Become a supporter
From Lakeland Leisure Park there's a flat start eastwards on the NC 700 with a serious 60 metres of ascent from the B5277 to Allithwaite, following Church road more or less straight through Allithwaite. The Pheasant Inn is a possible drinks stop. There is a pleasant small church (St. Mary's), on the LHS at the north end of the village. From Allithwaite it's a descent on the NCR70 (join at the junction of Church road and Green Lane) to Cartmel, and Cartmel back to Flookburgh is also virtually all downhill on the NCR700.
Length is 8.5 miles.
A more direct 7-mile loop with less ascent is possible by using Green lane (just east of the NCR700). A longer 15.5 mile loop to near Haverthwaite (similar to the Collin's Cumbria Route 13) is possible. This climbs steadily up the NCR700 from Cartmel up Beck side, ascending a total of 95 metres but pretty well graded, to just before High Brow edge. There is then a steep 160 metre drop down to Low Wood, picking up either the NCR700/70 westwards (or the cycle path) to Greenodd (adding around 2.5 flat miles along the river Leven each way). The route returns via the flattish B5278 to Flookburgh, with a slight easy up-and-over at Holker.
From Rodoscycling hire shop follow the busy, ugly main coast road (*rat-run variant possible) southwest to the junction with Ikaron, (just before the Castle at Kremasti) and turn left here, following this to the fork. Bear right here and go straight on (for around a kilometre) to the next crossroads. Straight on southwards, (or going left on Epar. Od. Pastidas and second left to the village for a drink in Pastida) until the Y-junction with the road from Pastida. Straight on (i.e. bear right) for @ 200 metres and take the next track road off on the left, ignoring side junctions for around 1 km till you emerge back onto the main road to Maritsa (Epar. Od. Pastidas - Messanagrou). Turn left (effectively straight on) on this road and then keep on the main road (going right at the Y-fork onto the unclassified road/track also takes you into the village) and at the next fork bear right for Maritsa.
Length is given as 10.8 miles, with a steady well-graded climb into the hills from Kremasti to Maritsa. Highest point is Maritsa at 125m asl, steepest gradient is 3.9%, 156 metres of ascent and 50 of descent.
To extend the route to Psinthos. Head south on Pastidas - Messanagrou road (looking for the monastery on the left hand side?) winding past Alexandros Panorama and wiggling up and down through the hills to Psinthos.
There is a variant* possible avoiding the main road if you turn off right from the coast main road just at Leonidas Confiserie: on a side street or probably rough track? (shown on Google maps but not cycle.travel) called "Timokreontos". Check feasibility!
Keep left at the T-junction at the end, following Timokreontos, and then swing immediately right - this is the unclassified coast track "Pappaflessa" which tracks the sea. At the Labranda Blue Bay hotel the track bears to the left passing the hotel on the RHS. Matoula hotel is on the LHS. Swing round right, keeping to the right past "Sunny" discount shop on the left. This takes you back to the seaside track. Follow this to Paralia Kremasti beach and just before the tennis courts, turn left onto Niriidon track/street. Pass the "Black Rose" hotel and suites, keeping on Niriidon till it emerges back onto the main coastal road. Turn left here and immediately right onto Ikaron - the main route to Maritsa.
Note - if the Pappaflessa track is unfindable or unsuitable you can turn off the main road at a side road beside "Aegean fish" shop - there is a sign for the "Blue Bay" hotel at this junction. Cycle.travel shows "Zorba's cafe" at this track.
Follow this road past V&K supermarket to the T junction at the end, turn left and ignore the dead end on the first right, ignore the second right - it takes you to the Blue Bay hotel - but turn third right past the "Sunny" discount shop to access the coastal track. This track is shown on cycle.travel's website. Doing this route adds 0.8miles.
A 21 mile loop from Auchterarder to Kinkell bridge, bypassing Crieff by taking the unclassified road to Gilmerton, through New Fowlis, then south through Madderty and Dubheads to Kirkton, then back west to Kinkell bridge to retrace on B8062 to the start.
Great scenery, and a possible short detour uphill to Fowlis Wester to the 13th century church to see the 8th century Pictish stone.
There is a similar longer (39 mile) route in the Collins "Cycling in Central Scotland" book - it goes through Findo Gask and Dunning (another fine church here) and returning to the start via the B8062. This road passes a monument to Maggie Wall who was allegedly burnt here as a witch - but there is no record of her trial and conviction, despite records of witches being usually very carefully kept.
Hills are easy except if you climb to Fowlis Wester. There is a 50 metre ascent between the B8062 and Gilmerton.
From Biggar to Broughton on the Tweed cycleway, looping back into Broughton on quiet roads, then taking the B7106 to the short minor road nothrwards into Skirling, returning to Biggar on the A72/A701. Scenic border country with rolling hills, undulating ride.
Penicuik - Musselburgh on NCR to Eskbank station, then B6392 road to Newton Village and connect to new cycle-path going from Gilmerton to Loanhead, through Bilston glen to Roslin, then B 7006, Left on B7003 and down across River Esk, Turning first R at Roslin Country park(?) and follow U48 unclassified road past houses and farm to access Penicuik-Musselburgh cycle path (sign on LHS). Around 25-26 miles, approx 3 hours
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
Log in with your cycle.travel account:
| Password |
Or simply use your account on:
