National Cycle Network: Difference between revisions
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*NCR 32: [[Bodmin]] – [[Truro]], via [[Padstow]] and [[Newquay]]; part of [[The Cornish Way]] cycle route | *NCR 32: [[Bodmin]] – [[Truro]], via [[Padstow]] and [[Newquay]]; part of [[The Cornish Way]] cycle route | ||
*NCR 33: [[Pill, Somerset|Pill]] – [[Clevedon]] – [[Weston-super-Mare]] – [[Bridgwater]] – [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]] – [[Seaton, Devon|Seaton]]; also known as the Wessex Cycleway | *NCR 33: [[Pill, Somerset|Pill]] – [[Clevedon]] – [[Weston-super-Mare]] – [[Bridgwater]] – [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]] – [[Seaton, Devon|Seaton]]; also known as the Wessex Cycleway | ||
*NCR 41: [[Bristol]] – [[Gloucester]] – [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] –[[Warwick]] – [[Leamington Spa]] – [[Rugby]] | *NCR 41: [[Bristol]] – [[Gloucester]] – [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] – [[Warwick]] – [[Leamington Spa]] – [[Rugby]] | ||
*NCR 42: [[Gloucester]] - [[Cinderford]] - [[Parkend]] – [[Chepstow]] – [[Abergavenny]] – NCR 8 at [[Glasbury]] | *NCR 42: [[Gloucester]] - [[Cinderford]] - [[Parkend]] – [[Chepstow]] – [[Abergavenny]] – NCR 8 at [[Glasbury]] | ||
*NCR 43: [[Swansea]] – [[Builth Wells]] | *NCR 43: [[Swansea]] – [[Builth Wells]] | ||
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*NCR 47: [[Newport, Monmouthshire|Newport]] – [[Fishguard]] | *NCR 47: [[Newport, Monmouthshire|Newport]] – [[Fishguard]] | ||
*NCR 48: [[Leicester]] – [[Bath]] | *NCR 48: [[Leicester]] – [[Bath]] | ||
*NCR 49: | *NCR 49: Newport – [[Pontypool]] - [[Brecon]] - [[Carmarthen]] | ||
*NCR 50: ([[Maidenhead]] – [[Winslow, Buckinghamshire|Winslow]]) | *NCR 50: ([[Maidenhead]] – [[Winslow, Buckinghamshire|Winslow]]) | ||
*NCR 51: [[Colchester]] – [[Harwich]] – [[Ipswich]]- [[Felixstowe]] – [[Cambridge]] – [[Bedford]] – [[Milton Keynes redway system|Milton Keynes]] – [[Oxford]] | *NCR 51: [[Colchester]] – [[Harwich]] – [[Ipswich]] - [[Felixstowe]] – [[Cambridge]] – [[Bedford]] – [[Milton Keynes redway system|Milton Keynes]] – [[Oxford]] | ||
*NCR 52: [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] – [[Loughborough]] | *NCR 52: [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] – [[Loughborough]] | ||
*NCR 53: [[Peterborough]] – [[Lichfield]] | *NCR 53: [[Peterborough]] – [[Lichfield]] | ||
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*NCR 62: the [[Trans Pennine Trail]], [[Southport]] – [[Selby]] | *NCR 62: the [[Trans Pennine Trail]], [[Southport]] – [[Selby]] | ||
*NCR 63: [[Burton upon Trent]] – [[Leicester]] – [[Oakham]] – [[Peterborough]] – [[Wisbech]] | *NCR 63: [[Burton upon Trent]] – [[Leicester]] – [[Oakham]] – [[Peterborough]] – [[Wisbech]] | ||
*NCR 64: [[Market Harborough]] – [[Melton Mowbray]] – [[Collingham, Nottinghamshire|Collingham]] – [[ | *NCR 64: [[Market Harborough]] – [[Melton Mowbray]] – [[Collingham, Nottinghamshire|Collingham]] – [[Lincoln]] | ||
*NCR 65: [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] – [[Middlesbrough]]; also known as the [[White Rose cycle route]] | *NCR 65: [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] – [[Middlesbrough]]; also known as the [[White Rose cycle route]] | ||
*NCR 66: [[Beverley]] – [[York]] – [[Leeds]] – [[Manchester]] | *NCR 66: [[Beverley]] – [[York]] – [[Leeds]] – [[Manchester]] | ||
*NCR 67: [[Long Eaton]] – [[Heanor]] – [[Chesterfield]] – [[Leeds]] –[[Northallerton]] | *NCR 67: [[Long Eaton]] – [[Heanor]] – [[Chesterfield]] – [[Leeds]] – [[Northallerton]] | ||
*NCR 68: the [[Pennine Cycleway]]; [[Derby]] – [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] | *NCR 68: the [[Pennine Cycleway]]; [[Derby]] – [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] | ||
*NCR 69: [[Selby]] – [[Skipton]] | *NCR 69: [[Selby]] – [[Skipton]] | ||
*NCR 70: Walney – Wear | *NCR 70: Walney – Wear | ||
