Route 5
National Route 5 of the National Cycle Network is a long distance route which connects Reading and Holyhead via Oxford, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Birmingham, Walsall, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Chester, Colwyn Bay and Bangor. However, the section between Walsall and Stafford is still under development.
The route is described here from Reading to Holyhead but is signed in both directions. Where no printed map is available for a particular section please use the Sustrans online mapping.
Reading to Oxford
National Route 5 begins in Reading and follows the northern half of the Thames Valley cycle route crossing the Chiltern Hills and passing through Wallingford, Didcot and Abingdon.
Map: NN5A Thames Valley. RMC02 Thames Valley Cycle Map
Oxford to Burntwood
National Route 5 between Oxford and Burntwood forms much of the West Midlands cycle route (which continues to Derby from Burntwood on National Route 54. Traffic-free sections include the Stratford Greenway between Long Marston and Stratford-upon-Avon and the Rea Valley Route in Birmingham.
Map: NN5B West Midlands Cycle Route
Burntwood to Stafford
National Route 5 is still proposed between Burntwood and Weeping Cross (east of Stafford). For more details check the Staffordshire routes page and the Sustrans online mapping.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Stafford to Kidsgrove
National Route 5 comprises traffic-free and shorter on-road sections to Barlaston, and from here follows greenways through the centre of Stoke-on-Trent on canal towpaths and disused railways.
Map: A free Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle-under-Lyme cycling map can be downloaded or ordered from Cycle Stoke.
Kidsgrove to Chester
The route to Chester connects Kidsgrove with Winsford, Northwich, Frodsham and Chester via on-road and traffic-free sections.
Map: A map and guide to National Route 5 in Cheshire can be downloaded from Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Chester to Bagillt
A popular traffic-free route takes National Route 5 out of England into Wales.
Map: FPT09 East Flintshire. Download East Flintshire (Flint - Chester) (pdf). For the NCN in Wales also see Routes2Ride Wales.
Bagillt to Prestatyn
National Rout 5 is currently signed along an inland on-road route between Flint and Prestatyn via Gorsedd and Gronant. A traffic-free coastal route is proposed.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Prestatyn to Abergele
Mainly traffic-free sea-front cycling between classic north Wales seaside towns. A new section at Rhyl uses the Rhyl bridge, Foryd Harbour.
Map: FPT05 Sir Ddinbych Denbighshire. Download Sir Ddinbych Denbighshire (Rhyl - Prestatyn) (pdf).
Abergele to Llanfairfechan
The coastal traffic-free route passing through Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea continues to Conwy via an on-road section before returning to the traffic-free sea-front route. A longer, predominantly traffic-free spur goes to Conwy via Llandudno.
Map: Download Conwy County Borough (Llanfairfechan - Kinmel Bay) (pdf).
Llanfairfechen to Holyhead
The final leg of National Route 5 is predominantly on-road along the coast to Bangor and then on-road across Anglesey to Holyhead.
Map: NN8B Lon Las Cymru North