NCN 3 - West Country Way
NCN 3 - West Country Way is a 506.4 km road cycling route in South West England with 5153 m of climbing, about 16% of it off road, and it splits into about 6 days at a moderate pace.
The route runs from Land's End north and east through Cornwall before turning inland across Devon and Somerset to Bristol. The terrain is rolling throughout, with the steepest kilometres in the second fifth, roughly between Penzance and the Roseland peninsula. About a sixth of the route is off road, though it is tagged as a road route overall. The surface character eases across the later sections through the Mendip Hills toward Southville and the city centre.
Worth knowing before you go
Cornwall is thinly settled between the early landmarks at Land's End and the larger town of Penzance, so carry food and water out of Penzance. The stretch between Petrockstowe and Bolham is long and rural, with very few settlements on the line. The route passes through Exmoor before dropping toward the Somerset levels, and the transitions between those sections are where navigation needs attention.
NCN 3 - West Country Way in numbers
- Distance: 506.4 km
- Climbing: 5153 m
- Off road: 83 km, about 16% of the route
- Riding time: about 34 hours, roughly 6 days at a moderate pace
Water, food, campsites and stations along this route are shown on the interactive map.
Plan it and ride it
The map on this page carries the surface breakdown, the elevation profile and every point of interest. You can split the route into days against your own pace, see what it will cost to ride, and take it with you. Download the GPX.
Read the NCN 3 - West Country Way route guide.
Getting to the start without flying · Browse all routes
Route from Sustrans.
Compiled by Ed Hunton, Cicerone guidebook author, from TourTrax's own route data.