National Cycle Route 7
643.9 km6855 m
Scotland and Wales
National Cycle Route 7 and 8
Two classic UK routes on one page. NCR 7 runs Sunderland to Inverness via Carlisle, Glasgow and Highland Perthshire. NCR 8, Lôn Las Cymru, runs Cardiff to Holyhead across the mountains and coast of Wales.
National Cycle Route 8
376.3 km5353 m
Recommendations
Bike
Touring
A hybrid or road bike is fine on the surfaced options.
Tyres
28/32
Some shared paths and railway corridors.
Experience
Stage it
Sunderland to Carlisle is a fair first chunk.
Route breakdown
0k -> 37km
Sunderland
Easy coastal start+236 m up · 12 m down · 32–255 m
North Sea start. NCN 7 turns inland and north-west. C2C finishers are not far away on shared paths.
37k -> 123km
Consett
Easy industrial paths+827 m up · 966 m down · 268–129 m
Shared paths with the C2C story, then Cumbria and the Eden. The numbered route is a corridor, not every Lake District pass.
123k -> 161km
Penrith
Steady toward the Border+38 m up · 166 m down · 146–18 m
Lakes to the west. NCN 7 is heading for Carlisle. The numbered corridor keeps you toward the Border.
161k -> 322km
Carlisle
The Border+421 m up · 430 m down · 16–7 m
Scotland is the next chapter. Urban NCN, then the long pull toward Glasgow from the Border.
322k -> 487km
Glasgow
Urban, then Highlands+470 m up · 398 m down · 10–81 m
The Clyde. Urban NCN, then the pull toward Highland Perthshire once you leave the city.
487k -> 644km
Pitlochry
Proper hills+569 m up · 668 m down · 111–12 m
Highland Perthshire. Tourist town, actual climbs. NCN 7 is hillier here than the north-east start made it look.
644km
Inverness
The Moray Firth
Published northern end of NCN 7. John o' Groats is LEJOG, a different page. You finish on the Moray Firth.
Recommendations
Bike
Touring
Gravel or a compact road bike through the Beacons.
Tyres
28/32
32 mm is more comfortable on mid-Wales lanes.
Experience
Hills
Cardiff to Brecon is a first mountain day. Eat when you see food.
Route breakdown
0k -> 78km
Cardiff
Easy out of the bay+502 m up · 383 m down · 12–131 m
Bay and the Taff. Lôn Las Cymru leaves the capital north toward the Beacons from the bay.
78k -> 115km
Brecon
The heavy bit+178 m up · 189 m down · 138–127 m
Beacons country. First mountain day. A compact is sensible through the climbs around Brecon.
115k -> 166km
Builth Wells
Rolling mid Wales+344 m up · 296 m down · 125–173 m
Wye valley touring town. Mid Wales starts to feel empty. Services thin. Eat when you see food.
166k -> 204km
Llanidloes
Steady, big sky+398 m up · 532 m down · 167–33 m
The upper Severn. Small town, a natural overnight. You are crossing the camber of Wales.
204k -> 283km
Machynlleth
Toward the coast+768 m up · 635 m down · 13–146 m
Dyfi valley. Crossing toward Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia on the numbered Welsh line.
283k -> 310km
Criccieth
Easier on the bay+46 m up · 136 m down · 95–6 m
Castle on the headland. The GPX heads for Caernarfon and Anglesey along Cardigan Bay.
310k -> 376km
Caernarfon
Castle, then the Menai+221 m up · 206 m down · 7–22 m
Anglesey is next. The mountain days are behind you. The GPX crosses toward the Menai and the island.
376km
Holyhead
Irish Sea terminus+2 m up · 0 m down · 3–5 m
Ferries to Dublin if you are still going. NCN 8 does not meet NCN 7 as a single signed trail.
FAQ
Should I ride 7 and 8 as one trip?
Only if you enjoy a very long island-and-ferry story. They do not meet as a single signed trail.
How long is NCR 7?
Sunderland toward Inverness on this GPX is about 400 miles / 640 km.
How long is NCR 8?
Cardiff toward Holyhead on this GPX is about 235 miles / 375 km.
Which is hillier?
NCR 8 through the Beacons and mid Wales is the mountain touring line. NCR 7 has Highland days and a lot of corridor riding too.
How many days do they take?
NCR 7 is a week or more if you ride Sunderland to Inverness. NCR 8 is about four to six days from Cardiff to Holyhead at a touring pace.
Where do I download the GPX?
Use the buttons on this page. Each numbered route has its own public file, no account needed.
More route guides
C2C Cycle Route
Shares some north-east paths with NCN 7.
Hebridean Way
Island Scotland instead of the NCN 7 spine.
LEJOG
If you want both countries and then some.
All route guides
The rest of the named-trail library.
Download the GPX, or score today's wind
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