Berkshire Cycle Routes
Berkshire is a fine choice for cyclists that enjoy beautiful scenery and cycling near water.
The main highlights of the county are the waterbased rides along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath and the River Thames.
There is also some beautiful countryside and the famous town of Windsor with its iconic castle and Great Park.
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Berkshire Cycle Map>>
There are several National Cycle Networksigned routes in the county many of which have been mapped and can be viewed and downloaded below.
For more information on cycle routes in Berkshire including tips, advice and free cycle maps please click here
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Andover to Newbury | 21 miles (34 km) | Follow National Cycle routes 246 and 4 from Hampshire into Berkshire on this attractive route. You start off at Andover railway station and head north along country lanes through Hurstbourne Tarrant, Faccombe and Kintbury where you join the Kennet and Avon Canal for the final pleasant waterside stretch to Newbury. There's some beautiful countryside to enjoy as well as a peaceful section through Faccombe wood and a short run through Inkpen common. On the way you'll pass the highest point in Berkshire at Walbury Hill. View Full Details>> | |
| Basingstoke to Reading | 24 miles (38 km) | This route takes you along National Cycle route 23 from Hampshire into Berkshire. View Full Details>> | |
| Bisham Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods near Marlow have some nice walking trails to try. Bisham Woods actually consists of several woods including Quarry Wood, Fultness Wood and Inkydown Wood. The area covers nearly 400 acres and are considered 'the richest ancient woods in Berkshire'. There's lots to see with bluebells, beechwoods, ponds, woodland orchids and some climbs with great views over the Chilterns and Marlow. Other features in the wood include an ice house constructed in the 1760’s and Bisham Quarry which provided the stone for Windsor Castle. The circular walking route below takes you along various trails in the central and southern section of the woods but there are also bridleways running through Quarry Woods which are suitable for cyclists. Please stick to the marked bridleways if you are on your bike. Bisham Woods are thought to have been the original 'Wild Wood' in Kenneth Grahame's 'Wind in the Willows', which he wrote in the nearby village of Cookham Dean. The woods are located very close to the River Thames so it's easy to extend your walk. You could pick up the Thames Path and head east to Cliveden House. Here you'll find a fine Italianate mansion with lots of parkland and gardens to explore. View Full Details>> | |
| Bradford-on-Avon to Hungerford | 50 miles (80 km) | Follow National Cycle Route 4 from Bradford-on-Avon to Hungerford via Chippenham and Avebury on this route through the countryside. View Full Details>> | |
| Bucklebury Common | 3 miles (5 km) | This large area of common land in Berkshire covers 350 hectares (860 acres). It consists of heathland and broadleaved woodland of oak, ash and beech. There are miles of public footpaths and bridleways suitable for cycling. Other features include 12 ponds, several greens and a variety of flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of woodland birds and the occasional deer as you make your way through the woods. You can start off from the car park which is located about half way between the villages of Upper Buckleberry and Chapel Row. The common is located just to the north of Thatcham so if you would like to continue your walking in the area you could head to the excellent Thatcham Discovery Centre. You could also head north to the village of Bucklebury and then continue to Stanford Dingley by picking up the riverside footpath along the River Pang. View Full Details>> | |
| Dorney Lake | 4 miles (6 km) | This purpose-built rowing lake in Buckinghamshire has a traffic free National Cycle Network trail running past it on one side and the Thames Path on the other. As such you can make a circular walking trail using these two trails or a linear ride from Eton Wick to Dorney Reach if you are on your bike. The lake was used as the rowing venue for the 2012 Olympics in London. It's a lovely area with the riverside path and views across the lake to enjoy. There's also 450 acres of parkland including an Arboretum and Nature Conservation area. Look out for water loving birdlife including the grey heron. You can park at the north western end of the lake just off Court Lane to start your walk. Alternatively you could catch the train to Windsor and then follow the Thames Path to the lake. It's about 1.5 mile walk passing Eton, Eton Wick and Dorney Common. A National Cycle Network Path also runs from the train station to the site. If you would like to extend your exercise then you could visit the nearby Windsor Great Park. The park has miles of cycling and walking trails with woodland, parkland and lakes to enjoy. You could also continue along the Thames Path to Maidenhead which is only a couple of miles to the north. The Jubilee River also runs past Dorney. This river has a great waterside cycling and walking trail running from Maidenhead to Eton. View Full Details>> | |
| Jubilee River | 6 miles (10 km) | Follow the Jubilee River path from Maidenhead to Eton and Slough on this waterside walk or cycle on the border of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. It's a delightful, peaceful trail with the gentle river surrounded by attractive woodland and countryside. The river path follows National Cycle Route 61 for most of the way. The route starts in Taplow and heads south past Taplow Lake. The 30 acre lake is popular with swimmers and wakeboarders. You continue through Dorney, passing Dorney Common and the 15th century Tudor manor house of Dorney Court. The route then heads east passing the pretty village of Eton Wick before finishing in the fields just north of Eton and Windsor. Here you can pick up the Thames Path to extend your walk. The river also passes Dorney Lake where there is a nice surfaced cycling and walking trail with views across the Olympic lake. View Full Details>> | |
| Kennet and Avon Canal | 76 miles (122 km) | The Kennet and Avon Canal runs from the Thames at Reading to Bath. It's great for easy cycling with nearly all of the canal open to cyclists. Several sections have a nice wide, surfaced towpath making it ideal for families or anyone looking for a nice traffic free ride. On the way you'll enjoy lovely views of the Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire countryside, passing through a series of pretty villages and the beautiful Vale of Pewsey. There's also several nice canalside pubs where you can stop for refreshments and rest your legs. Much of the route follows National Cycle Network Route 4 so it is well signed throughout. Starting on the Thames in Reading, you head south and then west to Aldermaston Wharf, Woolhampton, Thatcham, Newbury, Hungerford and Devizes where you will pass the impressive Caen Hill Locks. View Full Details>> | |
| London to Windsor | 39 miles (63 km) | This long cycle ride runs along National Cycle Route 4 from West London to Windsor in Berkshire. The route runs for about 40 miles on a series of minor roads, riverside paths with plenty of traffic free sections to enjoy. Highlights on the route include long stretches through Richmond Park and Windsor Great Park. View Full Details>> | |
| Marlborough to Reading | 43 miles (70 km) | This lovely ride takes you along National Cycle Route 4 from Marlborough in Wiltshire to Reading in Berkshire via Newbury & Hungerford.
