, Taunton and WellsOSM
GreenwichFishguard, in West Wales, via Reading, Bath, Bristol, Newport, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, Swansea, Carmarthen, Tenby, Haverfordwest and St. DavidsMap
ReadingHolyhead, via Birmingham, The Midlands and the North Wales coastWalsallStafford; diversions at Colwyn Bay.Map
WindsorLake District, via Milton Keynes, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Preston and LancasterCastletonReddish, BlackburnPrestonOSM
SunderlandInverness via Carlisle and GlasgowEastern section of C2C. Incorporating the Clyde and Loch Lomond CyclewayOSM
CardiffHolyhead, via Brecon, Builth Wells, Machynlleth, Porthmadog and Bangor, through the heart of Wales. Also known as Lôn Las CymruOSM
BelfastDublin, when completed, via Lisburn, Craigavon, Portadown and ScarvaSlieve GullionDublinMap

Double Digit National Routes

NumberRouteMajor incomplete sectionsNotesMap
Forms the majority of the Reivers Cycle RouteOSM
HarlowWiggenhall St Germans (south of King's Lynn), via Cambridge and ElyHarlowStanstead Mountfitchet; WaterbeachWicken; link to Saffron Walden; Shadoxhurst (joins Route 18) to Lydd (joins Route 2) OSM
EnfieldSpalding, via Potters Bar, Hatfield, Stevenage, St Neots, PeterboroughEnfield LockHadley Wood; intermittent sections StotfoldSandyAlso known as the Great North WayOSM
Tower BridgeBarkingGraysChelmsfordColchesterBury St EdmundsThetfordFakenhamSections around GraysJoins route 1 between Chelmsford and ColchesterOSM
Darlington – Stockton-on-Tees – HartlepoolDurhamConsettSouth ShieldsAlso known as the Three Rivers Cycle RouteOSM
(NottinghamGranthamSleaford)Connect route 6 in Belton, near Shepshed Leicestershire with route 1 in Lincolnshire near ConingsbOSM
(Basildon – Shoeburyness)OSM
Rochester – (spur to Maidstone) – Ashford (proposed) to Newchurch, Kent joining Route 2OSM
CanterburyAshfordTenterdenTunbridge WellsOSM
WandsworthRedhillCrawley – BrightonJoins route 21 between Redhill and CrawleyOSM
GreenwichLewishamCrawleyEast GrinsteadHeathfieldEastbourneSeveral sections are not suitable for road bikes.OSM
Banstead – Dorking – GuildfordFarnhamPetersfieldHavantPortsmouth – (by ferry to Isle of Wight) – RydeYarmouth – (by ferry to New Forest) – LymingtonBrockenhurstferry connections are required from Portsmouth to Ryde, and again from Yarmouth to LymingtonOSM
ReadingBasingstokeWinchesterEastleighSouthamptonCowesSandownOSM
BathRadstockFromeLongleatWarminsterSalisburyRomseyEastleighAlso known as the Colliers WayOSM
OSM
PortisheadClevedonCheddarWellsGlastonburyYeovilDorchesterWeymouthPortland BillPortishead – Clevedon
Cheddar – Glastonbury
Also known as The Strawberry LineOSM
IlfracombeBarnstapleOkehamptonTavistockPlymouthAlso known as the Devon Coast to Coast cycle routeOSM
OkehamptonBovey TraceyNewton AbbotTotnesSalcombeYealmptonPlymouthOkehampton – Bovey Tracey
Newton Abbot – Tontes
Yealmpton – Plymouth
OSM
Part of the Cornish Way cycle routeOSM
BristolNailseaWeston-super-MareBridgwaterTauntonIlminsterChardAxminsterSeatonNailsea – Weston-super-MareAlso known as the Wessex CyclewayOSM
Exeter St DavidsExeterBridge RoadJoins route 2 at Bridge RoadMap
BristolGloucesterCheltenhamTewkesburyEveshamStratford-upon-AvonRoyal Leamington SpaRugbyCheltenham – Tewkesbury
Evesham – Stratford-upon-Avon
OSM
GloucesterCinderfordParkendChepstowAbergavennyHay-on-WyeGlasburyGloucester – Cinderford
Parkend – Chepstow
OSM
SwanseaCaehopkinLlanwrtyd WellsBuilth WellsCaehopkin – Llanwrtyd WellsOSM
ShrewsburyBishop's CastleBromfieldLudlowHerefordCinderfordLudlow – CinderfordOSM
ChesterShrewsburyKidderminsterWorcesterGloucester – Swindon – SalisburyOSM
BromsgroveDroitwichWorcesterHerefordAbergavennyMerthyr TydfilNeathWorcester – HerefordOSM
