Spring Cycle Season: The top five e-bike routes in the UK

Spring Cycle Season: The top five e-bike routes in the UK

With average UK temperatures due to hit highs of 19ºC, consider an active staycation

Spring Cycle Season: The top five e-bike routes in the UK

With average UK temperatures due to hit highs of 19ºC, consider an active staycation

With 2 more bank holidays on the horizon in May, many British families and individuals might be looking for last-minute plans that can provide a much-needed escape on the long weekends. The Met Office has revealed its May Bank Holiday forecast – with Brits set to enjoy temperatures as high as 19ºC over the long weekend. UK Staycations have been on the rise for the past few years with Sykes Holiday Cottages, one of the UK’s leading holiday rental agencies, revealing that last-minute bookings for summer holiday accommodation were up 22% at the start of June 2022, compared to the same period last year. In light of this, leading e-bike engineers, Swytch Technology, have unveiled the top cycling routes in the UK, for Brits looking for low-cost and eco–friendly activities to do on a staycation this Spring season. 

1. Clay Trails, St Austell, Cornwall – A perfect choice for younger families and beginner cyclists, or those who want to combine shorter rides with other activities, the Clay Trails take their name from the region’s history as a clay-mining area. The trails, which include eight different routes, range from challenging hill rides with scenic views of St Austell Bay to gentle, flat trails that can easily be completed in under an hour. Along the trail you will find many self-catering lodges, classic hotel rooms, and even full-service spa.

2. Hammersmith to Kew Gardens, London – London is home to many amazing cycle routes that show off every historic building and pleasant green space the capital has to offer. However, Cycleway 9, the four mile route stretching from Hammersmith to Kew Gardens, tops the list. The leafy green route includes regular stops at beautiful green areas including Ravenscourt Park, Chiswick Common and Turnham Green. For those looking to stay in the capital this Spring, this route offers a day of much needed escapism.

3. The Taff Trail, Wales – The Taff Trail is an incredibly popular biking and walking route that runs for 55 miles, from the Welsh capital of Cardiff to the small town of Brecon.Named after the River Taff, cyclists can attempt the whole route, or choose to break it up into smaller sections depending on ability and time constraints. From the pretty marina area of Cardiff Bay, the Taff Trail soon leaves the cityscape behind for parklands, wooded areas and muddy paths as you progress onwards to Brecon. 

4. The Four Abbeys Route, Scottish Borders – For Brits on the lookout for a more challenging ride, this 90km route links four of Scotland’s most beautiful abbeys: Melrose, Kelso, Dryburgh and Jedburgh.  With two quite long and tough ascents, The Four Abbeys Route is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, there are many comfortable places to rest along the way, with stops in Kelso offering respite among the abbey ruins.

5. Ulster Canal Cycle Trail, Northern Ireland –  The 48-mile trail connects the towns of Maghery in County Armagh and Clones in County Monaghan, and is one to be enjoyed at extreme leisure. Cyclist can spend a gentle couple of days hopping on and off their bike to stroll around the various stately homes, picnic spots and country parks that line the route.

Whilst having different levels of fitness could be a barrier for some groups when it comes to taking active holidays, Swytch have devised a solution that allows you to keep up with your friends or family, even if they are better cyclists than you. Whilst being a less strenuous activity, e-biking also helps you burn 70% of the calories that you would from traditional cycling, according to an AMCA study. The Swytch kit dramatically reduces the price of quality e-bikes to under £500, enabling anyone to travel electric for as little as 0.4 pence per mile by up-cycling their existing bike. 

About Swytch 

Swytch was founded by engineers Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma in 2017 in response to an obvious gap in the market for a sustainable transport solution. The idea first developed when Oliver was cycling to his workplace to meet with his boss. Despite travelling similar distances, Oliver had broken into a sweat whereas his boss arrived impeccably dressed, simply because he was on an eBike.