Disused lines with cycle paths

[Wildrover]

Edinburgh a fine Victorian legacy, as I understand it the lines and yards purchased By City of Edinburgh, made into roads, housing sites and miles of multi use paths, which are so popular during lock down the council have found large new signs, to regulate the traffic, I think the cyclists may go as fast as the former trains, this shot Craighall Road, I think between Leith Walk station and Granton Road station, exit of Victoria Park, Caledonian, with the refurbished
Newhaven Station a short distance North of the location.

 

[Jamesrob637]

The old Liverpool Loop line via Gateacre

The Middlewood Way.

Doing part of the former tomorrow and done part of the latter!

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Taff Trail which stitches together a number of disused railways and canal tow paths to provide a link between Cardiff Bay and Brecon.

Heading north and using the easterly route, the path follows the routes of the Glamorganshire Canal, the Rhymney Railway, the Alexandra Docks & Railway Company, the Merthyr and Penydarren Tramroad (of Trevithick fame), the Glamorganshire Canal (again), the Brecon & Merthyr Railway and the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

That's four different railways and two different canals in the space of fifty five miles. That has to some kind of record!

 

[Mikey C]

It's busy though - social distancing has been a challenge on this route over the last few weeks! it's also very dark at night, if you happen to have been to Haughmond Hill to look for glow worms or nightjars (but I may be the only person who actually cycles there and back for this).

I'd like to see the glowworms there, will have to return one day...

 

[sk688]

Bristol and Bath Railway Path , is pretty good and flat

the Two Tunnels Greenway from the old S&D railway , is pretty good and the Combe Down Tunnel now has a pretty cool lighting installation within it

 

[Midnight Sun]

the Two Tunnels Greenway from the old S&D railway , is pretty good and the Combe Down Tunnel now has a pretty cool lighting installation within it

Some may need a banker as far as Combe Down Tunnel when heading out of Bath.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

Chester Greenway - Mickle Trafford to Shotton

 

[InOban]

Edinburgh a fine Victorian legacy, as I understand it the lines and yards purchased By City of Edinburgh, made into roads, housing sites and miles of multi use paths, which are so popular during lock down the council have found large new signs, to regulate the traffic, I think the cyclists may go as fast as the former trains, this shot Craighall Road, I think between Leith Walk station and Granton Road station, exit of Victoria Park, Caledonian, with the refurbished
Newhaven Station a short distance North of the location.View attachment 78290

I wondered when a poster would highlight the Edinburgh paths! As well as the network which linked the Princes Street lines to Leith docks there are two others of note on the South side - the Innocent route on the SE side of Arthur's seat, which was the first line in Edinburgh; and the loop from Craiglockart to Balerno which follows the Water of Leith. There also converted lines South of Edinburgh.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wondered when a poster would highlight the Edinburgh paths! As well as the network which linked the Princes Street lines to Leith docks there are two others of note on the South side - the Innocent route on the SE side of Arthur's seat, which was the first line in Edinburgh; and the loop from Craiglockart to Balerno which follows the Water of Leith. There also converted lines South of Edinburgh.

Indeed, I've worked up there and run (but not cycled) a few of these. Re Arthur's Seat is it one of the roads now?

(Obviously wee Jimmy Krankie won't let me visit at the moment! )

 

[unlevel42]

Systrans interactive map of the national cycle network
Lon Las Ogwen from Llyn Ogwen to Bangor (Porth Penrhyn) via Telfords road and PQR.
Sections of peatland railways and Axholme Joint Railway around bicycles on the moors is prohibited at all times.

 

[InOban]

Indeed, I've worked up there and run (but not cycled) a few of these. Re Arthur's Seat is it one of the roads now?

(Obviously wee Jimmy Krankie won't let me visit at the moment! )

The Innocent path is on the opposite South side of Duddingston loch. It ends in a tunnel under the Salisbury exit from the park. It used to lead, I think, to coal yards in St. Leonard's.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Innocent path is on the opposite South side of Duddingston loch. It ends in a tunnel under the Salisbury exit from the park. It used to lead, I think, to coal yards in St. Leonard's.

Ah, I see where you mean, thanks.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Taff Trail which stitches together a number of disused railways and canal tow paths to provide a link between Cardiff Bay and Brecon.

Heading north and using the easterly route, the path follows the routes of the Glamorganshire Canal, the Rhymney Railway, the Alexandra Docks & Railway Company, the Merthyr and Penydarren Tramroad (of Trevithick fame), the Glamorganshire Canal (again), the Brecon & Merthyr Railway and the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

That's four different railways and two different canals in the space of fifty five miles. That has to some kind of record!

Superb in all aspects - and the walk from Aber via Penrhos Junction to Taffs Well is magnificent , the remains of the viaducts etc of 3 seperate railways is quite eery (almost Egyptian like), highly recommended.

(to think I used to signal trains on it , makes it even more nostalgic)

 

[Wildrover]

The Innocent Railway Path has an interesting history,

https://www.edinburghguide.com/news/transport/8064-innocentrailwaypath, which like most of these routes is popular with cyclists.

