NCN 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride

103.6 km 982 m climbing About 2 days 8% off road Road cycling East Midlands

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.

The figures

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
Region	East Midlands
Route from	Sustrans

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.

Put your own dates on this and TourTrax splits it into days at your pace, finds somewhere to sleep at the end of each one, estimates what it will cost and gets you to the start without flying.

Plan this route → Download the GPX

Other route guides

NCN 50 - Great Central Cycle Ride is an official route from Sustrans (their website).