North to south cycle route will showcase beautiful Shropshire

The new plans by Cycling UK would allow walkers, horse riders and cyclists the chance to travel from one end of the country to the other without ever seeing a single car.

And although the route connecting the north and south of our island hasn’t yet been finalised, Shropshire is high on the list of places sure to be represented.

Sam Jones, senior campaigns officer at Cycling UK said: “Currently Cycling UK is planning the exact line of our off-road LEJOG, but sitting high on our wish list is one potential line which follows the Shropshire Hills and the Long Mynd.

“The Shropshire countryside has a lot to offer road cyclists, but with this route we want to help open its wonders away from the road for the enjoyment of everyone: walkers, cyclists and horse riders.”

The route is expected to open in 2020, but cyclists will have to switch to minor roads for about a tenth of the planned distance.

The route will also travel through the north of Staffordshire.

“The plans are still being made,” Sam said. “These do include the potential to pass through Stoke-on-Trent on the way to the Peak District and the start of the Pennine Bridleway.”

The traffic-free route would use already existing hiking trials, piggybacking the system of national hiking trails, such as the Pennine Way, and other rights of way.

The new route was announced by Cycling UK to give an indication as to what the charity will be working on once it completes its England Coast Path, which is set to be completed in 2020.

Paul Tuohy, chief executive of Cycling UK, said: “Britain’s network of walking routes are envied around the world. In England and Wales, however, only about 20% of that network is legally accessible for bikes and horses.

“In 2020 the [England] Coast Path is due to be completed, which is why we’re announcing this weekend Cycling UK’s ambition for what should come next: an off-road Land’s End to John o’ Groats route open to everyone.”

The England Coast Path, the longest of its type in the world, will follow all 2,795 miles of England’s coast. It is one of 15 national trails, but only two — the Pennine Bridleway and South Downs Way — can be enjoyed from end to end by cyclists and horse riders.

A small group of riders from Cycling UK will test the first stretch of the Dover to Land’s End route on Saturday as they ride most of the 150-mile North Downs Way from Farnham to the Kent port.

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said it would take 15 years to get the last miles of the route ready for use. Hugh Roberts, founder of the modern Tour of Britain road race, and co-founder of RideLondon, Britain’s largest mass-participation road cycling event, said the route would create a new boom in cycle staycations.

Many cyclists try the trip from John o’ Groats to Land’s End, but currently have to travel along the county’s roads if they want to go through Shropshire.

The new track would take them onto the bridleways, and would also be open for those wanting to walk or travel on horseback.

The full details of the route will be announced in the coming months and years.