Bike rides

Cycle an old railway up the rural eastern edge of Cheshire then meander back along a pretty canal towpath – without doubt, a cut above the rest

From high mountain passes to serene lake shores, this beautiful cycling route traces the physical and emotional journey of a couple dealing with the challenges of early-onset dementia in the romantic drama Supernova

Silver birch and mountain ash combine on the banks of this effervescent river, which carves and curves its way through some of the least-visited mountains in the Cairngorms

Cycle down quiet lanes, past upland hay meadows and alongside dramatic peaks in two of the least-visited Yorkshire Dales

Follow the banks of the River Exe from the historic streets of Exeter to the quietude of the Devonshire countryside, where otters slink and kingfishers spy

Pedal around picturesque fishing villages in the East Neuk to work up your appetite for some award-winning fish and chips.

Take a nostalgic ride through the high hills and lush valleys of the Derbyshire Dales

The largest equine sculptures in the world set the stage for a meandering canal-side cycle – listen closely and you can almost hear the hoofs that once trod these historic banks

The small island of Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde is perfect for newcomers both to Scottish islands and cycling

Ushered by westerly winds, wend along the north coast of Wales past working quarries, maritime remains and ledges of shimmering rockpools

Start from a site of ancient Roman history and end at a seaside resort that’s a hotbed of contemporary art on this gentle, wildflower-filled coastal ride

This Sussex cycle trail is best explored in mid-spring, when its broad, bushy verges billow with wildflowers and its overhanging woodland canopies resound with birdsong

Cycle from loch to sea along a 200-year-old canal, looking out for soaring ospreys, busy otters and prehistoric rock art

Discover tranquillity amid the drama of Elan Valley, a landscape of shimmering reservoirs, gushing rivers and wooded slopes that ring with birdsong

Cycle alongside the River Camel, a route once traced by whistling Victorian steam trains

Once visited by kings and queens, Epping’s woodlands, grasslands, heaths, rivers, bogs and ponds form one of London’s finest and largest open spaces

From an old smugglers’ village to cave-dwelling hobgoblins and ‘the town that never was’, this stretch of coast offers a fascinating blend of history and legend, best explored by bike