Much of the ride is traffic free with a long attractive stretch along the Kennet and Avon Canal and a lovely run through Savernake Forest at the start. View Full Details>> | |
| National Cycle Route 23 | 86 miles (138 km) | This Sustrans signed National Cycle Route runs from Reading to Southampton. View Full Details>> | |
| National Cycle Route 61 | 58 miles (93 km) | This signed Sustrans cycle route runs from Maidenhead to Hoddesdon on a mixture of traffic free paths and quiet lanes. View Full Details>> | |
| Reading to Maidenhead | 17 miles (27 km) | This ride takes you along National Cycle Route 4 from Berkshire into Surrey. The route starts on Caversham bridge in Reading taking you along the Thames path for a short stretch before continuing to Wargrave on minor roads and paths. A short wooded section at Knowl Hill then follows before an on road section takes you into Maidenhead, finishing at the train station. View Full Details>> | |
| Reading to Oxford | 35 miles (56 km) | Travel along National Cycle Route 5 from Reading in Berkshire and on through Oxfordshire to the famous university town. View Full Details>> | |
| Reading to Windsor | 31 miles (50 km) | Travel along National Cycle Route 4 from Reading to Windsor. This attractive route follows the River Thames and passes through Sonning (below), Maidenhead and Cookham. You will also go through Eton - home of the famous school for boys - just before arriving at Windsor with its famous castle. View Full Details>> | |
| Swinley Forest | 7 miles (11 km) | This forest in Bracknell has miles of good walking trails and some good mtb trails as well. This circular route starts at the look out centre just to the south of Bracknell. From here you can follow trails heading south toward Bagshott Heath on the edge of Camberley. More trails then lead north past Rapley Lake and the Mill Pond before returning to the car park. View Full Details>> | |
| The Ridgeway | 43 miles (69 km) | This is the cycle friendly opening 43 miles of The Ridgeway - one of the UK's National Trails. This section runs from Overton Hill, near Avebury in Wiltshire, to Streatley, in Berkshire, on the River Thames. The path passes through some lovely scenery including rolling downland and the woods and valleys of the Chilterns. Highlights on the route includes Wayland's Smithy - a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb, and the Uffington White Horse in the Berkshire Downs. View Full Details>> | |
| Three Downs Link | 102 miles (164 km) | This is a walking and cycling path following bridleways through Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. The trail runs from Exton, in Hampshire, to Dean Hill, near Hungerford. You will pass through open chalk downland, along rivers and canals and through some pretty villages.
The route passes through or near Basingstoke, New Arlesford, Malborough, Winchester, Newbury and Hungerford. It uses the South Downs Way National Trail for part of the route and also links with the Ridgeway National Trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Windsor Great Park | 8 miles (12.2 km) | A circular cycle or walk around the beautiful Windsor Great Park in Surrey. The park includes 5,000 acres of parkland, which includes a Deer Park, lakes, avenues, gardens, woodland and open grassland. National Cycle Network route 4 runs right through the park while the Three Castles Walk runs along the Long Walk Avenue where there are fabulous views of Windsor Castle. Cyclists please note that cycles are not permitted on the Long Walk. If you'd like to continue your exercise you could head to Virginia Water Lake. This large man made lake is located in the southern end of the park. It has a delightful walking trail running around its perimeter. Also of interest are the beautiful Valley Gardens. Located next to the lake they consist of 250 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands and a series of well defined walking trails. You can also enjoy a walk along the Thames Path from Windsor to Dorney Lake. The lake has a nice surfaced cycling and walking trail to try. The Jubilee River also runs past Dorney. The river has a great waterside cycling and walking trail running from Maidenhead to Eton. Also of interest is our Windsor Circular Walk which will take you to Eton Wick and the famous Eton College. View Full Details>> | |
| Windsor to Putney | 34 miles (55 km) | This fabulous cycle ride follows National Cycle Route 4 from Windsor to Putney along the River Thames. View Full Details>> | |
| Windsor to St Albans | 31 miles (50 km) | This fairly flat route takes you along National Cycle Route 6 from Windsor on the river Thames to the pretty Hertfordshire town of St Albans. Sights on the route include the Jubilee River near Slough and the iconic Windsor Castle. View Full Details>> |
Your Submitted Routes
| Route Name | Distance | Difficulty |
| Breachwood to Windsor | 40 miles (65 km) | *** |