In the first of a new series on Sportsister.com we share some of our favourite cycle routes around the UK. This one is an easy spin from the town, through the country, to the seaside.

Spanning from East Yorkshire to Merseyside the Transpennine Trail (TPT) is a popular cycling trail for new and experience cyclists alike.

Based on bridleways, quiet roads, shared use paths and disused railway lines the trail is flat to gently undulating, without being particularly technical.

For those looking for a real challenge riders could start at either end of the trail, in Hornsea or Southport and complete the 215-mile (346km) route in a couple of days.

Alternatively why not ride short sections of the trail.

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Related stories:

Event review: London Nightrider 100k Challenge ^[1]

Cycling: Cycletta’s stunning routes unveiled ^[2]

Sportsister’s cycling blog: Sister’s in the saddle ^[3]

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My ride is an out and back jaunt along the Eastern edge of the TPT from Hull to the seaside town of Hornsea. This section is on the disused Hull to Hornsea railway line, now known as the Hornsea Rail Trail. Between 1864 and 1964 this was a popular railway line, bustling with commuters and holidaymakers who shuttled between the town and the seaside. Today the area is much quieter as it is dominated by walkers and cyclists.

Picking up the route from the centre of Hull, it is a case of following the Hornsea Rail Trail as it crosses the urban landscape of this city which has had a less than fair press in recent years.

Queen Victoria Square and Queens Gardens are pleasant places to stop for a quick coffee and sandwich before setting off.

Soon the path passes through woodland near the residential areas of East Hull.

Once past the Holderness Drain the path reaches the city limits and puts me on an escape route to the country.

As a Londoner I am always surprised at how, in other cities tower blocks and traffic can be quickly left behind to reach the peaceful open countryside, and on this day Hull is no exception to this observation.

Indeed, open is a befitting word to describe the area. This part of England is known for being completely flat, with some areas barely above sea level. In fact the low relief was all too sadly made clear in 2007 when homes in Hull and East Yorkshire suffered flood damage after torrential rain.

From now on my view is dominated by quaint villages, woodland and fields which fringe the North Sea.

As mentioned earlier, this route follows the course of a disused railway line, and as such there are small reminders of the bygone era. The old Swine Station is now a well kept residential house, and at Skirlaugh, the platforms of that former station can be seen through the undergrowth. The station building is long gone, and the site where it previously stood is now the car park of a picnic site.

Being kept in excellent condition, and well signposted this trail is rideable on all kinds of bicycle and by all. The first half of the trail is on lovely smooth tarmac, while after Ellerby the surface turns to compacted gravel with the odd bit of loose chippings. The trail can be ridden on a road bike, though a hybrid or a mountain bike would be better options, as I found.

Just outside Hornsea riders have the option of either going directly to the town, or of taking a detour via the impressive Hornsea Mere. I opt for the scenic route where I am treated to the sight of the largest natural lake in Yorkshire, a popular destination for fishing, sailing and rowing.

Shortly afterwards, the cycle route reaches the old Hornsea Town Station. This Grade II listed building situated close to the sea and the Eastern Seamark could signify the end of the ride, but in fact for us it is the turnaround point!

No trip to the seaside is complete without stopping off for a fish and trips on the seafront. So that is exactly what I do before heading homewards!

The return ride simply involves retracing the route by following the signs to Hull.

As I ride along I contemplate the impressive views over the horizon. Fields stretch for miles and miles around me, and then the edge of my vista is punctuated by the towers of the Humber Bridge - the longest single-span suspension bridge in the United Kingdom.

Along the bridleways lots of cyclists make the most of this sunny Saturday afternoon. Some are laden with rucksacks and panniers as they attempt the full itinerary, while others are on leisure day rides.

The picnic site at Skirlaugh provides a very convenient spot for a snack stop. Otherwise, a pub a couple of hundred metres away provides a more hearty option.

It is not just cyclists who frequent this area. Lots of walkers with or without dogs are enjoying the country air in this hidden green area to the northeast of Hull.

Finally, the tall buildings come into view as the city draws nearer and I realise my ride is coming to an end. It has been an afternoon well spent, and I celebrate this with coffee and cake at a café in Hull Old Town.

Road Book

Distance: 30 miles (48km) round trip

Terrain: Flat

Surface: Tarmac paths, gravel trails, quiet roads

Difficulty rating: 2

Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 293

From the Guildhall take Alfred Gelder Street and cross the River Hull at Drypool Bridge. At the roundabout go straight on through Clarence Street. At the junction cross the A165 (Wytham) and pick up the Transpennine Trail on the shared use path. Follow the wooden signs for Hornsea/Hornsea Rail Trail. For the return journey follow the wooden signs for Hull.

Fact Box

Train: Hull, Beverley, there is no station in Hornsea

Refreshments:

Green Ginger Café, 8a Bowlalley Lane, Old Town, Hull. HU1 1XR

The Gardeners Country Inn, Hull Road, Skirlaugh, Hull. HU11 5AE

Skirlaugh Picnic Site on old Hull Hornsea railway line – off A165 Hull-Scarborough, South Skirlaugh, Hull. HU11 5AE

Whiteheads Fish and Chips Café and Takeaway, 6 The Greenway, Hornsea, East Yorkshire. HU18 1SL

Bike Shops

Freetown Sports, 70-76 Prospect Street, Hull. HU1 3RT. Tel: 01482 589066

Jobes Cycles, 222 Holderness Road, Hull. HU9 2AA. Tel: 01482 320190

Places of Interest

The Deep Aquarium, Hull

Queens Gardens, Hull

Hull Old Town

Hornsea Museum

Hornsea Mere

Useful websites

www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com ^[4]

www.transpenninetrail.org.uk ^[5]

Maria David, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Maria (pictured right) is a keen cyclist who takes part in a variety of cycling events -from leisure bike rides to cyclosportives, from track cycling to road races. She has even been known to get stuck in the mud doing cyclo cross events.

“Cycling gives me such a sense of freedom, and it is through cycling that I have discovered lots ofinteresting places. One of my most memorable events was riding La Marmotte cyclosportive, a 174km ride in the French Alps, which finished at the top of Alpe d’Huez. Closer to home, I can often be found cycling around London, as it is the quickest way to get from A to B nowadays!”

Image credit: Aodan Higgins

Do you have a favourite cycle route that you would like to share with the Sportsister team? Just get in touch with us at [email protected] ^[6] and tell us all about it.