Bridgnorth to Congleton - 65 Miles of almost traffic free cycling on the National Cycle Network!
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- In this video we cycle from Bridgnorth to Congleton, passing through Coalport, Telford, Stafford and Stoke on the way. We will be using route 45, route 55, route 5, route 555, route 550 and back to route 55 to make the journey and the majority of the route is traffic free.
We use the disused rail lines of Severn Valley railway, the Coalport branch line, the Stafford to Uttoxeter line and the Biddulph Valley line. We also use the Trent and Mersey canal and the Caldon canal to complete the journey.
The route is found here:
connect.garmin...
www.komoot.com...
Buy me a beer at:
www.buymeacoff...
The video on the Shropshire canal I mention is here:
• Route 81 - Wolverhampt...
Individual videos on the route can be found in my national cycle network playlist:
• National Cycle Network
This would make a great bikepacking route! A there and back with camping near Congleton, I'm sure a wild camping spot could be found on the edge of the peaks!
Wasn't expecting a trip down memory lane when watching your video. Looks a great route for those that are able. Ford Green there was a crossings with a foot bridge so you could cross when a train was coming as kids we used to run to climb the steps so we were on the bridge as the train went under with smoke and steam covering everyone 😅 my Grandad worked at Whitfield when they had ponies down the mines. Enjoyed your video gave a good insight to what is available for cyclists.
Thank you for sharing your memories, glad you enjoyed the video. I also have a potteries loop video you might enjoy too. Thanks for watching!
Hi, I live in Congleton and my parents live in Trentham so I quite often do the 40 mile round trip down the cycle paths and either the Cauldon or T&M canals. It's a lovely pedal.
I agree entirely about the stupid barriers. They're impossible on a mountain bike with 800mm wide bars...😂 lots of shimmying required.
I hate bike barriers with a passion, they cause access issues and are not fit for purpose. With modern day electric motor bikes and small petrol bike they don’t even do the intended job. Thanks for watching!
65 by leg is a good haul, traffic free dreams, Nothing better than analogue bikes for stuff like this
Yeah I love it, nothing better than pushing the pedals and not having to worry about any traffic. Thanks for watching!
I'm really enjoying your videos, mate. This particular one is a route I'd never even considered which makes it interesting. I definitely need to get some more grippy tyres for my hybrid and check out these National Cycle Routes. I can pretty much guarantee if I used my road bike it would be puncture city - I'm amazed youve done so much gravel on yours! That new Boardman looks nice!Great informative commentary, and nicely put together. I hope you manage to keep making them!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, comments like this makes the channel so worth it for me! My road bike did very well with the amount of gravel I threw at it, and it’s certainly my make me appreciate my new gravel bike so much more. Thank you for watching!
Great route, I live in Manchester & cycle towards Congleton often. I also did a long ride out to Buxton last year & Was almost 70 miles. My legs could of done more, but my bottom couldn't 😂
70 miles is a good old distance, especially around hilly Buxton! I’m hoping to do a video on the trans Pennine trail this year, Manchester to Sheffield!
@@cyclingn8 I've road part of that route before mate & yeah the route had around 5000ft climbing altogether.
Like the look of the route 55 from Wellington to Stafford, will do that on my EUC in the summer
It’s a nice ride through Telford, especially the part from the town centre to Coalport. Thanks for watching!
Hi Nathan, I am a new subscriber who accidentally came across your Videos of which I have watched a few. I have been thinking of getting back on my bike, and you have inspired me to use canals and cycle routes more leisurely. It would also be helpful to know the approximate total time it took to complete the rides. Great informative videos and in them selfs relaxing. I look forward to discovering more in the future. Thanks.
So glad the videos have given you some inspiration. When I’m out filming I stop and start a lot, and spend time setting up cameras etc so I don’t always get a realistic time for the rides. For me though I probably average around 12-14mph on the road and 8-10 on tow paths and shared use paths, so that should give some indication of how long a ride might take. Thanks for subscribing and thanks for watching!