*NCR 71: White Rose route near [[Northallerton]] – [[Workington]], via [[Appleby-in-Westmorland | *NCR 71: White Rose route near [[Northallerton]] – [[Workington]], via [[Appleby-in-Westmorland]], [[Penrith, Cumberland|Penrith]] and [[Whitehaven]] | ||
*NCR 72: [[Kendal]] – [[Barrow-in-Furness]] – [[Whitehaven]] – [[Silloth]] – [[Carlisle]] – [[Tynemouth]] (includes Hadrian's Cycleway) | *NCR 72: [[Kendal]] – [[Barrow-in-Furness]] – [[Whitehaven]] – [[Silloth]] – [[Carlisle]] – [[Tynemouth]] (includes Hadrian's Cycleway) | ||
*NCR 73: [[Newton Stewart]] – [[Stranraer]], [[Arran]], [[Kintyre]] | *NCR 73: [[Newton Stewart]] – [[Stranraer]], [[Arran]], [[Kintyre]] | ||
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*NCR 79: [[Boat of Garten]] – [[Spey Bay]] | *NCR 79: [[Boat of Garten]] – [[Spey Bay]] | ||
*NCR 81: [[Aberystwyth]] – [[Shrewsbury]] – [[Telford]] – [[Wolverhampton]] – NCR 5 at [[Smethwick]] also known as [[Lon Cambria]] | *NCR 81: [[Aberystwyth]] – [[Shrewsbury]] – [[Telford]] – [[Wolverhampton]] – NCR 5 at [[Smethwick]] also known as [[Lon Cambria]] | ||
*NCR 82: [[Bangor, | *NCR 82: [[Bangor, Caernarfonshire|Bangor]] – [[Capel Curig]] – [[Porthmadog]] - [[Dolgellau]] - [[Machynlleth]] – [[Ystrad Meurig]] – [[Fishguard]] | ||
*NCR 84: [[Rhyl]] - [[St Asaph]] –[[Llangollen]] - [[Oswestry]] | *NCR 84: [[Rhyl]] - [[St Asaph]] – [[Llangollen]] - [[Oswestry]] | ||
*NCR 85: [[Chester]] - [[Wrexham]] –[[Trevor]] - [[Llangollen]] – [[Corwen]] - [[Bala]] - [[Dolgellau]] | *NCR 85: [[Chester]] - [[Wrexham]] – [[Trevor]] - [[Llangollen]] – [[Corwen]] - [[Bala]] - [[Dolgellau]] | ||
*NCR 88: [[Caerleon]] - [[Newport]] (- [[Cardiff]] – [[Bridgend]]) | *NCR 88: [[Caerleon]] - [[Newport]] (- [[Cardiff]] – [[Bridgend]]) | ||
*NCR 91: [[Portadown]] – [[Tynan]]; includes a figure-of-eight based around [[Enniskillen]] known as the [[Kingfisher Trail]] | *NCR 91: [[Portadown]] – [[Tynan]]; includes a figure-of-eight based around [[Enniskillen]] known as the [[Kingfisher Trail]] | ||
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*NCR 224: Farnham - Medstead | *NCR 224: Farnham - Medstead | ||
*NCR 231: Isle of Wight | *NCR 231: Isle of Wight | ||
*NCR 232: Mitcham Common – Lloyd Park, [[Croydon ]] | *NCR 232: Mitcham Common – Lloyd Park, [[Croydon]] | ||
*NCR 235: Isle of Wight | *NCR 235: Isle of Wight | ||
*NCR 236: Portsmouth - Lyndhurst | *NCR 236: Portsmouth - Lyndhurst | ||
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*NCR 466: Valleys | *NCR 466: Valleys | ||
*NCR 467: Valleys | *NCR 467: Valleys | ||
*NCR 468: Trethomas – Pengam - Abertysswyg – Rhymney - Bute Town | *NCR 468: Trethomas – Pengam - Abertysswyg – Rhymney - Bute Town | ||
*NCR 469: Bargoed - (Fochriw - Rhymney) | *NCR 469: Bargoed - (Fochriw - Rhymney) | ||
*NCR 475: Caerphilly - Senghenydd | *NCR 475: Caerphilly - Senghenydd | ||
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*NCR 811: Valleys - Porth-Pontypridd (Rhondda Fach) | *NCR 811: Valleys - Porth-Pontypridd (Rhondda Fach) | ||
*NCR 818: Llangurig NCN81 high level braid | *NCR 818: Llangurig NCN81 high level braid | ||
*NCR 819: Rhayader-Strata Florida southern braid | *NCR 819: Rhayader - Strata Florida southern braid | ||
*NCR 820: Llanwrtyd Wells - Strata Florida/NCN81 | *NCR 820: Llanwrtyd Wells - Strata Florida/NCN81 | ||
*NCR 822: Aberaeron - Lampeter | *NCR 822: Aberaeron - Lampeter | ||
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*NCR 884: Valleys (Garw Valley) | *NCR 884: Valleys (Garw Valley) | ||
*NCR 885: Bridgend/Pontyclun | *NCR 885: Bridgend/Pontyclun | ||
*NCR 887: Maesteg / Afan Valley | *NCR 887: Maesteg/Afan Valley | ||
|} | |} | ||
</small> | </small> |
Revision as of 12:38, 27 February 2014
The National Cycle Network (NCN) is the national cycling route network of the United Kingdom, which was established by the charity Sustrans to encourage cycling throughout Britain, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. In this effort, Sustrans were aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.
