National Cycle Network Route 4

NCN Route 4 (UK)

A collection of 19 cycling routes.

Overview

About this collection

A classic cross-country ride linking London with West Wales. NCN 4 strings together traffic-free cycleways, canal towpaths, and quiet roads, with a few busier urban bits.

What to expect

Mostly paved riding with some gravel and towpath sections
Lots of dedicated cycleways, plus calm back roads through towns and countryside
Easy rail access for hop-on, hop-off touring

Route highlights

Rolling out along the Thames and through the Thames Valley to Reading
Kennet & Avon Canal from Newbury to the Georgian streets of Bath
The Bristol & Bath Railway Path (family-friendly and traffic-free)
Crossing the Severn into South Wales
Coastal miles through Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea on the way west

Great for multi-day touring or picking off city-to-city day rides. Hybrids and touring bikes are ideal; road bikes are fine, just watch the occasional rougher stretch. Expect varied scenery, from rivers and canals to historic cities and big seascapes. Check local signage for any diversions and enjoy the ride.

19
Routes: -:--
Duration: 681.7 km
Distance: ---
Avg. speed: 4,961 m
Ascent: 5,143 m
Descent

NCN Route 4 (UK)

Routes in this collection

All 19 routes in this collection can be opened on the map or in the Bikemap App for more details, where you can adjust them in the route planner, or download them as GPX or KML file. Use them as a template for planning your own rides, or let Bikemap navigate you along them directly.

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Official

NCN 4: Machen to Chepstow

Cycling route in Machen, Wales, United Kingdom

Ride a mellow stretch of Route 4 from the village of Machen to historic Chepstow. It’s about 55 km with around 300 m of climbing, mostly on paved paths, quiet roads, and signed cycleways. Expect an easygoing, low-lying run across South Wales with river views and small-town stops. Roll into Chepstow…

55.4 km
Distance: 309 m
Ascent: 343 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Corston to Chepstow

Cycling route in Corston, England, United Kingdom

Head out from Corston and roll west on NCN 4 toward Bristol, mostly on smooth cycle paths and quiet roads. Skirt the Avon, cruise the Railway Path, then aim for the Severn. The finale is the iconic crossing of the Severn Bridge into Chepstow. About 52 km with gentle ups and downs (~340 m), and larg…

52.5 km
Distance: 343 m
Ascent: 342 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Bath to Corston

Cycling route in Bath, England, United Kingdom

A quick, easy roll from Bath to Corston on NCN 4. Mostly smooth asphalt and traffic-free cycleway, with just a few quiet-road links. It’s near-flat and under 5 km, perfect for a gentle spin or family ride. Start amid Bath’s Georgian landmarks and glide west to the peaceful village of Corston. Ideal…

4.9 km
Distance: 10 m
Ascent: 7 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Bath segment

Cycling route in Bath, England, United Kingdom

Short spin on NCN 4 across Bath, mostly traffic-free gravel cycleway with a touch of quiet road. Expect a flat 6 km roll by the river or canal, with gentle rises and plenty of city views. Start and finish in UNESCO-listed Bath—think Roman Baths and Georgian crescents—so it’s easy to tie in a café s…

6 km
Distance: 24 m
Ascent: 14 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Bath to Pewsey

Cycling route in Bath, England, United Kingdom

Roll out of Bath's Georgian streets along the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath, cruising past Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts before quiet Wiltshire lanes lead you to Pewsey in the Vale. About 48 km and mostly flat, with long gravel sections, so bring wider tyres. Expect a mix of traffic-free path an…

47.8 km
Distance: 218 m
Ascent: 143 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Pewsey to Newbury

Cycling route in Pewsey, England, United Kingdom

Follow NCN 4 from the Vale of Pewsey to the market town of Newbury, mostly along quiet lanes and the Kennet & Avon Canal. It’s about 47 km with gentle rolling climbs and a few towpath/gravel stretches, so wider tyres help. Pass through classic Wiltshire and Berkshire villages, with easy cafe st…

47.3 km
Distance: 301 m
Ascent: 341 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Newbury to Tadley

Cycling route in Newbury, England, United Kingdom

Roll out from Newbury on National Cycle Network Route 4, tracing bits of the Kennet & Avon Canal before heading east on traffic-free paths and quiet lanes to Tadley. It’s short and almost flat (~14 km), with plenty of gravel and unpaved sections, so wider tyres are a plus. Expect mostly paths a…

13.6 km
Distance: 6 m
Ascent: 22 m
Descent

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NCN Route 4: Tadley to Eton

Cycling route in Tadley, England, United Kingdom

Follow NCN Route 4 from Tadley on the Hampshire–Berkshire border to riverside Eton. It’s about 52 km with gentle 170 m of climbing, mostly on quiet roads and signed cycleways, with a few gravel or path sections, so wider tires help. Roll through villages and green lanes before joining the Thames co…

52.2 km
Distance: 171 m
Ascent: 204 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Eton to Chelsea

Cycling route in Eton, England, United Kingdom

Leave Eton by the Thames and roll east on NCN 4 toward London. Expect a mostly flat ~64 km ride on riverside cycleways and quiet roads, with some gravel towpath sections. You'll skirt Windsor, follow the river into West London's parks, then finish in Chelsea near the Embankment and King's Road. Gre…

63.8 km
Distance: 182 m
Ascent: 199 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Chelsea to Blackheath

Cycling route in Chelsea, England, United Kingdom

Pick up National Cycle Network Route 4 in Chelsea and spin east along the Thames toward Blackheath. It’s a mostly flat, 16 km hop on paved surfaces, mixing cycleways and quiet roads with a couple busier bits and the odd stretch of paving stones. Expect river views, city buzz, then open green space …

16.2 km
Distance: 81 m
Ascent: 80 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Staines-upon-Thames to Weybridge

Cycling route in Staines-upon-Thames, England, United Kingdom

Roll out from riverside Staines-upon-Thames and follow NCN 4 along the Thames through Laleham and Chertsey to Weybridge. It’s an easy, mostly paved, flat 11 km spin with long riverside stretches and quiet roads. Expect towpath sections with pedestrians and a touch of gravel here and there. Finish i…

10.9 km
Distance: 14 m
Ascent: 13 m
Descent

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NCN 4: Machen to Aberkenfig

Cycling route in Machen, Wales, United Kingdom

A scenic NCN 4 leg from Machen in the Sirhowy valley to Aberkenfig near Bridgend. Around 45 km with roughly 550 m of climbing, mixing traffic-free cycleways and quiet lanes. You’ll thread past woods and old railway corridors, with a couple of steady pulls and easy rolling sections. Mostly paved, th…

44.7 km
Distance: 553 m
Ascent: 563 m
Descent