NCN 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride
NCN 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride is a 103.6 km road cycling route in East Midlands with 982 m of climbing, about 8% of it off road, and it splits into about 2 days at a moderate pace.
The route runs south from Leicester through flat to gently rolling Leicestershire farmland before the terrain stiffens across Northamptonshire. The surface is mostly road, with a short off-road fraction that begins in the urban sections around Leicester. Beyond Daventry the lanes grow quieter and the villages smaller and more spread out. The line finishes on flat ground approaching Verney Junction and Buckingham.
Worth knowing before you go
Leicester and Buckingham are the main resupply points; between Daventry and Buckingham the settlements are small and provisions limited. The stretch from Walcote to Crick crosses open country where villages are well separated, so carry what you need. Navigation requires attention through the Leicester suburbs where the route threads several distinct districts in quick succession.
NCN 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride in numbers
- Distance: 103.6 km
- Climbing: 982 m
- Off road: 9 km, about 8% of the route
- Riding time: about 6 hours, roughly 2 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 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride 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.