Really interesting video. Shame such a lot of railway infrastructure has been lost. Would be nice to see the SVR extended up to Ironbridge if is possible and maybe the incline restored and repurposed.
It is a shame, especially when some of it would be extremely useful today! Old rail lines do make fantastic cycle paths though! Thanks for watching!
I used to commute between stoke and Telford using this route (only in the summer and not every day)
I never knew about the Isabel trail in Stafford. I always used to ride on the road past the prison.
In Stafford there used to be plenty of signs that said no cycling, but not many for the ncr.
The Isabel trail is a handy cut through, however been near the town centre it can be quite busy. Thanks for watching!
Super video, thank you. I live pretty close to Congleton and have been meaning to ride this route for ages
Glad you liked the video, it’s a great route you will enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
Hi Nathan, I discovered your channel just before I relocated to Wolves from the South East. It’s an absolute gold mine! I think you need a gravel bike. Keep up the great work.
The gravel bike is on my shopping list! Glad you enjoy the videos and thanks for watching!
Great video I love cycling along canal tracks and hidden paths beats traffic plus good for your health I've done stoke to Manchester and back wich came up to 74 miles but went long way 👌👌🇬🇧💯
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. I’m planning on doing some routes around Manchester, in particular the trans Pennines trail when I get chance. Thanks for watching!
@cyclingn8 no problem I love cycling been cycling since age 11 plus I like exploring places on my cycling trips I love countryside and cycling along old train track routes too I do take my drone with me when weather Is not raining you did well some good cycling paths about 👍👍👍👌💯
Great video, you've inspired me to do Stafford to Stoke then loop back on the ncn to get my train back to Euston. Planning to do it late April.
Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a pleasant section of the NCN and the trains from Stafford to Euston are pretty good. Thanks for watching!
Superb videos you make buddy. Very informative and I feel motivated to cycle these routes!
Thank you, my aim with these videos is to inspire so glad it’s worked! Thanks for watching!
great looking route. doing it on my gravel bike on the 28th April. going to do out and back as i need the miles for the chase the sun ride in June
It’s perfect for a gravel bike! There and back would be too much for me. Thanks for watching!
Great video, done a similar ride to this to Congleton a few times. Worth noting when you get to Congleton, if you dont mind turning left and riding 50 meters on the road there is a little path on the right that takes you into Congleton Park which has a really nice pavillion, great stop off point for a drink and food or follow that path into the town centre which has plenty of cafes there too, only minutes away!
Thanks for the info, that would be a better place to stop. Thanks for watching!
great video. lots of good info. thanks for sharing
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
I totally agree I did 127 mile route and a 111 mile route with average speed of 17.7 and 18.1 mph as the motor doesn't work over 15.5mph and the bike is about 14 kilos with all the gizmos on it I defy anyone to call me lazy , after all it's an assist bike not a switch on power and don't pedal , I go longer and further and higher with an ebike get a good workout burn 4-5000 calories in around 6 plus hours hardly the actions of a lazy person 😉👍🏻
Yep a proper e bike that is assisted is still a great workout and helps those less able to get out and those that are able to go further, I think they are great. Thanks for watching!
Linley halt - surely that must have been built in 1862 not 1962. Yes, just checked it closed in September 1963.
Yes definitely built 1862, a slip of the tongue there by me, Thanks for watching!
Another great video!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Fantastic channel mate....just subbed. Much inspiration from watching yours. Perhaps one day, I'll return to Britain to do some of the worthy rides you done :)
Thank you, my aim was to inspire people to get out in the network so glad it’s working! Thanks for watching!
I noticed a lot of the time you're holding the handlebars with your fingertips , try fitting a set of riser bars rather than the straight ones and try lowering the saddle a few millimetres
I have noticed I tend to do this while filming, I think subconsciously trying to get a better angle for the GoPro, need to stop it. Thanks for watching!
