NCN 2 – South Coast, UK

Ride the National Cycle Network’s Route 2 along England’s south coast. It links seafront promenades, cliffs, harbours, and classic beach towns as it runs from Kent through Sussex and Hampshire into Dorset and Devon. Think Brighton’s seafront, the Solent shoreline around Portsmouth and Southampton, and traffic-free stretches like the Exe Estuary Trail.

You’ll get a mostly paved mix of signed cycleways and quiet roads, with the odd gravel track or short push up steps. It suits touring bikes and confident commuters alike. Some urban sections are on-road and can be busy at peak times.

Tackle it in bite-sized coastal hops or make it a multi-day tour. Trains shadow large parts of the route, so one-way rides are easy. Sea breezes can be punchy, and a few promenades are tidal or shared-use, so checking local signs and conditions helps.

If you’re into big skies, sea air, and stop-for-ice-cream kind of riding, NCN 2 delivers—linking beaches, piers, nature reserves, and historic ports across the south coast.