148 miles (238 kilometres)

Oxford - Bicester - Milton Keynes - Northampton - Leicester - Derby

Order a map on-line from Sustrans

This is John Betjeman’s England which, forty years on, remains rich with rolling pastorales, Norman churches, and the ancient inns of coaching towns.

The route sensibly uses four railway lines that did not survive the Beeching railways axe, and now form memorable sections of the cycle route, as also do several meandering towpaths, including one near Foxton’s famous locks in southern Leicestershire. But this is also England-on-the-Hoof. Confident business and academic centres along the way are busy inventing the 21st century, and their towns and cities are bright with life. Leicester’s National Space and Science Centre, right by the route, is newly open and you can enjoy a different kind of voyage before hitting the cycle ways again.

Look out for two dark tunnels between Northampton and Market Harborough where lights and, some say, strong nerves are essential - if you don't have lights then be extra careful.

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

Information courtesy of Sustrans