National Cycle Route 1
1263.9 miles (2034 km)
Sustrans route 1 covers much of the UK including the capitals of London and Edinburgh. It runs from Dover on the Kent coast up to John O' Groats at the northern end of Scotland.
There's long coastal sections along the east coast, visiting such iconic landmarks as the abbey at Whitby and Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island in Northumberland.
Below you can see a list of manageable day rides along the route, starting with the opening section on the Kent coast at Dover and finishing at the northern end in Scotland.
Scroll down for videos along the route including the popular Crab and Winkle Way in Kent and the Formartine and Buchan Way in Aberdeenshire.
Cycle Routes on National Cycle Route 1
- Dover to Canterbury - Starting in Dover follow National Cycle route 1 along the coast through Kingsdown to Deal where there a views of Deal Castle
- Sittingbourne to Canterbury - Follow the trail through Kent from Sittingbourne to Canterbury
- Crab and Winkle Way - This lovely cycling and walking route runs from Whitstable on the Kent coast to Canterbury along the trail
- Gravesend to Sittingbourne - Starting in Gravesend on the banks of the river Thames follow the trail to Sittingbourne via Rochester and Gillingham
- Sittingbourne to Sheerness - This short route follows the trail to the Isle of Sheppey from Sittingbourne
- Greenwich to Gravesend - Starting in Greenwich on the banks of the river Thames follow the trail to Gravesend via Dartford
- Greenwich to Cheshunt - Follow the trail on this pleasant ride or walk through north London into Hertfordshire
- Cheshunt to Hertford - This route follows the trail passing through Hertfordshire and Essex
- Harlow to Chelmsford - Starting in Harlow follow the trail through Essex to Chelmsford
- Braintree to Colchester - This route starts near Braintree rail station and heads to Witham along NCN Routes 1 and 6 and country lanes
- Ipswich to Colchester - This route takes you through the Suffolk countryside along the trail
- Halesworth to Ipswich - This route follows the trail from Halesworth to Ipswich via Framlingham
- Beccles to Saxmundham - This route follows the trail from Beccles to Saxmundham via Halesworth
- Beccles to Norwich - Follow the trail from Beccles in Suffolk to Norfolk based Norwich
- Norwich to Fakenham - Follow the trail from Norwich to Fakenham on quiet roads and the lovely Marriot's Way
- Fakenham to Wells-Next-The-Sea - Follow the trail from Fakenham to Wells-Next-The-Sea on this pleasant fairly flat route
- Wells-Next-The-Sea to Hunstanton - This route follows the trail between two pretty Norfolk coastal towns.
The route is fairly flat and passes through attractive countryside and the pretty villages of Burnham Thorpe and Burnham Market.
The final stretch takes you along the Hunstanton coast with splendid views of The Wash and the Hunstanton cliffs - Hunstanton to King's Lynn - Starting in the coastal town of Hunstanton on The Wash, follow the trail to King's Lynn on the banks of the River Ouse.
Highlights on the route include the splendid coastal scenery at the start and the wooded Sandringham Country Park-the Norfolk retreat for the Queen with beautiful grounds and the impressive Sandringham House - King's Lynn to Wisbech - This very flat ride takes you from Norfolk into Cambridgeshire through the Fenlands.
- Wisbech to Boston - Travel from Cambridgeshire to Lincolnshire along the trail on this very flat route
- Water Rail Way - This shared cycling and walking trail runs along the old Lincoln to Boston Railway Line from Lincoln to Woodhall Spa.
- Boston to Lincoln - This route follows the trail and the Water Rail Way through Lincolnshire from Boston to Lincoln via Tattershall and Woodhall Spa
- Lincoln to Market Rasen - This short flat route follows the trail through the Lincolnshire countryside from the county town of Lincoln to Market Rasen
- Market Rasen to Hessle - This route follows the trail from Market Rasen in Lincolnshire to Hessle in Yorkshire
- Hull to Driffield - This is a lovely ride with plenty of traffic free sections following the trail through Yorkshire
- Driffield to Bridlington - This ride takes you along the trail to the Yorkshire coast
- Scarborough to Bridlington - This lovely ride follows NCN route 1 between these two Yorkshire based coastal towns
- Whitby to Scarborough - Take this beautiful coastal ride in North Yorkshire from Whitby to Scarborough and marvel at the spectacular scenery
- Middlesbrough to Whitby - This route follows the trail from Middlesbrough to Whitby on the Yorkshire coast
- Sunderland to Middlesbrough - Travel between these two major north eastern cities along National Cycle routes 1 and 14 on this interesting ride
- Sunderland to Morpeth - This ride follows National Cycle routes 1 and 155 through Tyne and Wear and into Northumberland
- Alnwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed - This long ride takes you along the trail and the Northumberland coast from Alnwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed
You start in Alnwick near the striking castle and then head towards the coast to Alnmouth - Berwick-upon-Tweed to Melrose - Follow the trail and the River Tweed from Northumberland in England into the Scottish borders.
