Where to Ride: West Midlands

From post-industrial routes to green and rolling countryside, the West Midlands is a region of contrasts. In the heart of the region, the Industrial Revolution has left a vast network of canal and railway based routes for you to discover. Yet the region's industrial hub is surrounded by a rich tapestry of landscapes from the bleak beauty of the Staffordshire Fells in the east to the lush rolling countryside of Shropshire and the Welsh Borders in the west.

Shropshire's riding options are manifold - the Mercian Way is a largely traffic free route from Wyre Forest to Bridgnorth, while the Silkin Way links Coalport with the living museum of Ironbridge Gorge. The Six Castles Cycleway links Shrewsbury and Leominster, while the Lon Cambria route passes over the Welsh border into the county, heading for Shrewsbury and eventually Cosford Aerospace Museum. Further information. 

Staffordshire boasts the huge forested expanse of Cannock Chase, with trails for everyone from families with young children to off-road racers. Elsewhere, National Route 5 links Barlaston, Stoke and Kidsgrove with traffic free paths, while Route 54 passes through the county, linking Walsall and Derby via Lichfield and Burton upon Trent. For more information go here. 

Herefordshire is well served with cycle routes, including the Six Castles Cycleway and National Route 46, the latter joining Hereford and Kentchurch, eventually terminating across the Welsh Border at Abergavenny. The Malverns AONB also offers some fine cycling, both on and off road, while the towns of Hereford and Ledbury boast some great cycling opportunities. For more information on cycling in Herefordshire go here.

Worcestershire boasts a number of National Cycle Network routes, with many routes radiating out from Worcester itself. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal towpath is ideal for cycling and forms part of NCN Route 45. The Mercian Way begins its journey north in the Wyre Forest, which itself is a great destination for leisure cycling of all kinds. For more information go here.

Warwickshire has long captivated the hearts of cyclists from near and far. National Cycle Route 5 passes through Shakespeare's Stratford upon Avon and forms part of the West Midlands Cycle Route, which stretches all the way from Oxford to Derby! There's also the The Lias Line, which connects Rugby with Stratford upon Avon. For more information go here. 

The West Midlands boasts some great getaways with three National Cycle Network routes running through the region. There are also some great town cycling maps available for Birmingham, Walsall, Dudley, Stourbridge and Coventry. Check them out here.

Ride Ideas 

LEISURE: Mercian Way: Explore the beauty of Shropshire's Severn Valley as you've never seen it before on a network of quiet rural lanes and off-road tracks to the south of Bridgnorth and including the stunning Wyre Forest at Bewdley.
LEISURE: Sutton Park: Get away from it all and cycle in Birmingham's largest park on an extensive network of mainly traffic-free roads and paths. The park is a wonderful mixture of ancient woodland, heathland and is a nature reserve.
LEISURE: Beaconside to Derrington: This easy route is mostly off-road and passes through Stafford from two sides - short and easy and usable all year around, it can be extended.
LEISURE: Ludlow Loops: Three moderate off road loops in the beautful Shropshire countryside around Ludlow.
LEISURE: Beaconside to Derrington: A short and easy all-weather route through Stafford which can be extended and which is largely traffic free.
LEISURE: Wyre Forest: Wyre is rated as one of the top three most ecologically important forests in Britain. The Family cycle route uses forest roads to take you through a varied woodland landscape on easy to follow trails.
LEISURE: Leek to Rushton Spencer Greenway: An easy, level ride for cyclists of all ages, this route follows a well surfaced track between Leek and the northern end of Rudyard Lake.
MTB: FODCA Trails: Forest of Dean: This challenging and varied singletrack can offer something to even the most demanding of riders, from tricky switchback climbs to rooty drops and hairpin bends.
LEISURE: Six Herefordshire Leisure Routes: Six great rides put together by Herefordshire County Council and the Ledbury Area cycle forum, ranging from a gentle 6 mile route out of Hereford to a few more challenging 20-30 mile rides.
MTB: Chase Trails: Staffordshire's Cannock Chase offers something for mountain bikers of all kinds, with two purpose-built cross-country trails, a multitude of downhill lines and three established beginner and family routes.