The best traffic-free bike rides around The Outwoods

There are over 200 dedicated no-traffic road cycling routes around The Outwoods, catering to various skill levels. You'll find a wide selection, including 66 easy routes, 143 moderate routes, and 7 more challenging options.

The Outwoods and the surrounding Charnwood Forest offer a varied terrain for road cyclists. You'll encounter gentle undulations and occasional steeper climbs, though most elevations remain below 200 meters. The routes primarily use quiet, paved roads, making for a smooth cycling experience through ancient woodlands and rolling hills.

Yes, The Outwoods area provides several family-friendly road cycling options. Routes like View of Cropston Reservoir – Barrow Bridge loop from Loughborough Grammar School are rated as easy and offer manageable distances, perfect for a family outing. The area's quiet roads and scenic views make it enjoyable for all ages.

Many routes incorporate scenic reservoirs such as Cropston Reservoir and Swithland Reservoir, offering beautiful views. The area is also known for its ancient woodlands and pre-Cambrian rocky outcrops, providing unique geological sights. You might also pass through charming villages and enjoy the natural beauty of the Charnwood Forest.

Yes, The Outwoods has a 24-hour pay-and-display car park available for visitors. This provides a convenient starting point for many of the cycling routes in the area.

Spring is particularly beautiful, with vibrant displays of bluebells throughout the ancient woodlands. The varied terrain and quiet roads make it enjoyable throughout much of the year, but spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and stunning natural scenery. Always check local weather conditions before heading out.

The Outwoods itself features a café, which can be a convenient stop before or after your ride. Many routes also pass through or near charming villages where you can find additional cafes, pubs, and other amenities to refuel during your cycling adventure.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.5 stars from over 135 ratings. Reviewers often praise the quiet, traffic-free roads, the beautiful ancient woodlands, and the diverse terrain that offers both gentle rides and some rewarding climbs. The scenic reservoirs are also frequently highlighted as a favorite feature.

Yes, many of the road cycling routes around The Outwoods are designed as loops, allowing you to start and finish at the same point. An example is the The Labyrinth loop from Loughborough University, which offers a moderate distance and elevation gain.

For those looking for a longer, moderate ride, consider routes like the Quiet Road to Wymeswold – Barrow Bridge loop from Woodhouse. This route covers approximately 46 kilometers with around 320 meters of elevation gain, offering a good challenge while maintaining a focus on quiet roads.

The Outwoods is an ancient woodland and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so you'll cycle through areas rich in biodiversity. Expect to see diverse trees like alder, oak, and birch, and in spring, a carpet of bluebells. The region is also known for its unique pre-Cambrian rocky outcrops, some of which are 700 million years old.