Our ebike expert Paul has been riding bikes around the UK for over 35 years. Here are his Top 5 routes to take your electric bike for a ride.
Based in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, The Tissington Trail is a 13 mile, mostly flat and traffic-free route perfect for cyclists and really popular with electric bike owners. It follows the former Ashbourne – Buxton Railway line originally built and opened in 1899. The line closed in 1967 and after the track was removed it was transformed into the recreational trail it is today and was opened to the public in 1971.
Starting in the historic market town of Ashbourne, follow NCN Route 68 north. The track surface is a mix of hard-packed gravel and asphalt, ideal for any Touring or Trekking electric bike or hardtail ebike.
As you leave Ashbourne the gradient climbs up for the first seven miles but is very shallow. As you gain height though, the views of the Dales are stunning. One way will take just over an hour to complete or 2hrs for a round trip and a downhill finish!
If you want to venture further, you can tag on the High Peak and Monsal Trails too or a visit to Carsington Water which are local.
Ride Time: 2-2.5hrs (round trip)
Surface: Hard-packed gravel, Asphalt
Paul says: The route is beautiful and remote in places but it is well used by walkers and fellow cyclists. You won’t be alone. The Tissington Trail, High Peak Trail + Carsington Water is a day out.
If you want to escape the tourist traps and venture into the wilderness, there is no better place than Aberfoyle in The Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park, Scotland.
Aberfoyle, or Gravelfoyle as cyclists now refer to it, is regarded as the best place to ride gravel in the UK. The area boasts over 200km of remote gravel trails and singletrack. Perfect for an electric trekking bike or hardtail.
Park up in Aberfoyle and start your ride with the road climb up Dukes Pass before doing a clockwise, traffic-free lap of Loch Katrine. The service road around the Loch is closed to vehicles and is all tarmac. The views are stunning. If you fancy mixing it up you could continue around Loch Venachar and try some easy singletrack and then pick up the signposted, hardpack gravel trails back over and down Dukes Pass that run parallel to the road.
Long rides, short rides. Road, offroad, you can do anything here the choice is endless and perfect for electric bikes. A bucket list destination for any cyclist.
Ride Time: 1-4hrs (dependent on route)
Surface: Hard-packed gravel, Asphalt, Singletrack
Paul says: Routes in the area vary from remote to very remote in places. Be prepared. You might not see anyone for hours. Phone signal is patchy.
Located on the border of England and Wales sits the Forest of Dean. An hour from Birmingham and 45 minutes from Cardiff, its packed with a mix of trails suitable for any electric bike and rider. A nine-mile-long circular Family Cycle Trail is easily accessible. Red and Blue-graded cross-country trails require a bit more offroad skill or if you have a full suspension electric bike there are graded downhill trails to enjoy too. The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre has something for everyone. Follow a signed route, take a guided trip or make up your own.
Locally you could try routes in the Wye Valley too. Try the Wye Valley Greenway, a five-mile off-road shared use path between Chepstow and Tintern opened in 2021. Part of the route is through a beautifully renovated old railway tunnel for something a little different plus you can visit the world-famous ruins of Tintern Abbey too.
For the more adventurous, the Newent Loop is a 28-mile route on quiet roads and lanes around the Forest of Dean countryside. There are two short cut options of 19 miles each if the big one is too much. The routes are sign posted and can be ridden in either direction.
The Forest of Dean has routes to suit any electric bike rider.
Ride Time: 1-3.5hrs (dependent on route)
Surface: Hard-packed gravel, Asphalt, Technical Singletrack, Graded Downhill Trails
Paul says: The area has everything for any type of electric bike rider and is peppered with punchy, steep climbs and great views.
Fancy a bit of sea air? Get yourself up to the beautiful Victorian holiday resort of Llandudno and follow NCN Route 5 which is almost all traffic-free and runs east and parallel to the shoreline through Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl to Prestatyn and back. Look out for the massive offshore windfarm. If you choose to cycle west in the other direction, you’ll follow the coast again past Conwy Castle on an almost traffic-free route again towards Bangor, even Anglesey if you want to go that far. Almost pan flat too.
If you fancy a climbing challenge, something that will make your ebike earn it’s keep and give you some real satisfaction, take a ride up or around the Great Orme. A granite outcrop that stands aside Llandudno overlooking the town. For the fittest, a ride straight up following the tram route is the most direct but expect a very long 1-in-4 steep gradient to test you. If you want to get to the summit station but with some slightly easier climbing take the anti-clockwise, one-way toll road (free for cyclists) called Marine Drive just past the pier entrance and then take a left up through the famous switchbacks and cemetery to climb to the top where you can enjoy a snack and a drink in the restaurant and pub that sit atop. If you just want sea views, ride all around Marine Drive. It’s 4 miles and has a refreshment stop just over halfway at the top of the hill before a gloriously fast descent back to town with fantastic views of the west shore and the Conwy Valley.
Ride Time: 30mins – 3hrs (dependent on route)
Surface: Asphalt
Paul says: Route 5 is virtually pan flat either way but a strong sea breeze can make it harder. The Great Orme is an awesome challenge where ebikes will really help on the climb.
You may have never heard of Bredon Hill. It’s not a famous hill, it’s not very high either at 299 metres. It sits about an hour south of Birmingham and an hour north of Bristol, but it does have a fantastic circular route around its base joining a series of beautiful Cotswold, chocolate-box villages together and a wider area well worth exploring on electric bikes too.
The closest town is Evesham which is about 4 miles away and sits on the River Avon. A perfect place to start from. Take the B4084 towards Pershore and then a left to Elmley Castle to pick up the circular route around the hill. You can ride in either direction. The route is all on quiet lanes and will take you through the villages of Ashton-under-Hill, Beckford, Conderton, Kemerton, Bredon and The Comberton’s where you could take a small detour to the small market town of Pershore view it’s amazing Abbey.
The wider area has even more stunning Cotswold villages to visit. Broadway is a honey pot for tourists with the lavender fields atop Snowhill close by or travel further south towards Winchcombe or even Cheltenham if you are feeling fit and fresh.
Ride Time: 2-3hrs (dependent on route)
Surface: Asphalt
Paul says: The lanes are always quiet around here and are a gateway to some great Cotswold villages.