NewportNeathSwanseaLlanelliCarmarthenFishguardNeath – LlanelliOSM
LincolnLeicesterCirencesterBathExeterCirencester – ExeterOSM
AbergavennyPontypoolCwmbranNewportOSM
(MaidenheadWinslow)OSM
ColchesterHarwichIpswich- FelixstoweCambridgeBedfordMilton KeynesOxfordOSM
(Stratford-upon-AvonLoughborough)OSM
(PeterboroughLichfield)OSM
(Stourport-on-SevernKidderminsterDudley) – LichfieldDerbyOSM
(IronbridgePreston)OSM
OSM
NorthleachWitney (-) OxfordThamePrinces RisboroughChesham (–) Hemel HempsteadHarpenden (– Welwyn Garden City)OSM
Manchester – PrestwichCheetham HillPrestwichOSM
MaidenheadUxbridgeRickmansworthHatfieldWareOSM
Fleetwood – Blackpool – PrestonSouthport – Liverpool – Warrington – Manchester – DoncasterSelbyHuttonSouthportThe Trans Pennine TrailOSM
Burton upon TrentLeicesterOakham (–) PeterboroughWisbechOSM
Market HarboroughMelton Mowbray (–) CollinghamLincolnOSM
HornseaHullSelby – York – MiddlesbroughAlso known as the White Rose cycle routeOSM
Spurn HeadHullBeverley – York – LeedsBradford – Hebden Bridge – Rochdale – ManchesterSpurn – Hull; Tadcaster – Branham; Mirfield – Brighouse; Castleton – FailsworthOSM
Long EatonHeanorChesterfieldLeedsNorthallertonIncludes the Nidderdale Greenway and Trans Pennine TrailOSM
DerbyBuxtonNew Mills - HolmfirthSettleApplebyHaltwhistleBerwick-upon-TweedThe Pennine Cycleway running up the spine of EnglandOSM
MorecambeSettleSkiptonCullingworthHuddersfieldHorburyPontefractAlthorpeCaistorGrimsbyOther than the long section forming a part of the Way of the Roses, Route 69 comprises a number of discontinuous, short traffic free sections throughout YorkshireIs western end of the Way of the RosesOSM
Barrow-in-Furness – KendalKirkby StephenBarnard CastleDurhamSunderlandW2W, Walney 2 WearMap
NorthallertonApplebyPenrithWhitehaven and WorkingtonWestern end of C2COSM
KendalRavenglassIncludes Hadrian's CyclewayOSM
Newton StewartStranraer and LochranzaKilmarnockOSM
GretnaDouglas (– Lesmahagow –) LarkhallHamiltonUddingstonOSM
PortavadieDunoonGourock – Glasgow – EdinburghLeithOSM
Berwick-upon-TweedEdinburghStirlingKirkcaldy - St AndrewsKirkcaldy - St AndrewsThe Round the Forth RouteOSM
DundeePitlochry, via PerthOSM
Great Glens Cycle RouteOSM
AberystwythShrewsburyTelfordWolverhamptonSmethwickKnown as Lon CambriaOSM
BangorCapel Curig - PorthmadogDolgellauMachynlleth (–) Ystrad MeurigFishguardOSM
RhylSt Asaph (- LlangollenOswestry)OSM
ChesterWrexham - TrevorLlangollen (- CorwenBalaDolgellau)OSM
CaerleonNewportCardiff(– Bridgend)Map
Armagh
Enniskillen
Almost entirely scrapped on safety grounds in 2020; just a couple of short sections at Armagh & Enniskillen remain.Map
DerryMost of this route was scrapped in 2020 on safety grounds - 21km remains at Derry and a short cross-border stretch between Lifford and StrabaneMap
Bangor & BelfastNewtownabbey & Larne - Ballycastle - Coleraine - Limavady - DerryMost of this coastal route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020; other than sections along Belfast Lough shore, only a few vestigial segments remain.Map
Formerly a circuit of Lough Neagh; now just Antrim - Randalstown; Lagan Towpath near AghagallonMost of this route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020, just 15km remains.Map
All of this route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020.Map
Ballymoney
Coleraine
Most of this route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020, less than 8 km remainMap
Most of this route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020, less than 2km remains, at the 'ECOS Centre' in BallymenaMap
Belfast – Comber; NewcastleMost of this route was de-designated on safety grounds in 2020, only remaining sections are the 'Comber Greenway' and a small section in Newcastle.Map

