National Cycle Network

Map of the National Cycle Network

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path

NCR Route 8 sign near Harlech

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. 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.

The original goal was to create 5,000 miles of signed cycle routes by 2005, 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.

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

NCR 11: Harlow – Cambridge – King's Lynn NCR 12: Enfield – Potters Bar – Letchworth – Peterborough – Boston – Grimsby NCR 13: Hackney – Chelmsford – Colchester - Bury St Edmunds – Thetford – Fakenham NCR 14: Barnard Castle – Stockton-on-Tees – Hartlepool – Durham – Consett – South Shields NCR 15: Nottingham – Grantham – Sleaford) NCR 16: Basildon – Shoeburyness) NCR 17: Rochester – (spur to Maidstone) – Ashford (proposed) to Newchurch, Kent joining Route 2 NCR 18: Canterbury – Ashford – Tenterden – Tunbridge Wells NCR 20: Crawley – Brighton NCR 21: Greenwich – Lewisham – Crawley – East Grinstead – Heathfield – Eastbourne NCR 22: Banstead – Dorking – Guildford – Farnham – Petersfield – Havant – Portsmouth – (by ferry to Isle of Wight) – Ryde – Yarmouth – (by ferry to New Forest) – Lymington – Brockenhurst NCR 23: Reading – Basingstoke – Alton – Eastleigh – Isle of Wight) NCR 24: Bath – Radstock – Frome (section alias the Colliers Way) – Warminster – Salisbury – Eastleigh NCR 25: Longleat – Gillingham – Poole NCR 26: Clevedon – Wells – Castle Cary – Yeovil – Dorchester NCR 27: Ilfracombe – Plymouth; also known as the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route & includes part of the Tarka Trail NCR 28: Okehampton – Newton Abbot – Totnes – Salcombe NCR 32: Bodmin – Truro, via Padstow and Newquay; part of The Cornish Way cycle route NCR 33: Pill – Clevedon – Weston-super-Mare – Bridgwater – Chard – Seaton; also known as the Wessex Cycleway NCR 41: Bristol – Gloucester – Stratford-upon-Avon – Warwick – Leamington Spa – Rugby NCR 42: Gloucester - Cinderford - Parkend – Chepstow – Abergavenny – NCR 8 at Glasbury NCR 43: Swansea – Builth Wells NCR 44: Shrewsbury - Bishop's Castle - Bromfield - Ludlow - Leominster – Cinderford NCR 45: Salisbury – Chester NCR 46: Droitwich – Neath NCR 47: Newport – Fishguard NCR 48: Leicester – Bath NCR 49: Newport – Pontypool - Brecon - Carmarthen NCR 50: (Maidenhead – Winslow) NCR 51: Colchester – Harwich – Ipswich - Felixstowe – Cambridge – Bedford – Milton Keynes – Oxford NCR 52: Stratford-upon-Avon – Loughborough NCR 53: Peterborough – Lichfield NCR 54: Stourport-on-Severn – Kidderminster – Dudley – Lichfield – Derby NCR 55: Ironbridge – Preston NCR 56: Chester – Liverpool, via Wallasey NCR 57: Northleach – Witney – Oxford – Thame – Princes Risborough – Chesham – Hemel Hempstead – Harpenden – Welwyn Garden City NCR 61: Maidenhead – Uxbridge – Rickmansworth – Hatfield – Ware NCR 62: the Trans Pennine Trail, Southport – Selby NCR 63: Burton upon Trent – Leicester – Oakham – Peterborough – Wisbech NCR 64: Market Harborough – Melton Mowbray – Collingham – Lincoln NCR 65: Hull – Middlesbrough; also known as the White Rose cycle route NCR 66: Beverley – York – Leeds – Manchester NCR 67: Long Eaton – Heanor – Chesterfield – Leeds – Northallerton NCR 68: the Pennine Cycleway; Derby – Berwick-upon-Tweed NCR 69: Selby – Skipton NCR 70: Walney – Wear NCR 71: White Rose route near Northallerton – Workington, via Appleby-in-Westmorland, Penrith and Whitehaven NCR 72: Kendal – Barrow-in-Furness – Whitehaven – Silloth – Carlisle – Tynemouth (includes Hadrian's Cycleway) NCR 73: Newton Stewart – Stranraer, Arran, Kintyre NCR 74: Gretna – Douglas – Lesmahagow – Larkhall – Hamilton – Uddingston NCR 75: Gourock – Glasgow – Edinburgh; also known as the Clyde to Forth cycle route NCR 76: Berwick-upon-Tweed - Edinburgh – Stirling - Kirkcaldy – St Andrews (the Round the Forth Route) NCR 77: Dundee – Pitlochry, via Perth NCR 78: Campbeltown – Inverness (Great Glens Cycle Route) NCR 79: Boat of Garten – Spey Bay NCR 81: Aberystwyth – Shrewsbury – Telford – Wolverhampton – NCR 5 at Smethwick also known as Lon Cambria NCR 82: Bangor – Capel Curig – Porthmadog - Dolgellau - Machynlleth – Ystrad Meurig – Fishguard NCR 84: Rhyl - St Asaph – Llangollen - Oswestry NCR 85: Chester - Wrexham – Trevor - Llangollen – Corwen - Bala - Dolgellau NCR 88: Caerleon - Newport (- Cardiff – Bridgend) NCR 91: Portadown – Tynan; includes a figure-of-eight based around Enniskillen known as the Kingfisher Trail NCR 92: Enniskillen – Londonderry NCR 93: Newry – Ballycastle NCR 94: A circuit of Lough Neagh; also known as the Loughshore Trail NCR 95: Tynan – Pettigo, via Lough Neagh and Newtownstewart. NCR 96: Toome – Portglenone – Coleraine NCR 122: Sandy - Gamlingay - Cambridge NCR 123: Eaton Socon - Cambridge NCR 125: Darent Valley (Dartford) - this follows the route of the long distance path Darent Valley Path) NCR 136: Ingrebourne Valley Connect2 scheme NCR 137: Stifford Bridge and Purfleet, (following the route of the Mardyke Way along the Mardyke) NCR 141: Keelman's Way: Wylam - NCN 14 (along south bank of River Tyne)

