EuroVelo 2: United Kingdom

Roll across Britain on the UK section of EuroVelo 2, the Capitals Route. This collection links the ride from Holyhead to Harwich: off the ferry from Dublin, along the North Wales coast past castles and beaches, into Chester, then canal paths and quiet roads through Shropshire and the West Midlands. Thread Birmingham and Coventry, cruise Warwickshire lanes to Northampton and Bedford, spin across the flat Fens to Cambridge, then on to Essex and the ferry at Harwich for the hop to the Netherlands.

Expect mostly paved surfaces with long stretches of cycleway and quiet roads, plus the odd gravel towpath or park link. It’s hillier out west, then steadily flatter the farther east you go. Suitable for touring bikes; 32 mm+ tyres make the mixed bits easy.

Why ride it? Easy logistics (ferries at both ends), great variety in scenery, and plenty of cafes, stations, and bike shops along the way. Signage leans on National Cycle Network routes; a GPS track helps where signs thin out.

Tackle it in chunks or make it a coast-to-coast tour. Tailwinds over the Fens are a treat—headwinds are a story. Either way, it’s a classic line across the UK.