Three Digit Regional Routes

Zone 1

(CleethorpesBeelsby, Lincolnshire) linking Cleethorpes to NCR 1 at Beelsby

(SandyGamlingayCambridge)

(Eaton SoconCambridge)

Darent Valley (Dartford) – this follows the route of the long-distance path Darent Valley Path)

Ingrebourne Valley Connect2 scheme

Stifford Bridge and Purfleet, (following the route of the Mardyke Way (along the Mardyke (river))

Keelman's Way: Wylam – NCN 14 (along south bank of River Tyne)

Sleaford branch of NCN15

Morpeth

Pocklington - Hutton Cranswick and Kiplingcotes - Beverley. Part of the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route and The Way of the Roses route.

Barnard Castle - Whitby. A branch of the W2W route (previously regional route 52)

Kirkham Abbey- Hunmanby. Part of the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route.

Kirkham Abbey - Huggate. Part of the Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route.

link south-east of Middlesbrough

Scunthorpe Ridgeway

Towpath of Royal Military Canal

Isle of Sheppey – 'Sheerness Way'

MaidstoneAshford

MaidstoneTonbridge

Around the Hoo Peninsula (also known as the Heron Trail)

Aberdeen – Aboyne

Pencaitland railway path (RR 73) east of Edinburgh

Zone 2

Devon: South Brent – Dartington

South London: Raynes ParkMorden

(Beddington Park, SuttonSouth Norwood Country Park, Croydon)

Basingstoke Canal

Sussex Downs Link

Guildford – Chertsey

Farnham – Medstead

Isle of Wight

(Mitcham Common, MertonLloyd Park, Croydon)

Isle of Wight

Portsmouth – Lyndhurst

Totton – Romsey – Andover – Stockbridge – Kintbury

Honiton – Sidmouth

North Dorset Trailway

South Somerset Cycleway (RR41)

Wiltshire Cycleway

Wiltshire Cycleway links, Chippenham area

Ringwood – Wimborne Minster

Castle Cary – Keinton Mandeville

Bridport – Maiden Newton railway path

Devon Coast-to-Coast alternate braid

Devon: Ivybridge – Yelverton, also Ashburton and east

southern NCN3 braid near Holsworthy

Devon Coast-to-Coast alternate braid (Peter Tavy to Clearbrook)

North Devon coast (former RR)

North Devon coast (former RR)

North Devon coast (former RR)

Devon Coast-to-Coast Woolacombe braid

Zone 3

Bugle, Cornwall

NCN3 inland braid to Truro

Launceston to Tavistock

south from Bristol

north from Taunton

BridgwaterLangportIlminster

Exeter – Crediton

NCN3 alternate braid to Bampton

Zone 4

North Wiltshire NCN4 braid

Avon Cycleway (Bristol Ring)

Evesham – Cheltenham NCN45 cut-off

Bristol – Yate

Cwmbran – Monmouth – Ross (former RR30 and Peregrine Path)

Rotherhithe – Camberwell

Skenfirth – Kentchurch

Dulais Valley, South Wales

South Wales to Glanaman

South Wales to Glanaman

South Wales to Glanaman

Milford Haven

Cotswold Line Cycle Route: Worcester – Evesham – Oxford

Carmarthen – Llandysul

Cardiganshire to Newcastle Emlyn

Crymych – Cardigan

Nantwich – Crewe – Sandbach

Oswestry – Ellesmere – Whitchurch (former RR31)

Slough / Eton Dorney

Pontypool – Hafodyrynys (- Crumlin); (Aberbeeg -) Cwm – Beaufort

Valleys

Valleys

(Trethomas -) Pengam – Abertysswyg (-) Rhymney – Bute Town

Bargoed – (Fochriw – Rhymney)

