Riding guides
Bike Trails UK: E-Bike Routes, Maps and Access
Choose an e-bike route by its surface, traffic, technical features and complete return distance. “Off-road” can mean a smooth shared path, a forest track or a demanding mountain-bike trail. This directory connects five detailed England ride guides and points to official route sources elsewhere in the UK, so you can choose the sort of day you want before downloading a map.
Bike trails UK: choose a ride from the route table
| Route | Start here if you want | Main planning decision |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol–Bath Railway Path | A largely flat shared former-railway path. | Choose a short out-and-back or arrange a one-way return. Check the city connections. |
| New Forest | A day on the permitted forest cycling network. | Use the designated map and include road connections, animals and gates in the plan. |
| Swinley Forest | A choice between forest roads and purpose-built mountain-bike trails. | Separate a relaxed loop from technical riding, then match the bike and rider. |
| Cannock Chase | A forest visit with distinctly graded cycling options. | Compare the named trails and their features before combining loops. |
| London to Brighton | A longer road journey with substantial planning. | Choose the event or independent itinerary, then solve charging and the way home. |
The Bristol–Bath operator's page distinguishes the traffic-free core from the full mapped journey and its road connections. That is a useful habit for any route: review the whole map rather than relying on a traffic-free label attached to one section.
Find official routes in the rest of the UK
- Scotland: start with Forestry and Land Scotland's leisure cycling information or its separate mountain-bike trail directory.
- Wales: use Natural Resources Wales' mountain-biking directory to find the relevant trail centre and site information.
- Northern Ireland: nidirect's forest cycling directory lists places to investigate for leisure cycling and mountain biking.
Open the destination's own page for the actual map, grade, permitted equipment and current notices. A national directory helps you find a place; the site's information helps you decide whether that particular ride works for your group.
Read the route description before the distance
Look for steep descents, roots, rocks, narrow sections, exposed edges and constructed features. These can demand more skill than the mileage suggests. A short technical loop and a longer easy path are different choices. For a first visit, choose a manageable section with a clear way to shorten the ride.
Use Swinley's trail descriptions, the Cannock Chase cycling pages and the New Forest cycling map for the relevant visit. Choose the trail grade that matches your bike's intended use and your riding experience.
Confirm access for the exact bike
Check the vehicle category and the land manager's rules. Forestry England, for example, distinguishes permitted EAPCs from electric motorbikes and other powered devices. Follow closures and the signed cycling network. Public access for walking does not by itself establish a cycling route.
Plan the return before setting off
Add the distance from parking or a station, detours and the return leg. Keep a shorter option and use your own previous rides to judge battery demand, leaving charge for the return and any detour. If charging is part of the day, agree a suitable place and bring the approved charger. Our range-planning guide helps build that reserve into the journey.
For an organised ride, read the organiser's current transport and equipment terms. For an ordinary ride, check the chosen train or vehicle arrangement independently. In particular, the BHF London to Brighton event and an independent London–Brighton ride are different plans.
Once you have a route type, use our buying guide to compare fit, handling and storage. For a TXED model and a technical route, give Support the named trail and features so its intended use can be checked.