NCR 151: Sleaford branch of NCN15 NCR 155: Morpeth NCR 164: Yorkshire Wolds (inc. Way of the Roses short-cut) NCR 165: Walney to Wear alternate route (Barnard Castle to Whitby) NCR 166: near Malton to Hunmanby NCR 167: NCN164 to near Malton NCR 168: link SE of Middlesbrough NCR 169: Scunthorpe Ridgeway NCR 172: Towpath of Royal Military Canal NCR 174: Isle of Sheppey - 'Sheerness Way' NCR 177: Maidstone - Ashford NCR 178: Maidstone - Tonbridge NCR 195: Aberdeen – Aboyne NCR 196: Pencaitland railway path (RR 73) east of Edinburgh NCR 207: Devon: South Brent - Dartington NCR 208: NE Surrey; Raynes Park - Morden NCR 212: Beddington Park – South Norwood Country Park, Croydon NCR 221: Basingstoke Canal NCR 222: Sussex Downs Link NCR 223: Guildford - Chertsey NCR 224: Farnham - Medstead NCR 231: Isle of Wight NCR 232: Mitcham Common – Lloyd Park, Croydon NCR 235: Isle of Wight NCR 236: Portsmouth - Lyndhurst NCR 244: Two Tunnels Greenway, Bath NCR 246: Totton - Romsey - Andover - Stockbridge - Kintbury NCR 248: Honiton - Sidmouth NCR 250: North Dorset Trailway NCR 253: South Somerset Cycleway (RR41) NCR 254: Wiltshire Cycleway NCR 255: Wiltshire Cycleway links, Chippenham area NCR 256: Ringwood - Wimborne Minster NCR 264: Castle Cary - Keinton Mandeville NCR 267: Bridport - Maiden Newton railway path NCR 270: Devon Coast-to-Coast alternate braid NCR 272: Devon: Ivybridge - Yelverton, also Ashburton and east NCR 273: southern NCN3 braid near Holsworthy NCR 274: Devon Coast-to-Coast alternate braid NCR 275: North Devon coast (former RR) NCR 276: North Devon coast (former RR) NCR 277: North Devon coast (former RR) NCR 278: Devon Coast-to-Coast Woolacombe braid NCR 305: Bugle, Cornwall NCR 326: NCN3 inland braid to Truro NCR 334: south from Bristol NCR 338: north from Taunton NCR 339: Bridgwater - Ilminster NCR 341: Exeter - Crediton NCR 344: NCN3 alternate braid to Bampton NCR 403: North Wiltshire NCN4 braid NCR 410: Avon Cycleway NCR 413: Evesham - Cheltenham NCN45 cut-off NCR 416: Bristol - Yate NCR 423: Cwmbran - Monmouth - Ross (former RR30 and Peregrine Path) NCR 425: Docklands - Camberwell NCR 426: Skenfirth - Kentchurch NCR 436: Dulais Valley, South Wales NCR 437: to Glanaman NCR 438: to Glanaman NCR 439: to Glanaman NCR 440: Milford Haven NCR 442: Cotswold Line Cycle Route: Worcester - Evesham - Oxford NCR 446: Carmarthen - Llandysul NCR 447: Cardigan to Newcastle Emlyn NCR 448: Crymych - Cardigan NCR 451: Nantwich - Crewe - Sandbach NCR 455: Oswestry - Ellesmere - Whitchurch (former RR31) NCR 461: Slough / Eton Dorney NCR 465: Pontypool - Hafodyrynys – Crumlin; Aberbeeg – Cwm – Beaufort NCR 466: Valleys NCR 467: Valleys NCR 468: Trethomas – Pengam - Abertysswyg – Rhymney - Bute Town NCR 469: Bargoed - (Fochriw - Rhymney) NCR 475: Caerphilly - Senghenydd NCR 476: Trelewis - Taff Bargoed NCR 477: Edwardsville - Merthyr Tydfil NCR 478: Abercynon - Llwydcoed NCR 481: Salisbury Plain NCN45 braid NCR 482: Chiseldon - Marlborough NCN45 braid NCR 485: Fosse2 link to Daventry NCR 492: Cwmbran - Brynmawr

