*British Waterways is dead, long live the Canal and River Trust!

This is its successor for England and Wales, and its new website includes a guide to cycling opportunities on towpaths  – plus its Share the Space, Drop your Pace guidelines.

Towpaths make a great link between quieter roads, and may help you avoid traffic if you’re not confident on busy roads.   Take a look at an Ordnance Survey map to reveal the possibilities.  However, note that although most towpaths in our area are permissible by bicycle, that doesn’t mean they are overly bike-friendly.  Some may be overgrown, and during hedge-cutting times, can be strewn with thorny clippings.

*British Waterways continues in Scotland, but has been rebranded as Scottish Canals.