Little of the NCN is on dedicated bike paths. Though many routes try to minimise contact with motor traffic, 70% of them are on roads.[1] The NCN uses pedestrian routes, disused railways, minor roads, canal towpaths and traffic-calmed routes in towns and cities.
History
The opening of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path (now part of National Route 4) in 1984, a 15-mile cycleway following a railway no longer in use, was the first part of the NCN.[2]
The original goal was to create 5,000 miles of signed cycle routes by 2005,[2] with 50% of these not being on roads, and all of it being "suitable for an unsupervised twelve year old." By mid-2000 already, 5000 miles of route were signposted to an "interim" standard, and a new goal was then set to double that to 10,000 miles by 2005. In August 2005 this goal too was achieved.
There are currently some 13,000 miles of signed cycle route to NCN standards.[3]
Routes
National routes
There are ten national NCN routes; these are numbered from 1 to 10. There are scores of regional NCN routes.
NCR Route 1 | Dover – Shetland, along the east coast, via London, Edinburgh, John o' Groats and Orkney |
NCR Route 2 | Dover – St Austell, along the south coast |
NCR Route 3 | Bristol – Land's End, incorporating the West Country Way via Chew Valley Lake, and the Cornish Way |
NCR Route 4 | London – St David's (Pembrokeshire), via Reading, Bath, Bristol, Newport, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, Swansea and Llanelli. |
NCR Route 5 | Reading – Holyhead, via Birmingham, the Midlands and the North Wales coast |
NCR Route 6 | Windsor – Lake District, via Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Derby, crossing the Pennine Cycleway |
NCR Route 7 | Carlisle – Inverness via Glasgow, incorporating the Clyde and Loch Lomond Cycleway |
NCR Route 8 | Cardiff – Holyhead, through the heart of Wales. Also known as Lôn Las Cymru |
NCR Route 9 | Belfast – Newry (proposed to run to Dublin) |
NCR Route 10 | Tynemouth — Cockermouth. Was regional route 10 Reivers Cycle Route. Return route for the C2C / Sea to Sea Cycle Route. Roughly parallel to the C2C and Hadrian's Cycleway. It is a branch of National Route 1. |
Regional routes
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Numbering system
The main routes have one digit (1 to 6 radiate clockwise from the south of England, 7 in the north, 8 in Wales, 9 in Ulster). Other routes have two digits, starting with the number of the relevant main route.
Of the many regional routes, each 'region' is divided into a maximum of nine 'areas', which created duplication, but as from 2009, regional routes have been renumbered with unique 3-digit national numbers.[4]
Routes are occasionally numbered to match the motorways and major roads that connect the same destinations; examples include NCN Route 62, which by connecting the two sides of the Pennines mirrors the M62 motorway.
Signage
The network is signposted using a white bicycle symbol on a blue background, with a white route number in an inset box, but with no destination names or distances. National Route numbers have a red background, Regional Route numbers have a blue background. The system of symbols is based on that used by the Danish National Cycle Route network.
Mileposts
One thousand "Millennium Mileposts" made from cast iron were funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network, and these are found along the NCN routes throughout the UK.
There are four different types: "Fossil Tree" (designed by John Mills), "The Cockerel" (designed by Iain McColl), "Rowe Type" (designed by Andrew Rowe), and "Tracks" (designed by David Dudgeon). The four artists are from each part of the UK, though all posts can be found nationwide.[5][6]
Outside links
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about National Cycle Network) |
- Sustrans - Network
- interactive map of the National Cycle Network
- OpenCycleMap.org Worldwide cycle map based on OpenStreetMap data
References
- ↑ "National Cycle Network". Essex Council. 2012. http://www.essexhighways.org/Cycling/National-Cycle-Network.aspx. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hesdin, Farah (2011-11-29). "The UK on a bicycle: the National Cycle Network". Bikenet.com. http://www.bikenet.com/articles/the-uk-on-a-bicycle-the-national-cycle-network.html. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
- ↑ "Why Advertise on Beds for Cyclists". Beds for Cyclists website. http://bedsforcyclists.co.uk/whyAdvertiseDetails.php#popularity%20National%20Cycle%20Network%20Popularity. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ "Route numbering system". Sustrans website. Sustrans. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/national-cycle-network/route-numbering-system. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ "National Cycle Network Mileposts". Geograph Britain and Ireland website. http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/1462. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ "National Cycle Network - Art - Mileposts". Sustrans website. Sustrans. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/information/national-cycle-network/mileposts. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- Sustrans, 2002. The Official Guide To The National Cycle Network, 2nd ed. Italy: Canile & Turin. ISBN 1-901389-35-9