269 miles (432 kilometres)

Hull - Lincoln - King's Lynn - Fakenham - Norwich - Ipswich -  Harwich

Order a map on-line from Sustrans

One of the easier long distance cycling routes, the Hull to Harwich uses the easy gradients of eastern England, visiting the counties of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The route crosses the Lincolnshire Wolds and Fens and then heads through countryside, towns and villages where the land rarely rises above 200 feet, making it ideal for all cyclists, including children and families.

It's ideal cycling country, with quiet roads and an attractive, timeless landscape. The route takes advantage of this, travelling through gently rolling countryside and the flat farmland of the Fens; it includes inland and coastal sections and some of the most attractive towns and cities in the region. The many sites of interest along the way range from small churches to magnificent cathedrals and from village greens to country estates.

From King George Dock, the route passes through the centre of Kingston upon Hull on the way to the Humber Bridge. The bridge crossing is memorable and the route then heads south through the Lincolnshire Wolds to Lincoln, with its magnificent Cathedral and nearby Castle. From Lincoln the route follows the Witham Valley towards the port of Boston, dominated by The Stump, the tower of St Botolph’s church. It continues under the open skies of the Fens, through Holbeach and Wisbech and on to the ancient port of King’s Lynn. The route then passes Sandringham, the country home of the Royal Family, and runs just inland of the Norfolk coast, before passing through the pilgrimage centre of Little Walsingham and heading south towards Fakenham.

From Fakenham the route heads south-east towards Norwich, entering the city along the Marriott’s Way, a disused railway now developed for cyclists, walkers and horse riders. It follows urban roads through the city centre and passes between the Cathedral and the Castle, before heading south towards the Yare Valley and then on to Beccles and Halesworth.

Further south in Suffolk you can choose a coastal or an inland route. The coastal route relies on small ferries and you will need to check that these are operating before setting off to visit Snape Maltings, home of the Aldeburgh Festival, Orford, and the seaside resort of Felixstowe. The inland route includes the attractive Suffolk towns of Framlingham, Woodbridge and Hadleigh, before entering the beautiful Essex countryside, familiar from the works of John Constable. The route passes through the ancient town of Colchester, using the growing cycle network there, and the riverside path south-east to Wivenhoe. From Wivenhoe the route heads through rolling countryside to the Port of Harwich.

The official maps of the route, based on Ordnance Survey data, are available from Sustrans, book and cycle shops.

Information courtesy of Sustrans