Route 6
National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network passes through Watford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Worksop, Sheffield, Manchester, Blackburn, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal and Windermere, and will connect London and Threlkeld (nr. Keswick) in Cumbria when complete.
The route is described here from London to Threlkeld but is signed in both directions. Where no printed map is available for a particular section please use the Sustrans online mapping.
London to Uxbridge
National Route 6 will provide a traffic-free route out of central London to the Home Counties border. Currently open sections consist of a continuous route between Paddington and Northolt along the Grand Union Canal.
Map: Paddington to Northolt is shown on London Cycling Guides 6 and 7. Order free from Transport for London.
Uxbridge to Watford
The route begins again on the Grand Union Canal near Brunel University following the Grand Union Canal and Colne Valley on mainly traffic-free routes. The Ebury Way from Rickmansworth is traffic-free into central Watford.
Map: London Cycling Guides 6 and 3: order free from Transport for London. Ebury Way map. RMC02 Thames Valley Cycle Map
Watford to Luton
National Route 6 continues via St Albans on a mixture of traffic-free paths and on-road sections to Harpenden, and then traffic-free alongside the River Lea to Luton.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Luton to Milton Keynes
Following traffic-free paths and the Sewell Greenway out of Luton, National Route 6 continues on-road to Leighton Buzzard. A lovely route along the Grand Union Canal towpath then joins Leighton Buzzard with Bletchley, continuing on mainly traffic-free paths through the east of Milton Keynes.
Maps: The Luton & South Beds Way (pdf) and the Grand Union Canal (pdf).
Milton Keynes to Derby
Milton Keynes connects with Derby via Leicester and Loughborough and includes the 16-mile Brampton Valley Way between Northampton and Market Harborough. This section is also part of the South Midlands cycle route. Look out for an excellent traffic-free section through central Leicester and the 13-mile Cloud Trail between Worthington and Derby.
Maps: ROS04 OS Tour 4 Peak District & Derbyshire shows Route 6 between Loughborough and Penistone.
Derby to Sheffield
National Route 6 links the urban areas of Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston and Nottingham before heading through Sherwood Forest to Worksop and on to Sheffield via the Rother Valley Country Park. The route forms part of the Derby to York cycle route.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Sheffield to Penistone
Sheffield to Oughtibridge is still proposed along the Don Valley. From Oughtibridge to Penistone National Route 6 forms a part of the Trans Pennine Trail (Central) along the Upper Don Trail.
Map: RPN08B Trans Pennine Trail Central, ROS04 OS Tour 4 Peak District & Derbyshire and RBG18 Goldeneye Peak District all show Route 6 from the Rother Valley to Penistone including the section of National Route 67 which provides an alternative where Route 6 is proposed.
Penistone to Reddish
The route follows along the course of National Route 62 along the Trans Pennine Trail (West) over the Pennines between Penistone and Reddish (Greater Manchester).
Map: RPN08A Trans Pennine Trail West
Reddish to Bury
National Route 6 resumes at Reddish and enters Manchester via the traffic-free Fallowfield Loop Line and then on residential streets through Whalley Range into the city centre. Heading towards Bury the route follows much of the Irwell Sculpture Trail. For more information on cycling in Greater Manchester visit www.cyclegm.org
Maps: FC24 Cycle GM Map 8 Manchester and FC19 Cycle GM Map 3 Bury
Bury to Blackburn
Bury and Accrington are linked via on-road and traffic-free sections of the old East Lancashire railway path. Accrington to Blackburn follows the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Blackburn to Preston
The route is still being developed here but exists from Blackburn to Pleasington Rail Station and resumes along the River Ribble from Samlesbury (near Junction 31 M6) leading into central Preston.
Map: Sustrans online mapping.
Preston to Kendal
Heading out of Preston National Route 6 follows country roads through the Lancashire countryside to the Lune Estuary from where the Lune Estuary path follows the estuary into Lancaster city centre. North of Lancaster Route 6 follows the towpath along the Lancaster Canal to Carnforth, from where the route follows minor roads into Kendal.
Maps: Preston to Lancaster and Lancaster to Kendal can be downloaded or ordered from Lancashire County Council. ROS03 OS Tour 3 Lake District & Cumbria also shows Lancaster to Kendal.
Kendal to Keswick
Some sections of National Route 6 in Cumbria are still being developed. The route is currently open between Kendal and Windermere, continuing part-way to Ambleside following a gap through central Windemere. At Steel End at the southern end of Thirlmere the route begins again and continues to Threlkeld. From here Route 71 along an old railway path links the 4 miles to Keswick.
Map: ROS03 OS Tour 3 Lake District & Cumbria