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Troll Trail Isle of Wight.

15 Places To Take The Kids On A Bike Ride

Cycling is a passion the whole family can share! Throughout the UK there are many beautiful and exciting family-friendly routes to explore, from woodland trails in Shropshire to disused railway lines in Northern Ireland and troll-lined trails in the Isle of Wight.

 

A fun, healthy and memorable experience, cycling is a rewarding activity for all whether it’s a short-ride around the park in an evening, a summer day-out or a weekend cycling trip. So, if you fancy pedalling as a family, take a look at these 15 places to take the kids on a bike ride!

 

Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trail, Trossachs, Scotland

 

The Loch Ard Family Sculpture Trail near Aberfoyle is an enchanting place for a family bike ride. The Great Forest of Loch Ard offers five different cycling trails, suitable for all abilities, with a range of distances.

 

Throughout the route there are many chainsaw sculptures and willow weavings, representing a range of local animals and birds to discover amongst the woodland. There are also several interactive learning zones where younger children can explore fascinating wildlife.

 

Calke Abbey, Derby

Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey Cycle SOS

The Tramway Trail at Calke Abbey, Derby is an easy, figure of 8 route perfect for families with younger cyclists. With the option to ride either the full 6.8 miles or shorter 3.7-mile route, the leisurely cycle through woodland areas and farmland is suitable for a range of abilities.

 

Families can discover the old horse-drawn tramway route, that connected Ticknall to Ashby and cycle under the many bridges and tunnels before enjoying a picnic or exploring the new recreation area Calke Explore. With natural play areas and wooden forts to explore, it’s the perfect place for a day of family fun outdoors!

 

Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Forest of Dean Cycle SOS routes

The Forest of Dean offers a range of cycling opportunities including a family cycle trail, boasting a comfortable ride and ideal terrain for little ones. Starting in the Cannop Valley, the 11mile circular route mainly follows an old railway line and boasts plenty of spots perfect for a picnic.

 

Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire

 

A moderate ride, the woodland trail around Comer Woods on the Dudmaston Estate in Shropshire is a great place to take the kids on a bike ride. Pack a picnic, and enjoy this 2.2-mile scenic route past ‘ancient’ trees and sweeping meadows.

 

Remember to keep your eyes peeled for a White Admiral Butterfly too as the Estate is home to the UK’s most northern population.

 

Kingston Lacy, Dorset

palace at Kingston Lacy, great place to take the kids for a bike ride

Boasting 8,500 acres of unspoilt Dorset countryside, Kingston Lacy is an ideal place for a bike ride with the kids. With stops at woodland play areas and a ride-along boardwalk, there’s plenty do along the trail which is on old carriage routes.

 

An easy ride with a short and longer route to choose from (20 minutes to 2 hours), the pleasant flat route winds through stunning forests as well as offering beautiful views of the Italian-style palace and parkland.

 

Pheonix Trail, Buckinghamshire

 

A section of the National Cycle Network, the Phoenix trail in Buckinghamshire starts at Princes Risborough running to Thame. Offering incredible views of the Chiltern Hills, the 7-mile trail follows a disused railway line and is a great place to take the kids on a safe, leisurely bike ride.

 

Spot red kite birds, discover artwork along the trail and, at the halfway mark, stop off at the family-friendly pub for a refreshment.

 

Nostell Priory and Parkland, Yorkshire

best cycle routes for kids UK

Home to a Woodland Cycle trail newly designed for families, Nostell Priory and Parkland in Yorkshire is a fantastic place to take the family cycling. The route is a simple 2.7-mile figure of 8 loop that can take between an hour to 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.

 

The route starts at the boathouse bridge followed by scenic views across Nostell’s Lower Lake.  Explore Obelisk Park, take the twisting path through the woodlands and cross colourful wildflower meadows before munching your well-deserved sandwiches at the Hardwick Beck designated picnic area.

 

Osterley Park and House, London

 

A beautiful green space in the capital, Osterley Park and House in Middlesex is home to a short (15 to 30 mins) and easy cycle-route around the perimeter of the grounds.

 

Families can explore the house and gardens as well as a leisurely bike ride at the Georgian Country Estate. Why not make a stop at Garden Lake to spot the large carp bobbing at the surface? Or enjoy food and refreshments from the shop and café at the stables.

 

Troll Trail, Isle of Wight

Troll Trail Isle of Wight

Beware of the Trolls! This traffic-free, family-friendly cycle route runs from quaint Merstone to Shide along the old railway line and crosses many bridges along the way. There’s also several art installations and hidden troll sculptures along the route, a highlight for kids!

 

Saltram, Devon

 

With an easy 2 mile trail through woodlands and alongside the Plym estuary, Saltram is an excellent place for a family bike ride with younger children. As well as the cycle route there’s the Pump Tack ideal for younger children to learn to ride a bike and gain confidence plus a number of play areas along the way.

 

The area also offers the opportunity for a picnic with idyllic spots such as under the amphitheatre with views overlooking the water. Cycle to Saltram House and enjoy a coffee at the stables, there’s also a longer route to Plymbridge Woods for more experienced cycling families.

 

Wallington Estate, Northumberland

Dragon Cycle Trail ideal for kids

An exciting spot for a bike, the Dragon Cycle trail journeys through Broom House Farm’s fields and picturesque woodland as well as boasting expansive views across Northumberland.  Adventurous little ones can follow the route through the suitably named sections such as Dragons Teeth, Dragons Brow, and Dragons Tail.

 

The route is considered easy. However, there are a range of route lengths for different abilities. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and the perfect picnic spot at the Upper Black Belt area.

 

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Take the kids cycling at Wicken Fen

The Upware Cycle Route at Wicken Fen starts at the visitor centre before exploring ‘Europes most important wetlands.’ The easy 9-mile circular route consists of parts of the National Cycle Route 11 and Lordes Way and should take around an hour and 30 minutes.

 

The smooth flat terrain is perfect for beginner cyclists and younger children and the route also crosses the family-friendly “Five Miles from Anywhere no hurry” pub.

 

Heaton Park, Manchester

 

At over 600 acres, Heaton Park is the largest municipal park in Europe. Perfect for families, the park offers large green spaces just outside of the city of Manchester. The comfortable 3-mile cycle route is ideal for younger children and passes plenty to do along the way including a visit to Heaton Hall, the boating lake, an animal farm, lush woodlands and an adventure playground!

 

North Wales Coastal Route

Cycle the North Wales Coastal Path

An idyllic place to take the kids for a bike ride trip, the North Wales Coastal Route offers 105 miles of mainly traffic-free trails. Starting at Holyhead, families can ride along the stunning coast to Chester through a number of coastal and historic towns.

 

Spend a few hours at the beach, visit a castle or enjoy some seaside amusements. There are plenty of accommodation options for staying overnight, or you could choose a shorter, traffic-free route.

 

Comber Greenway, Northern Ireland

Take the kids cycling on the Comber Greenway

Take the kids for a bike ride to the old railway line at Comber Greenway. The 7-mile stretch is a car-free zone starting at Dee Street, Belfast and ending in south of Comber near Strangford Lough loch.

 

Discover a wealth of history and culture from the Titanic Museum, the famous C S Lewis statue in East Belfast and take in the rural views.

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.