NCR 523: Kenilworth - Balsall Common - Hampton-in-Arden NCR 524: Nuneaton-Tamworth-Alrewas NCR 525: North Warwickshire Cycleway (W) and Coventry link NCR 526: North Warwickshire Cycleway (E) NCR 533: Birmingham & Fazeley Canal NCR 534: Sutton Coldfield Connect2 - Sutton Park to Castle Vale NCR 535: Birmingham - Sutton Coldfield NCR 536: Banbury - Towcester - Northampton - Thrapston NCR 539: Northampton Norbital NCR 544: Didcot - Wantage (former Regional Route 44) NCR 547: south-east Peak District NCR 548: Hartington - High Peak Trail NCR 549: Etwall - Uttoxeter - Maniford Trail NCR 550: Caldon Canal towpath NCR 552: Newport - Market Drayton (former RR75) NCR 554: Lichfield - Hednesford link NCR 555: Stoke - Kidsgrove via Trent & Mersey Canal towpath NCR 558: South Manchester NCR 559: Caldon Canal Leek Branch - the Roaches NCR 561: Warrington - St Helens - Skelmerdale NCR 562: Runcorn - Widnes - St Helens - Wigan - Southport NCR 566: Anglesey north coast NCR 568: Wirral - Hawarden Bridge - Chester (former Regional Route 89) NCR 573: Congleton - Northwich (former Regional Route 73) NCR 576: Rickmansworth - Chesham - Wendover NCR 577: Witney - Carterton - Cricklade NCR 585: former RR55 Redditch - Birmingham, and canal towpath to city centre NCR 622: Preston Guild Wheel (circular route) NCR 627: Sheffield - Penistone - Kirkburton NCR 633: Worthington - Ashby - Moira NCR 636: 'Way of the Roses' southern braid: Appletreewick - Knaresborough NCR 646: Carlton-le-Moorland, Lincolnshire NCR 647: Lincoln - Worksop NCR 648: Worksop area NCR 656: Thirsk area loop NCR 657: Thirsk area loop NCR 658: York northern city route NCR 665: East Leeds - Tadcaster - Wetherby - York NCR 668: north Leeds NCR 672: Derby-Ilkeston greenway NCR 674: Bluebell Way: Thurcroft - Woodsetts, link to Doncaster and Worksop NCR 676: Mansfield NCR 677: north Leeds (Roundhay Park) NCR 680: Monsall Trail NCR 681: Pennine Cycleway moorland route from Hebden Bridge NCR 686: Pennine Cycleway military land route from Bellingham NCR 688: Way of the Roses central section NCR 689: Huddersfield - Meltham NCR 696: Airedale Greenway: Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath Keighley - Shipley NCR 697: Linesway Greenway: Castleford - Garforth NCR 699: Huddersfield Narrow Canal east, and east from Dewsbury NCR 715: Barnard Castle - Bishop Auckland (Walney 2 Wear alternative) NCR 725: Great North Cycleway: Darlington - Newcastle - Blyth NCR 753: West Kilbride - Largs - Gourock NCR 754: Bowling - Clydebank - Kirkintilloch - Falkirk - Linlithgow - Edinburgh (Forth & Clyde Canal & Union Canal) NCR 756: East Kilbride – Rutherglen – Glasgow - Kelvindale (- Bishopbriggs) NCR 764: Clackmannan - Dunfermline NCR 765: Stirling - Bridge of Allan NCR 766: Star of Markinch - Glenrothes - Kirkcaldy NCR 767: Alloa - Tillicoultry - Dollar NCR 768: Tullibody - Alva (- Tillicoultry) NCR 775: Milnathort - Perth - Lochearnhead NCR 776: Newburgh - Auchtermuchty - Falkland NCR 777: Newburgh - Newport-on-Tay NCR 810: Liverpool - Ainsdale (former Regional Route 81) NCR 811: Valleys - Porth-Pontypridd (Rhondda Fach) NCR 818: Llangurig NCN81 high level braid NCR 819: Rhayader - Strata Florida southern braid NCR 820: Llanwrtyd Wells - Strata Florida/NCN81 NCR 822: Aberaeron - Lampeter NCR 825: Radnor Ring NCR 862: Gellings Greenway: Kirkby - Knowsley (Liverpool) NCR 881: Valleys (Rhondda Valley / Pontypridd - Maerdy) NCR 882: Valleys (Rhondda Valley / Treorchy) NCR 883: Valleys (Ogmore Valley) NCR 884: Valleys (Garw Valley) NCR 885: Bridgend/Pontyclun NCR 887: Maesteg/Afan Valley

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.

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

A NCN "Millennium Milepost"

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.

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

• Sustrans, 2002. The Official Guide To The National Cycle Network, 2nd ed. Italy: Canile & Turin. ISBN 1-901389-35-9