Caerphilly – Senghenydd

Trelewis – Taff Bargoed

Edwardsville – Merthyr Tydfil

Abercynon – Llwydcoed

Salisbury Plain NCN45 braid

Chiseldon – Marlborough NCN45 braid

Fosse2 link to Daventry

Cwmbran – Brynmawr

Zone 5

Kenilworth – Balsall Common – Hampton-in-Arden

Nuneaton-Tamworth-Alrewas

North Warwickshire Cycleway (W) and Coventry link

North Warwickshire Cycleway (E)

Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

Sutton Coldfield Connect2 – Sutton Park to Castle Vale

Birmingham – Sutton Coldfield

Banbury – Towcester – Northampton – Thrapston

Northampton Norbital

Didcot – Wantage (former Regional Route 44)

south-east Peak District

Hartington – High Peak Trail

Etwall – Uttoxeter – Maniford Trail

Caldon Canal towpath

Newcastle-under-Lyme – Silverdale

Newport – Market Drayton (former RR75)

Lichfield – Hednesford link

Stoke – Kidsgrove via Trent & Mersey Canal towpath

South Manchester

Caldon Canal Leek Branch – the Roaches

Warrington – St Helens – Skelmerdale

Runcorn – Widnes – St Helens – Wigan – Southport

Anglesey north coast

Wirral – Hawarden Bridge – Chester (former Regional Route 89)

Congleton – Northwich (former Regional Route 73)

Rickmansworth – Chesham – Wendover

Witney – Carterton – Cricklade

former RR55 Redditch – Birmingham, and canal towpath to city centre

Zone 6

Preston Guild Wheel (circular route)

Sheffield – Penistone – Kirkburton

Worthington – Ashby – Moira

Harrogate – Knaresborough, also known as the Beryl Burton cycleway

Sherwood Forest – Southwell

Carlton-le-Moorland, Lincolnshire

Lincoln – Worksop

Bakewell – Sherwood Forest

Coxwold – Osmotherly. The High Level Option of the White Rose route.

EasingwoldUpsall. Thirsk area loop

York northern city route

Wetherby – Tadcaster – York

north Leeds

Derby – Ilkeston greenway

Bluebell Way: Thurcroft – Woodsetts, link to Doncaster and Worksop

north Leeds (Roundhay Park)

Monsall Trail

Winterburn – Linton-on-Ouse. Way of the Roses central section

Huddersfield – Meltham

Airedale Greenway: Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath Keighley – Shipley

Linesway Greenway: Castleford – Garforth

Huddersfield Narrow Canal east, and east from Dewsbury

Zone 7

Bay Cycle Way: Glasson DockWalney Island

Barnard Castle – Bishop Auckland (Walney 2 Wear alternative)

Great North Cycleway: Darlington – Newcastle – Blyth

West Kilbride – Largs – Gourock

BowlingClydebankKirkintillochFalkirkLinlithgowEdinburgh (Forth and Clyde Canal & Union Canal)

East KilbrideRutherglen – Glasgow – Kelvindale (- Bishopbriggs)

Clackmannan – Dunfermline

Stirling – Bridge of Allan

Star of Markinch – Glenrothes – Kirkcaldy

Alloa – Tillicoultry – Dollar

Tullibody – Alva (- Tillicoultry)

Milnathort – Perth – Lochearnhead

Newburgh – Auchtermuchty – Falkland

Newburgh – Newport-on-Tay

Hebridean Way: VatersayBarraEriskayUistBernerayLewis and Harris

Zone 8

Liverpool – Ainsdale (former Regional Route 81) (out-of-zone number)

Valleys – Porth-Pontypridd (Rhondda Fach)

Llangurig NCN81 high level braid

Rhayader-Strata Florida southern braid

Llanwrtyd Wells – Strata Florida/NCN81

Aberaeron – Lampeter

Radnor Ring

Gellings Greenway: Kirkby – Knowsley (Liverpool)

Valleys (Rhondda Valley / Pontypridd – Maerdy)

Valleys (Rhondda Valley / Treorchy)

Valleys (Ogmore Valley)

Valleys (Garw Valley)

BridgendMaestegAfan Forest Park

Port TalbotPontrhydyfenAfan Forest Park

See also

A non-Sustrans route, South West Scotland to South West England, 4500order=flipNaNorder=flip in total.

External links