National Cycle Route 2
612.3 km6336 m
South coast
National Cycle Route 2
Dover towards mid Cornwall, about 380 miles / 610 km, following England's south coast through Hastings, Brighton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth. Coastal roads, seaside towns and plenty of chances to ride it in sections.
Recommendations
Bike
Any bike
Promenades and estuary paths are the bulk of it.
Tyres
28/32
32 mm is nicer on seafront slabs and the odd unsealed link.
Experience
Beginner
Kent or Sussex is a weekend. Wind is usually the story.
Route breakdown
0k -> 82km
Dover
Easy, then the Channel wind+232 m up · 230 m down · 6–8 m
Castle, harbour, the Channel. NCN 2 leaves west along the Kent coast. A headwind from the south-west makes this day feel twice as long.
82k -> 152km
Hastings
Easy seafront, some climbs off it+77 m up · 62 m down · 8–23 m
Old town and the seafront path. St Leonards and Bexhill follow. Promenades, then a kick inland, then the sea again.
152k -> 236km
Brighton
Easy if the wind is with you+25 m up · 28 m down · 9–6 m
Palace Pier. NCN 2 is the coast west from here. You are already on the water, on the numbered south-coast line.
236k -> 327km
Portsmouth and the Solent
Urban, ferry temptation+183 m up · 186 m down · 6–3 m
Naval city. Isle of Wight ferries are a side quest, not this GPX. Estuary paths and a few busy A-road edges. Keep the file on through the city.
327k -> 383km
Bournemouth
Easy pines and cliffs+79 m up · 51 m down · 43–71 m
The start of Dorset. The New Forest sits just inland if you want a loop off the coast. This GPX stays on the numbered south-coast line.
383k -> 485km
Dorchester and west Dorset
Rolling Hardy country+502 m up · 573 m down · 78–6 m
The coast path and the NCN are not always the same line. Stay on the GPX. Rolling, not mountainous. A west wind makes this day long.
485k -> 557km
Exeter
Back in a city+326 m up · 303 m down · 6–29 m
The far west is still a long way if you are going to Cornwall. This is a week of coast, not a day.
557k -> 612km
Plymouth
The Tamar+366 m up · 281 m down · 35–120 m
Cornwall starts. Trust the file for the last miles more than an old paper map; Cornish NCN has been reshuffled.
612km
Bodmin / mid Cornwall
Typical published end
Older Sustrans figures put south-coast NCN 2 around 360 miles; sections have been reclassified. This file is Dover toward mid Cornwall.
FAQ
How long is National Cycle Route 2?
This GPX is about 380 miles / 610 km from Dover toward mid Cornwall. Older Sustrans figures put it around 360 miles. Sections have been reclassified, so trust the file.
Can I ride it in pieces?
Yes. Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset are separate weekends that share a number. Dover to Cornwall in one go is a week or more.
Does it go through Brighton?
Yes. Brighton is a major bead on the string, not the start.
Do I need a road bike?
No. Road, hybrid or touring is fine. Wind is usually the story, not gradient.
Is it hilly?
Not in an alpine sense. Promenades, estuary paths and seaside towns are the bulk of it. A west or south-west wind is usually the hard part.
Where do I download the GPX?
Use the button on this page. The file is public and available without an account.
More route guides
London to Brighton
Drop onto the coast from Clapham via Ditchling Beacon.
New Forest
Inland loop when you are near Bournemouth.
NCN 7 and 8
Scotland and Wales if you want a different country.
All route guides
The rest of the named-trail library.
Download the GPX, or score today's wind
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