The best cycling routes in the West Midlands Region

Embark on an easy touring bicycle ride along the Shrewsbury Canal & River Severn loop from Shrewsbury, a route that combines peaceful riverside and canal paths with rural landscapes. You'll cycle on mostly paved surfaces, with some fine gravel sections, enjoying scenic views of the River Severn and passing through the beautiful Quarry Park in Shrewsbury. This accessible 15.2-mile (24.5 km) loop involves a gentle 349 feet (106 metres) of elevation gain, making it an easy ride that typically takes around 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. Keep an eye out for wildlife like kingfishers and otters as you pedal through varied scenery.

This route is highly accessible and suitable for all skill and fitness levels, making it a popular choice for family-friendly cycling adventures. Its easy rating means you can enjoy a relaxed pace, and much of the route is traffic-free, particularly the section from Shrewsbury to Uffington, which enhances safety and enjoyment. The combination of tarmac and gravel paths makes it suitable for a variety of touring bikes. You can start this loop directly from Shrewsbury, a historic market town, and enjoy a largely traffic-free experience for a significant portion of your ride.

Discover the rich history woven into this trail, which follows the path of the old Shrewsbury Canal, an engineering marvel built by Thomas Telford between 1792 and 1796. This canal notably featured the world's first iron aqueduct and innovative lock gates. A significant portion of the route is also part of National Cycle Network Route 81. As you follow the River Severn, you will pass under several historic bridges and near the Shrewsbury weir, all while enjoying the backdrop of Shrewsbury's largely unaltered medieval street plan and timber-framed buildings.

Cycle a difficult 46.6-mile loop from Stratford-upon-Avon through the Northern Cotswolds, featuring rolling hills and historic villages.

Cycle the Mercian Way and Cotswold Line Loop, a moderate 35.0-mile touring route through the Malvern Hills National Landscape.

Embark on the Pole Bank loop from Church Stretton, a challenging touring bicycle ride through the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. This 26.5 miles (42.6 km) route, with a significant 2454 feet (748 metres) of elevation gain, takes approximately 3 hours and 1 minute to complete. You will navigate quiet country roads, stone forestry tracks, and grazed grassy upland paths, experiencing a mix of unpaved, gravel, natural, and asphalt surfaces. The trail features tough climbs and steep descents, leading you across heather-clad moorland with expansive views, especially from Pole Bank, the highest point on the Long Mynd.

Rated as difficult, this loop demands good to very good fitness levels due to its demanding climbs and descents. Be prepared for varied terrain; some paths can be loose and gravelly, and you might encounter singletrack sections. Inexperienced cyclists may find it necessary to dismount on particularly steep descents. The route starts from the historical market town of Church Stretton, providing convenient access to this rewarding journey.

As you cycle, keep an eye out for wild ponies and sheep roaming freely across the common land. The trail also passes through serene woodland areas like Rectory Wood and Townbrook Valley, and the popular beauty spot of Carding Mill Valley. You will traverse parts of The Portway, an ancient track along the crest of the Long Mynd, historically used by Neolithic traders. From Pole Bank, at 516 meters (1692 feet), you can enjoy impressive 360-degree panoramas, often extending into Wales on clear days, and even spot gliders from the nearby Midland Gliding Club.

Embark on the Severn Valley & Ironbridge loop from Bridgnorth, a moderate touring cycling route that spans 21.1 miles (34.0 km) with an elevation gain of 1337 feet (407 metres). You can expect to complete this journey in about 2 hours and 28 minutes. The trail offers picturesque views as you cycle along the scenic Severn Valley, through attractive woodlands, and past the historic Ironbridge Gorge, where you will see the iconic Iron Bridge.

For this ride, a mountain, hybrid, or gravel bike is recommended over a road bike, as some sections feature unpaved surfaces, chunky gravel, and potential mud, especially during winter. While much of the route follows a disused railway line offering a relatively flat gradient, other parts may be more demanding, and you might even need to walk your bike through certain segments. You will find various spots for refreshments and rest in places like Coalport, the Jackfield Tile Museum, and Ironbridge itself.

This loop is one of the most popular touring cycling routes in the Bridgnorth area, forming a significant part of National Cycle Route 45, also known as the Mercian Way. The trail connects the unique town of Bridgnorth with the Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its pivotal industrial archaeology. Immerse yourself in history as you pass by sites such as Coalport and the Jackfield Tile Museum, experiencing the rich heritage of the early industrial revolution.