Location: Milton Keynes, England, UK
Date: 16 October, 2024
Milton Keynes boasts an extensive network of Redways – over 270 kilometers of shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians that run throughout the town and its surrounding areas.
City of Milton Keynes
The City of Milton Keynes, often simply referred to as Milton Keynes, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, South East England. It is located about 50 miles northwest of London and is one of the UK’s most prominent examples of a planned urban area, having been designed and built in the 1960s with the aim of alleviating housing congestion in London. Milton Keynes is known for its modernist architecture, vast green spaces, and the grid-like layout of its main roads. A key geographical feature of Milton Keynes is its abundance of parks, lakes, and green spaces, making it a pleasant urban area with a touch of rural charm. Willen Lake, for instance, provides opportunities for various water sports and leisure activities, while Campbell Park offers extensive public artworks and scenic views. Culturally, Milton Keynes is home to the Milton Keynes Theatre, which hosts a wide range of performances from touring West End musicals to ballet and opera. The town also has a vibrant music scene, several museums, including Bletchley Park — the historic site of secret British codebreaking activities during World War II — and The National Museum of Computing. Of particular note for cycling enthusiasts, Milton Keynes boasts an extensive network of Redways – over 270 kilometers of shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians that run throughout the town and its surrounding areas. These Redways connect major points of interest, residential areas, and business districts, making cycling a convenient and safe mode of transport within the town. Additionally, the Milton Keynes Bowl, an outdoor entertainment venue, has also been used for professional cycling events, underlining the city’s commitment to cycling as both a mode of transport and a sport. In summary, Milton Keynes is a unique blend of modern urban planning, cultural richness, and expansive green spaces, making it an interesting destination for both traditional tourists and cycling enthusiasts alike.
The most popular destinations for cycling in City of Milton Keynes
Discover the limitless possibilities for cycling in City of Milton Keynes with the Cyclers app, which offers an expansive selection of routes. This innovative app empowers users to create and explore an endless array of paths, from the most popular routes to those which are undiscovered. Experience the freedom to tailor your cycling adventure in City of Milton Keynes, as the Cyclers app brings a world of endless cycling opportunities right at your fingertips.
Hundreds of miles of Redways and Leisure Routes to explore
Milton Keynes has one of the best cycling networks in the UK, known as the Redways, as well as miles of leisure routes through green spaces. Below are a variety of cycle routes options. We’ll be adding maps and gps download files over the coming months to make it easy for you to find your way.
Redway Map
The Redway Map was updated in 2018 and shows all of the MK Redways, Redway Super Routes and Leisure Routes as well as other quiet roads and lanes that are suitable for cycling.
Our interactive map shows all of the cycle paths in MK and the journey planner can help you to plan a route from A to B.
Heritage Trails and Millennium Route
Milton Keynes has an existing, waymarked route called the Millennium Route. It is 12 miles long and uses quiet and picturesque paths to visit some of the cities best heritage and cultural destinations. The route can be seen on the interactive map by selecting it from the menu.
There are also four other existing Heritage Trails with associated leaflets to follow which cover a range of distances and travel further afield. We’ll add the maps soon.
Cultural Routes
There are five Cultural Routes (derived from the older heritage routes) that form a Grand Tour of MK. View the route maps and information about the points of interest on our cultural routes page.
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network now passes within one mile of half the UK population and it continues to grow with just over 12,000 miles of routes and links in the UK.
Two National Cycle Routes pass through Milton Keynes – NCR 6 and NCR 51. Both can be seen on the interactive map. Visit the Sustrans website to view the entire NCN network.
Nature Trails
MK Architectural Model Trail by Cabinet of Curiosities
One of five new commissions for ‘Reclaim the Redways’ – developed to encourage more use of the Redways post the COVID-19 pandemic and funded by Milton Keynes City Council. Cabinet of Curiosities is a design studio who were inspired by Milton Keynes’ iconic architecture. For this route which starts at Milton Keynes Arts Centre and finishes at Bradwell Windmill, the artists have created a series. (incomplete)…
Info: getaroundmk.org.uk