Excellent narration. Full of facts but please leave some background noise from the trip. Makes the video more real, feel connected if the background noise wasn't totally cut out
Thanks for the feedback, I think I agree with you, my other cycling videos are edited like this with the background noise left in so check them out! Think I will go back to that format, thanks for watching!
Hi Nathan, Great channel.....subbed. One step closer to 2k 😉I'm located not that far from Congleton nowadays, and am looking for a little more trail riding, so will give this one a look. Oh, and if you're ever up my way, pop by, and I'll give your bike the once over in return for your good content 👍
Glad you’re enjoying the content! It’s a strange mix of cycling and history but seems to have found an audience that’s slowly growing, so thanks for your sub! I have a plan to ride across the Pennines this year at some point so might take you up on your offer for a bike once over! Thanks for watching!
@@cyclingn8 In Staffordshire nowadays, not that far from Leek. Hope to ride over to Congleton, and give that route a try. Won’t do all of it though, the UA-cam stuff takes up a lot of my time, so the legs won’t cope with all of it!!
I’m hoping to ride up the canal from Stoke to leek at some point for a video, so might take you up on the offer!
@@cyclingn8 Cool, just keep me posted 👍
0:56 mate you are going the wrong way. you did not think we'd notice, but we did :) (its local to me so I know it well)
You got me! The whole of the route 45 section was filmed going in the other direction but I hope it doesn’t take away from the spirit of the video lol. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic! I live not far from the start, in Bewdley - I must try this route - my usual road routes are getting a bit dangerous these days, either through potholes or idiot drivers (before anyone says anything, I’m also a car driver). Do you know if this route can be ridden to using the abandoned railway line through the Wyre Forest from Bewdley? I’ve only just discovered your channel - but you might just have given me some incentive to get back on the bike - the state of the roads has recently made me hesitant to venture out! Thanks!
You can to the start from Bewdley using route 45 of the national cycle network, it’s used the old rail line through the Wyre Forest and a mix of cycle ways and quiet lanes to get to Shrewsbury - I have some videos on the channel covering the route. Thanks for watching!
@@cyclingn8that’s next weekend sorted then - thanks for the reply!
Enjoy!
Great video, I live in Congleton do you have a gpx?
Thank you! The link to the route on garmin connect is in the video description, you should be able to download load the gpx file from there. Thanks for watching!
Great route, but how did you get to/from the start/end points?
Good question! It’s somewhat of a compilation video so some parts I’ve ridden from home and others I’ve driven too or got dropped off/ picked up. Thanks for watching!
@@cyclingn8 Thanks for response. I have been watching a few of your other videos over the last week and I have to say, they are so much better than the usual "here is me on my bike" type video. Very interesting, informative and watchable. Your routes give me lots of inspiration to trying areas I have not cycled before. Keep up the good work.
@@supertouring22 thank you so much for that! My aim has always been to inspire and share my slightly nerdy love for history and local facts. Glad you enjoy the videos! Happy cycling!
Enjoyed that but I find dog walkers on the Newport to Stafford route very annoying
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m always very cautious of dogs, especially off the lead. Thanks for watching!
That's one for me this year . Thanks for sharing 👍
@@paulbennett8893 you won’t regret it, enjoy and thanks for watching!
how do you get back to your starting point? do you ride back?
I didn’t film this all at once so was able to ride the separate bits there and back. There is a train station in Congleton so could use that to get back or get picked up. Thanks for watching!
Ahh ok, that makes ssense, i love cycling the canals in the midlands, love your channel, keep up the great videos
@@covascorax7346 thank you! Plenty of canal riding in my Birmingham to Shrewsbury video 🚴♂️
Think you need a +3 as a gravel bike
This is what I keep telling my wife 😀 Thanks for watching!
@@cyclingn8 great video mate
@@sedgy73 thank you 🙏
Congleton?
😳 well spotted! Updated, thanks!
You missed the dinosaurs in town park! 😂
🤣 unfortunately the official route misses them! I do always take that route with the kids though, got to love the Dinosaurs of wonderland! Thanks for watching!