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Closed Railway Lines

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Basher

Basher

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I see that Durham County Council want to make part of the closed railtrack bed from Barnard Castle to Broomielaw into a walk. This mad me think of all the good cycle rides I've done.
I have been cycling a number of redundant railway tracks as well as canal tow paths over the past 4 years. I really enjoy the rides. I would like any suggested rides from anyone who has done the same. Just recently purchased an electric assist bike so my intention is to longer rides.

From memory I’ve done

Railways:- Weymouth to Portland, Thorpe Arch to Spotforth, Scarborough to Whitby, Teesdale, Bishop Auckland to Spennymoor, The Monsal Trail ( the best scenic),Exemouth to Budleigh Salterton, Castle Eden line . I’m sure I’ve done more but can’t remember them.

Canals:- Carnforth to Lancaster, part of the Oxfordshire canal, Llangollen (the best scenic) Kennet and Avon canal, Winsford branch of the Shropshire Union Canal,, Ripon.
 
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randyrippley

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there's a lot more of the Lancaster canal.....including the Glasson branch, from where you can cycle back to Lancaster along the old Glasson dock railway. Once back in Lancaster you can cycle along the old Midland line to Morecambe, or along the little NorthWestern to Caton
 
Basher

Basher

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randyrippley said:
there's a lot more of the Lancaster canal.....including the Glasson branch, from where you can cycle back to Lancaster along the old Glasson dock railway. Once back in Lancaster you can cycle along the old Midland line to Morecambe, or along the little NorthWestern to Caton
Click to expand...
Thanks for that will investigate.
 
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mailbyrail

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Three in the Derbyshire Peak district which you can combine for a longer ride
Tissington Trail, Cromford & High Peak Trail and Monsal trail. All with excellent scenery, historic features, tunnels, viaducts, tea shops. You'll need the electric assistance on the 1:8 section which had cable haulage, but if steam locos made it up the 1:13 section at Hopton without assistance then you'll have to pedal harder on that bit!
 
Basher

Basher

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mailbyrail said:
Three in the Derbyshire Peak district which you can combine for a longer ride
Tissington Trail, Cromford & High Peak Trail and Monsal trail. All with excellent scenery, historic features, tunnels, viaducts, tea shops. You'll need the electric assistance on the 1:8 section which had cable haulage, but if steam locos made it up the 1:13 section at Hopton without assistance then you'll have to pedal harder on that bit!
Click to expand...
Love the Monsal, will be there again when Bakewell carnaval is on. I'll look the other suggestions. Thanks
 
bramling

bramling

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Basher said:
I see that Durham County Council want to make part of the closed railtrack bed from Barnard Castle to Broomielaw into a walk. This mad me think of all the good cycle rides I've done.
I have been cycling a number of redundant railway tracks as well as canal tow paths over the past 4 years. I really enjoy the rides. I would like any suggested rides from anyone who has done the same. Just recently purchased an electric assist bike so my intention is to longer rides.

From memory I’ve done

Railways:- Weymouth to Portland, Thorpe Arch to Spotforth, Scarborough to Whitby, Teesdale, Bishop Auckland to Spennymoor, The Monsal Trail ( the best scenic),Exemouth to Budleigh Salterton, Castle Eden line . I’m sure I’ve done more but can’t remember them.

Canals:- Carnforth to Lancaster, part of the Oxfordshire canal, Llangollen (the best scenic) Kennet and Avon canal, Winsford branch of the Shropshire Union Canal,, Ripon.
Click to expand...

The trouble with some of these shared trails is that they’re simply too busy at times and there’s insufficient space for all the different groups of users to happily co-exist.

If you’re a railway enthusiast attempting to look at the history then you’ll be constantly dodging bikes, some of whom feel the whole thing is solely a cycle recreation facility - especially those who have paid to hire. Then anywhere near a car park or housing and it’s dog walkers galore.

There are however some lovely walks which *aren’t* busy, and these can be the real gems.

Haltwhistle to Alston is one such, Whitby to Scarborough is another. Manifold can also be quiet at the right time. Best time for something like High Peak Trail is in the evening when the days are long - avoid weekends at all cost!

Personally I find the Mawddach Trail a little overrated. The views are no better than from Barmouth bridge itself, again it’s stuffed full of dopey cyclists through the day, and there’s little of railway interest now. In that area the walk from Tanygrisiau to Ddualtt is superb especially in the evening.
 
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Brush 4

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Agree about avoiding weekends, also school holidays in general. Weekdays in term time are the best.

I've done Bath P&R - where the car was left - to Bath Green Park, where you 'terminate' inside the station, (café). Then, up the 1in 50 to Wellow (café) via both tunnels. Very cold inside Combe Down Tunnel but, hugely atmospheric. Also, Spetisbury to Sturminster Newton. Sainsbury cafe at Blandford. Café at the preserved Shillingstone station on limited days. Also, shop, coaches, signalbox and USA tank. Cafes in Sturminster Newton.

Barnstaple to Torrington, cafés at Barnstaple, Fremington, Instow, Bideford and Torrington stations. Route continues to Meeth.
Okehampton to Lydford. Café at Okehampton station. Pub and Farm shop near route at Lydford.
Bodmin North to Padstow via Boscarne Junction. Cafés west of Boscarne, at Wadebridge and Padstow.
Boscarne Junction to Wenfordbridge, no cafes. Old china clay dries was intact but disused.
All well worth doing.
 
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Eyersey468

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Market Weighton to Beverley on the old York-Beverley line is a nice ride/walk
 
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Ken H

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the old Startford upon Avon to Long Marton line is now the Stratford greenway walking and cycling route as far as long masrton.

Cafe half way at Milford in an old non ac Mk2 carriage. Maybe gone now - not been for 3 years now. moved away from the area.
 
RichJF

RichJF

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In my area in Sussex there are a couple I recommend:
Three Bridges - East Grinstead (Worth Way) and East Grinstead - Tunbridge Wells West (Forest Way) is one entire cycle path and used to be a railway for the entire length. It has a very good surface for cycling/walking.
It's also extremely pretty through the Weald and I recommend eating lunch in Hartfield which is Winnie the Pooh country. Doing it in early Spring is lovely & one of my favourite stretches of cycle/footpath in the entire county!

There's also the Cuckoo Trail (Heathfield- Hampden Park) that retraces about half of the old Cuckoo Line railway. That's a bit more remote than the above.
 
CaptainHaddock

CaptainHaddock

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A favourite bike ride of mine is the former Lincoln - Woodhall Jn line, which is now known as the Water Rail Way. It's almost totally flat, very quiet and has plenty of old railway interest along the way; Bardney, Southrey, Stixwould and Woodhall Jn stations have all been preserved, though Bardney and Woodhall Jn station building are private.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/may/05/art-rides-water-rail-way-lincoln
 
Bobdogs

Bobdogs

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Here in West Wales we have Tregaron to Aberystwyth across the bog and then down the Ystwyth valley, mostly follows the old railway track with a couple of miles on quietish country roads.Thankfully a bit too rough for the Lycra lot.
 
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GaryMcEwan

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I wish I had the option to explore some of the old railway lines in Glasgow. The ones that closed during Beeching have either been completely demolished and houses built on them, or they're underground and been bricked up with no means of access.
 
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