Enter Sustrans a charity formed around sustainable transport. It helped in 1985 to kick start the beginning of the National Cycling Network (NCN) by signposting a 15 mile bike trail from Bath along a disused railway line.
Fast forward to 2015 and there are now nearly 25,000 kms of signposted cycling routes in the UK some long distance national routes while many are shorter distance regional routes that head through lightly trafficked areas along roads, cycleways, towpaths and trails to showcase the best the UK has to offer (i reckon some of the most varied scenery in the world !)
Yesterday saw me jumping on one of those routes taking a delightful 30 km journey right into the busy heart of Exeter from Honiton Devon. A combination of road, bike paths and narrow lanes took me to the outskirts of Exeter before a twisting city route took over combing cycling with a unique form of hide and seek as I searched for the route signs that eventually took me into the central shopping area of Exeter.
Taking time out for a coffee on the churchyard green it was great to take in the beautiful ambience of the area before setting back on the return journey slightly wiser to the cycle signs positioning.
For those that think UK cycling would be a form of torture you really are missing out on some wonderful scenery & history !
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