UK cycling holidays and breaks

It could be an easy-going, family cycling expedition, picnic packed in the panniers. Or maybe it’s a long-distance expedition that takes in forest, moorland and coast. Or perhaps you are an enthusiast, looking for a high-adrenaline mountain bike challenge through the forest’s more thrilling terrains. Whatever you want from your UK cycling break, a Forest Holiday has it covered.

To give you ideas and inspiration for your cycling break, we have pulled together cycling routes and trails for all our locations, and included some of the best cycling in England, Scotland and Wales. From gentle forest trails for beginners to strenuous challenges for seasoned cyclists, there is something for everyone.

And to save you the trouble of loading up the cycles onto your car, you can pre-book your cycle hire at most of our locations, so that your bicycles await you when you arrive.

One less thing to think about

You can hire your bicycles and accessories at all our locations, except in the case of Sherwood Forest, where cycles are available to hire just a five-minute walk away at the Sherwood Pines Forest visitor centre. There are adult bikes, children’s bikes, tag-a-longs, trailers and child seats, and of course helmets are provided for all too. 

You can pre-book and secure your cycles through your online account and it makes sense to book ahead as our cycle hire is extremely popular. Use our sizing guide to help you select the right cycles for you and all your party. Now you can relax and look forward to cycling through the forest without a care in the world.

From easy trails to mountain bike challenges

The forest offers the perfect backdrop to a UK cycling break and we have put together guides for all our locations that cover everything from accessible trails, perfect for fair-weather cyclists, to technically challenging MTB trails for mountain bike enthusiasts. 

We’ve made sense of the forests for you with our forest trails maps, which you can pick up at the Forest Retreat and we have sourced other trails to take you further afield too. These are trails you can take from the door of your cabin and include short, scenic routes to find your cycling legs, to afternoons out, complete with picnic spots and pubs.

Forests make great mountain biking terrain too, and we have included details of high-adrenaline courses to test you to your limits, so if you are a mountain bike enthusiast take a look at our location cycling pages.

Find out about forest trails at each of our locations:

Strathyre  Ardgartan Argyll  Cropton & Keldy  Sherwood Forest

Thorpe Forest  Forest of Dean  Blackwood Forest  Deerpark

Explore the UK

Taking to two wheels is one of the best ways to discover the beauty and diversity of the UK’s natural spaces. From the glorious lochs and mountains of Scotland to the relatively undiscovered inland heart of Cornwall, we have put together some thrilling long distance cycle rides for each of our UK locations.

Our UK locations are all close to the sustrans National Cycle Network, from Deerpark in Cornwall to Strathyre and Ardgartan Argyll in Scotland, and offer opportunities to follow some fabulous cycle trails including the spectacular coastal Cinder Track in North Yorkshire, close to Cropton and Keldy to the beautiful South Downs Way in Hampshire, close to Blackwood Forest.

After each day’s exertions, you can return to the luxury of your forest cabin and relax in the soothing bubbles of your hot tub as you recount the day’s adventures.

Wind down after a day's cycling

Enjoy the simple comfort of our forest cabins, the perfect base for your UK cycling holiday. Select a Golden Oak or Silver Birch cabin and you will have a fabulous hot tub to soothe away your aches after your cycle ride.

Sleeping from 2 to 10 guests, our range of cabins have space for everyone and offer all your home comforts in a natural haven; whether you are on a family cycling holiday, enjoying a romantic break and cycling through the woods together, or here as a group, you will relax in style after your cycling adventures. Cycling groups are welcome too, and you can pick up some of the UK’s cycling routes, knowing you can rest your head in comfort after a long day of cycling.