Lost Lanes Central England: 36 Glorious Bike Rides in Central England

by Jack Thurston

Overview

Jack Thurston, best-selling author of the Lost Lanes series, takes you on a freewheeling tour of the hidden lanes and forgotten byways of the Midlands and beyond, from the windswept hills of Shropshire to the big skies of Lincolnshire, from the crags of the Peak District to the comely villages of the Cotswolds. Graded from easy to challenging, with listings of the best pubs and tea stops, wild swim spots, viewpoints and accommodation too. Accompanied by a dedicated website, downloadable GPX files, turn-by-turn route instructions and detailed maps. All rides are accessible by train and include Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire.
- Enjoy the traffic-free trails of the Peak District, taking in dramatic landscapes, grand country houses and a wealth of industrial archaeology
- Explore the Cotswolds on its quietest country lanes and hidden byways, stopping at cosy pubs and breathtaking sunset viewpoints
- Follow in the tyre tracks of Edward Elgar to the summit of the Malvern Hills for some of the most splendid views of England
- Discover secret Birmingham on its vast network of canal towpaths and traffic-free urban greenways
- Ride high along the dramatic Shropshire Hills on the contours of Brown Clee Hill, the Wrekin, the Stiperstones and Wenlock Edge

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910636343
Publisher:	Wild Things Publishing
Publication date:	08/01/2022
Series:	Lost Lanes
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jack Thurston has spent most of his life exploring the British countryside by bike. As presenter of The Bike Show on Resonance FM, he has brought his affable, infectious velophilia to London’s airwaves, attracting an enthusiastic worldwide audience via the popular podcast edition. He has featured in a series of hour-long documentaries on slow travel aired on GCN+, part of the Global Cycling Network. Author of five books, and contributor to the Guardian, the Sunday Times, the Financial Times, the Daily Telegraph, Cycling Plus and Rouleur.

Table of Contents

Map of the Rides 8

Rides at a Glance 10

In Search of Lost Lanes 13

Heartlands 16

Practicalities 24

The Selection

Best for Wild Camping 30

Best for Wild Swimming 34

Best for Families 36

Best for Pubs 38

Best for Gourmets 40

Best for History 42

Best for Arts and Culture 44

Best for Ups and Downs 46

Best for Rough Stuff 48

Best for Weekends Away 50

The Regions

Peak District 52

Shropshire & Worcestershire 96

Gloucestershire 134

Heart of England 160

East Midlands 198

Organised Rides 242

Acknowledgements 256