 

[XC90]

Paisley Canal to Kilbirnie via Lochwinnoch / Kilmacolm via Bridge of Weir.

 

[Wildrover]

http://colintontunnel.org.uk/

Edinburgh - I think my burst of posts reflects a deep desire to get back on a train, but that will be phase three I think!

Over 80 metres of brilliantly illustrated poetry. Simply stunning!
We're painting an enchanting mural in a Victorian railway tunnel, in order to preserve local history and make people smile.

 

[Cletus]

A long way from Bletchleyite's patch, but here's one I was meant to be walking last week.

In South Wales from Pembroke Dock to Johnson. Partly along a disused railway.


Google maps cycling directions:

Pembroke Dock to Station Rd

goo.gl

Brunel Trail - Pembroke

Brunel Trail - Pembroke is a 7.7-mile route on the National Cycle Network that connects Neyland Marina with Johnston.

www.sustrans.org.uk

My plan would have been:
Arrive Pembroke Dock 1013
Walk to Johnson - 2 hours
Johnson to Milford Haven 1241-1252
Depart Milford Haven 1308
A nice way (in my opinion) to visit two new lines and tick off a few stations.

 

[DJ_K666]

For the future, then: Scarborough <> Whitby.

Not to mention a good lunch at the Ravenscar hotel. Used to be good in there but I haven't been in a fair while.

 

[DannyMich2018]

While not of course a proper cycle way most of the old Boston to Spalding line is now the A16 which you could cycle along if you want to.

 

[JohnRegular]

To add to the long list of examples:

Meon Valley Trail (South Hampshire) from West Meon to the extant Fareham-Eastleigh line. Almost entirely intact excluding two removed bridges.

Deeside Way from Aberdeen to Ballater. Beautiful ride but sadly missing large chunks of old railway between Banchory and Aboyne; the alternative signed route is hard work!

Buchan and Formartine Way from Dyce to Fraserburgh/Peterhead. Longest rail trail in the country to my knowledge, ride this one before they decide to put the railway back in as far as Ellon.

 

[rower40]

I've cycled two paths where the railway has since been re-instated:
Bathgate to Airdrie
South Hylton to Sunderland.

As far as I know, the cycle paths have been maintained on parallel alignments, now that trains are back.

Another +1 from me for the Market Harborough to Northampton line - great fun through the unlit tunnels. Modern bike lights make these tunnels thrilling.

Also (again, not in the south east/south midlands) can I put in a plug for the Camel Trail, Bodmin to Wadebridge to Padstow? The girder bridge over Little Petherick creek, just outside Padstow, was one of the Southern Railway's more famous publicity shot locations. In happier times, I commuted from the coast to a volunteering job of signalling at Bodmin General by bike along that trail.

 

[Sox]

Chester Greenway - Mickle Trafford to Shotton

Cycle this route on a regular basis and the formation always strikes me that it was built to a very wide standard. I wonder if this typical of CLC or did the line originally carry 3-4 tracks?

 

[J-Rod]

The old route from [where] Swansea Victoria [used to be] to Penclawdd can be pretty much cycled uninterrupted, bar a few places (the route between Dunvant Station and Gowerton used to be my walk home from school!). There are tons of old remnants too, if you know where to look.

Here's the route just before it shut (I'm sure many of you have seen this already)

Watch Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June) - BFI Player

“It would be difficult to find a more lovely train journey”, declares Swansea’s Librarian, the film-maker and narrator. Prepare to be beguiled, station by station.

player.bfi.org.uk

 

[jonesy3001]

Morecambe to Lancaster green ayre line used to go cycle down it every day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Morecambe to Lancaster green ayre line used to go cycle down it every day.

Not actually cycled that but I have run down it, only to have to run back as I had timed it for a gap in the timetable while the Pacer shot off to Heysham and back!

 

[jonesy3001]

Not actually cycled that but I have run down it, only to have to run back as I had timed it for a gap in the timetable while the Pacer shot off to Heysham and back!

Cycled to the old station near caton and back and near the main station in Lancaster

 

[55002]

The old Buntingford branch from Amwell between Ware and Stansted Abbots you can cycle in places, further north the old freight line between Newark Northgate and Bottesford is now cycle path.

 

[Kryten2340]

If you ever find yourself up in the Newcastle/Gateshead area check out the Bowes railway path from Tanfield Railway across to Jarrow. Watch your speed coming down through Kibblesworth though, very slippery due to gravel.

 

[EllieAquitrain]

The Innocent path is on the opposite South side of Duddingston loch. It ends in a tunnel under the Salisbury exit from the park. It used to lead, I think, to coal yards in St. Leonard's.

Went exploring in that tunnel just before lockdown; was delighted to discover some old railway infrastructure practically in my back yard! Spooky place in the evening, lots of fun graffiti

 

[Bedpan]

The old Buntingford branch from Amwell between Ware and Stansted Abbots you can cycle in places, further north the old freight line between Newark Northgate and Bottesford is now cycle path.

I've walked close to the Buntingford branch to the south of Standon, there is no access to the trackbed on this section but its a lovely walk by the river and you can make out where the railway ran on the opposite side. Not suitable for cycling along this section though.