GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

National Cycle Route 5

366.6 miles (590 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This epic Sustrans National Cycle Route runs for just over 360 miles from Reading to North Wales.
The route begins in Berkshire at Reading before heading through the Chiltern Hills to Wallingford, Didcot, Abingdon and the famous university city of Oxford.
You'll then head through the Midlands to Long Marston, Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon and the city of Birmingham.
The next stage runs through Stafford before some canalside cycling through Stoke-on-Trent. Into Cheshire next to the historic city of Chester with its numerous ancient buildings and city walls.
Leaving England you head west into Wales, passing Bagillt, Flint and Prestatyn with some excellent coastal views particularly on the traffic free sections from Abergele to Llanfairfechan.
You continue through Colwyn Bay, Conwy and Llandudno before coming to the popular resort of Bangor. The final section then runs across the Isle of Anglesey to Holyhead. 
See the list below for the route split into manageable day rides.
Scroll down further for videos on the route and scroll to the bottom for the gpx file.

Cycle Routes on National Cycle Route 5

National Cycle Route 5 OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

National Cycle Route 5 Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The epic Chilterns Cycleway can be picked up near the route. The signed circular trail runs for about 170 miles through the Chilterns AONB on quiet country lanes, visiting a series of delightful villages.
The noteworthy Lon Las Ogwen cycle route starts just to the east of Bangor at Porth Penrhyn. The off road trail will take you south through Snowdonia to the beautiful Llyn Ogwen, passing the fascinating Penrhyn Quarry at Bethesda and the stunning glacial valley of Nant Ffrancon on the way. It runs mostly along old railway paths and the River Ogwen before finishing at the lake and waterfall. The route uses part of Route 5 and is also suitable for walkers.
Around Stafford and Stoke on Trent the route fills a gap along National Cycle Route 55 which runs between Shropshire's Ironbridge and Preston in Lancashire.
In the Chester area you can link up with the Cheshire Cycleway. The popular circular ride explores the best parts of the county on a series of quiet country lanes and off road paths. In this area there's also the Chester Millennium Greenway and National Cycle Route 45 or the 'Mercian Way'. The route runs from Chester to Salisbury through Shropshire and Worcestershire.

Photos

NCN Millennium Milepost MP141 Reading

NCN Millennium Milepost MP141 Reading

Wyrley and Essington Canal - Disused Railway Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 915997

Wyrley and Essington Canal - Disused Railway Bridge in the West Midlands. The Beacon Way and National Cycle Route 5 leave the towpath and cross the canal.

National Cycle Route 5, Cannon Hill Park - geograph.org.uk - 2642161

National Cycle Route 5 through Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

Lane to Crowmarsh Gifford - geograph.org.uk - 1712320

Lane to Crowmarsh Gifford

Route 5 - geograph.org.uk - 775464

Route 5 National cycle route 5 passes along a shelf retro-fitted into the coastal engineering between Old Colwyn promenade and Llanddulas. It provides a very useful low-level, traffic-free path along this otherwise steep and heavily-trafficked coastal section. The route also includes the North Wales LDP.

Sustrans National Cycle Route 5 going towards Penmaenmawr - geograph.org.uk - 2859319

Sustrans National Cycle Route 5 going towards Penmaenmawr

Hawarden Bridge walkway - geograph.org.uk - 1131777

Hawarden Bridge walkway in Flintshire, Wales. This walkway, on the east side of Hawarden Bridge railway bridge, has ramps at both ends and is part of the National Cycle Route 5. The tidal River Dee is below.

Promenade fishers - geograph.org.uk - 1216594

Promenade fishers in Old Colwyn, Clwyd, Wales. A view of the end of the promenade, where fishermen have gathered. The view is from the track of National Cycle Route 5, which continues on a footpath that runs to the site of the long-abandoned Old Colwyn railway station, where there is still a subway to cross under the railway line.

GPS Files

GPX File

National Cycle Route 5.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)