Cycling Holidays: Find the Next Hidden Gem Biking Trail
The UK has an abundance of picturesque trails that are ideal both for solo and family trips. But there is something extremely gratifying in tackling the unknown and exploring those obscure routes, especially if you really want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Leisure Lakes Bikes, the UK retailer of bikes, full-face helmets, and bike accessories, has used TripAdvisor’s Hidden Gem Biking Trails data to rank the twelve lesser-known cycling routes. We factored in TripAdvisor traveller favourites, TripAdvisor traveller ranking, average Google search volumes, three-month change in search volume, year-on-year change, and Instagram posts for the trail hashtags. The two bike tours featured in the list were excluded from the data.
The top three hidden gem biking trails are Tissington Trail, Tarka Trail, and Kinnoull Hill. What is it that makes them ideal for a pleasant journey off the beaten track?
Tissington Trail
Running for around 13 miles, Tissington Trail follows the route of an old railway line, which runs from the city of Ashbourne through to Parsley Hall. The railway line was closed in 1967 and in 1971 Tissington Trail opened to the public, making it one of the earliest and most picturesque railway twists across the plateau of the white peak.
It goes through breathtaking views of the Derbyshire Dales and the small Tissington village, hence the trail’s name. The route is primarily flat and traffic-free with an elevation gain of 305m, making it ideal for an easygoing family trip. It comes as no surprise that the trail prides itself in the most average Google search volumes, a total of 12,100, and is also the top trail on our list.
Tarka Trail
Tarka Trail has quite an intriguing history. It follows the route travelled by the fictional character Tarka the Otter from Henry Williamson’s eponymous book around North Devon. 180 miles form a figure-of-eight cycling route that stretches across the picturesque countryside, old railway tracks, stunning sea cliffs, and vast beaches. The views are definitely worth a photo and the 15,043 Instagram posts attest to that.
The southern loop of the trail features the longest, continuous off-road cycle route in the UK. It’s traffic-free and ideal for both beginners and experienced cyclists. And with that, the Tarka Trail is the favourite route for travellers.
Kinnoull Hill
Kinnoull Hill is a real Scottish gem, located north of the city of Perth. Featuring a number of trails that traverse mature woodland treasures and breathtaking views over the River Tay, it’s ideal for cyclists of all levels.
The wide tracks across the road are perfect for a family day out, although there are some long hills to climb. For experienced mountain bikers, Deuchny Bike Park offers a range of jumps and off-road tracks for a good biking session. Kinnoull Hill is the second traveller favourite trail and third in the chart but we’re sure it will go higher up in the ranking very soon.
Setting off on a biking journey, either on your own or with your loved ones, is all about having fun and enjoying magnificent views. Make your next bike trip even more exciting by visiting these hidden gem biking trails.
Sources
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/tissington-trail
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/tarka-trail
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/kinnoull-tower.shtml