The ride starts near the train station in Berwick-upon-Tweed and heads west along the River Tweed to Kelso, with the crossing of the Union suspension bridge at Horncliffe a highlight - Edinburgh to Melrose - This long but rewarding ride takes you along the trail from Edinburgh to Melrose in the Scottish borders.
- Edinburgh to Dunfermline - Travel along the trail and enjoy fabulous views of the Firth of Forth.
The route starts in the centre of Edinburgh, near the famous castle, and heads through the suburbs of Roseburn and Barnton to the coast where you can enjoy a lovely traffic free section that runs along the Firth of Forth to Queensferry - Dundee to Dunfermline - Follow National Cycle route 777 and 1 on this long but rewarding route that offers splendid views of the Fith of Tay and Lochs Glow and Leven.
The ride starts in Dundee, crossing the Tay Bridge and then heading west along the Firth of Tay to Newburgh - Dundee to Arbroath - Follow the trail along the Firth of Tay from Dundee to Arbroath on this lovely easy ride which passes by the famous Carnoustie golf course - home of the Open.
The ride starts by heading along the Tay to Broughty Ferry with its striking castle and lovely beaches - Arbroath to Montrose - Follow the trail along the North Sea coast on this splendid cycle ride which has wonderful views of Lunan Bay and Montrose Basin.
- Montrose to Stonehaven - This wonderful coastal cycle ride follows NCN route 1 through St Cyrus, Johnshaven and Inverbervie giving splendid views of Montrose Bay, Inverbervie Bay and the North Sea coastline
- Aberdeen to Stonehaven - This ride follows the trail along the North Sea coast from Aberdeen to Stonehaven
- Aberdeen to Maud - Follow the trail and the splendid off road Formartine and Buchan Way cycle track from Aberdeen to Maud on this lovely ride which gives great views of the River Don andpasses by Haddo Country Park and country park.
- Maud to Banff - Follow NCN route 1 from Maud to the coastal Banff and Macduff via Turriff
- Elgin to Nairn - Follow the trail from Elgin to Nairn and enjoy splendid views of the Moray Firth and Findhorn Bay.
The ride starts with a nice off road stretch along the River Lossie in Elgin, before quiet country roads take you onto Kinloss where you can see the historic ruined abbey and the beautiful Findhorn Bay - Buckie to Elgin - This ride follows the trail and the Moray Firth coast of Scotland from Buckie to Elgin via Portgordon and Garmouth
- Banff to Buckie - Travel along the Moray Firth coast of Scotland on NCN route 1 and enjoy some splendid coastal scenery
- Inverness to Nairn - Travel along the trail in this fascinating cycle ride which takes you past Culloden battlefield and the historic Bronze Age Clava Cairns.
The ride starts on the River Ness at Inverness, heading east to the historic village of Culloden - Inverness to Tain - Travel along the trail from Inverness to Tain and enjoy some fabulous highland scenery as you pass through the Black Isle and cross both the Moray Firth and then the Cromarty Firth on the Cromarty Ferry.
- Tain to Lairg - Prepare yourself for some truly breathtaking scenery as you travel along the trail through the Scottish Highlands.
The ride starts in Tain and soon passes the famous Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery before following the stunning Dornoch Firth to Ardgay - Lairg to Tongue - Follow the trail through the Scottish Highlands and enjoy fabulous views of the stunning Ben Hope and Ben Loyal mountains and the beautiful Loch Shin and Loch Loyal
- Tongue to Thurso - Travel along the beautiful north coast of Scotland on the trail and enjoy fabulous coastal views and a succession of pretty coastal towns and villages.
- Thurso to John o' Groats - Travel along the north coast of Scotland along National Cycle route 1 from Thurso to the famous village of John o' Groats where you can catch the ferry to the splendid Orkney Islands.
National Cycle Route 1 Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
National Cycle Route 1 Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
National Cycle Route 1 OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
National Cycle Route 1 Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The route links up with the epic W2W Cycle Route - NCN 70 at Sunderland. The long distance ride runs from coast to coast from Walney Island in Cumbria to Wearmouth in Sunderland.
The London To Edinburgh Cycle Route uses a large part of NCN 1 to take you between the two capital cities.
In the Scottish Borders you can link up with the new Kirkpatrick C2C. The epic Coast to Coast route runs across the south of Scotland from Stranraer to Eyemouth.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
National Cycle Network milepost, Walmer. One of 1,000 mileposts funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland, which were set up around the Millennium. This is an off-road section along the beach in Walmer, near to the start in Dover.
Walthamstow Marshes near London.
Cycle track on the Humber Bridge heading south
Approaching Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed. A lovely coastal section near the border with Scotland.
Cycle -foot path Hartley Links, Seaton Valley
River Lee Navigation near Hackney Wick
Formartine and Buchan Way. A shared cycling and walking trail through Aberdeenshire following a dismantled railway line. This is a nice traffic free section running from Dyce to Fraserburgh with an optional section to Peterhead.
National Cycle Network route 1 at Cookney. Route 1 runs from Unst in Shetland to Dover, mostly keeping to the east coast. This section between Aberdeen and Stonehaven avoids the busy B979 by keeping to back lanes. The group of cyclists here are participating in the 3rd Grampian Cycle Rally, May 2006.