Generic Touring Thread

So thinking of doing a last minute tour for a few days. Friday - Monday, but maybe add a day or two additionally.

Thoughts on where to go? Continent is an option. I'd prefer to camp.

(I've cycled to/from Devon more times than anyone really should have, so West Country isn't really top of the list).

Suffolk/Norfolk?
Bonus: not too hilly.

Depending on budget (as you would need some additional transport to get started), I'd look at the places where camping is enshrined in law - so Scotland or Scandinavia.

Scandinavia's just a bit too far for something this last minute. Could do Scotland. Done a small bike tour up there the last two years though. So despite loving it, think I should maybe try somewhere else. Maybe the North-West coast of France or something.

Bonus: not too hilly.

I like the way you think.

Downside: webbed appendages...

Went round Norfolk coast on the tandem, was really nice. Be careful though, the coast has cliffs and other such non-horizontal obstacles.

Thinking this now (although I suspect it's very much not 'not too hilly'): http://wayoftheroses.info/route

I've heard that there's a few very hairy descents on that...

You could do what my friend has been doing for a while and focussing on hitting up compass points of the UK? We went to the highest pub for his stag do... (Tan Hill Inn, N Yorks btw)

Sheffield Polo Andrew managed that one, so I'm sure you'll survive.

I looked at this previously but not got round to it. The second half is pretty flat. The first half isn't though

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/4171825

The Sheffield gang did it over 3 days, with a bivvy spot somewhere near Settle, and the YHA at York.

I think Kinesis do exactly what you're looking for at around the price point you want.

Edit: although the prices have gone up since I last looked. Thanks Brexit.

Is this the same/official route?

I think I'd do it over four, but with train in Friday morning, and out Monday eve. So truncated days... Need to look into logistics. But also need to do some work.

I'm not 100% certain but when I looked at it previously it was very close and there weren't any obvious differences. You can zoom right in to http://wayoftheroses.info/route to compare

Thanks, i'll have a look.

The Halo whiteline's seem good, solid and a good price. Not sure if they would be 9 speed shimano compatible though. I know next to nothing about this kind of thing.

Norfolk and Suffolk

You could start at Kings Lynn and then head for Wells via Sandringham , the Creakes and Walsimgham. There is a Campsite at Wells or Stiffkey. Unless you are up early avoid the coast road and from Cley ride the back roads up to Holt and then round the back of Cromer to Mundesley or Happisburgh. Beware, it's pronouned Haisborough.. Or you can get a train from Sheringham to Norwich.

Where are we now? Ah yes, in NE Norfolk. So drift down through the Broads and head south to Southwold. Great beachside campsite and you can avoid the A 12 by getting the ferry to Walberswick. Head S down the coast to Aldburgh and then you can get the train back to London from Darsham..

Hmmm. Something like this? https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/King's+Lynn/Sandringham+Estate,+Sandringham+PE35+6EN/Wells-next-the-Sea/Cley+next+the+Sea/Holt/Happisburgh/Southwold/Walberswick/Darsham/@52.6809437,0.6603481,8.79z/data=!4m61!4m60!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d77e2caa84773f:0x45f310134b25799b!2m2!1d0.4022963!2d52.7516798!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d78c20851f97a7:0xcdbc305a50a9fe17!2m2!1d0.5124889!2d52.8296856!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d771242ca1239b:0x48a6ef0ef85b7e10!2m2!1d0.848927!2d52.954641!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d76e7f2ec977d7:0xa9ce7ac939007aa6!2m2!1d1.042659!2d52.95308!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d768147573d50b:0x8966fb6feeb2b4bc!2m2!1d1.086747!2d52.909359!1m10!1m1!1s0x47d7524a251f5285:0x7903d36d7e7e3cad!2m2!1d1.5312848!2d52.8244176!3m4!1m2!1d1.5949918!2d52.6864798!3s0x47da00011840a571:0xb5cb0cce831119a0!1m5!1m1!1s0x47da1f58df5c221d:0x8e48e33cf4ebca24!2m2!1d1.680181!2d52.325628!1m5!1m1!1s0x47da21963ca37c39:0xb1c3a17a7317ca5f!2m2!1d1.661398!2d52.314994!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d98a2349c5f3f7:0x313bcee627078016!2m2!1d1.547176!2d52.274275!3e1

Is there any better cycling through the broads?

Or there's this: https://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/trails/?tc=PRO/905

I use Chap Nav and ancestral memory to navigate through Norfolk. I usually know where I am.

Yes, bang on

Here are some tips- go to Sandrigham via South Wootton and Castle Rising.
Reach Wells via Little Walsingham - Warham etc - or you can go via Holkham.

Cley - Holt and then Aldeburgh (the Norfolk one) perhaps down to Aylsham.

East Norfolk I am not so good on. Stay away from Yarmouth . Might be best to approach Southwold from Beccles/ Bungay..

We are at bridge of Allen eating toast. We are ditching Falkirk in favour of Dunfermline and forth bridge into Edinburgh. We might go to Falkirk on the train and ride back.
10 days, just under 500 miles. Liz is done with camping for now.

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This is a good route. As mentioned some of the coasts roads after Cley aren't flat in the way the Fens are but we aren't talking the Peak District.

Peter C Said: Cley - Holt and then Aldeburgh (the Norfolk one) perhaps down to Aylsham. East Norfolk I am not so good on. Stay away from Yarmouth .

Aldeburgh (the Norfolk one) is very nice but I would skip Holt and Aylsham and just follow the coast. Great Yarmouth is a bit 'kiss me quick/lager lout' but the Sustrans route 1 goes right through it and is well maintained. You can also cycle through it in about an hour and the there are some good chip shops for refuelling.

I think I'll see what the weather is like Friday morning. May get the train to Peterborough, ride to King's Lynn, get on the Norfolk Coastal Cycle Way, follow that, and make my way to Ipswich for an easy train back to Stratford.

Weather forecast is putting me off a bit right now.

Finished our tour with a 70 mile day to Edinburgh yesterday. 480 miles total over 10days riding.
Would happily continue back down to London if time/funds allowed.
Would pack more pairs of bike shorts next time and less washbag stuff, aside from that we used almost everything.
No punctures, no serious mechanicals.

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