The section of the North Sea Cycle Route along the UK’s east coast is the longest in any country. In Norfolk, a stretch of the route was recently named the Lord Nelson Way after the county’s most famous son. It even passes through the village of his birth – Burnham Thorpe. Entering Lincolnshire, the route joins the mostly traffic-free Boston to Lincoln cycle route which features a fabulous art trail. The breath-taking Yorkshire and Northumberland coastlines offer castles, islands, cliffs and wide beaches all to yourself. To the north lies Scotland and the route takes in the country’s capital, Edinburgh, the lively university city of Dundee and Aberdeen, the ‘Granite City’.

EuroVelo 12 is ending in the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. From the mainland to Orkney, there are ferries connecting John o' Groats to Burwick and another from Thurso to Stromness. To reach the Shetland Islands, you need to take the ferry connecting Kirkwall and Lerwick. Be careful: some ferries are only running during summer.

Find here the detailed tracks of of EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route in the United Kingdom and start planning your next cycling holidays!

Countries

Legend

Development status
  • Certified Section of at least 300 km that has successfully undergone the certification process in line with ECF’s European Certification Standard. It is the highest quality level on the EuroVelo network
  • Developed with EuroVelo signs Developed route (see category below) with continuous signing along the route, incorporating EuroVelo route information panels.
  • Developed Route developed for cyclists and signed in line with the respective national standard (i.e. it is part of a local, regional or national cycle network). There must also be a website providing information to users. Developed route can be heterogeneous in terms of infrastructure: type of cycling infrastructure, surface, width, gradients, etc
  • Under development Route containing sections that require further development (e.g. stretches on public highways with high levels of traffic). Cyclists are advised to use public transportation to skip these non-developed stretches.
  • Planning Undeveloped route with no detailed information publicly available on the Internet. The itinerary communicated is a proposal for the best possible option currently available. It may also contain dangerous sections. Cyclists are advised to use public transportation to skip these non-developed stretches.
  • Public transport link

Markers

  • Natural Heritage
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Culinary Delights
  • Maritime Heritage / The Rhine / The Meuse
  • Other Point of Interest
  • Bus station
  • Train station
  • Mobility info center

National & Regional Information

Sustrans

National EuroVelo Coordination Centre

Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle in the UK. They manage the National Cycle Route Network, a UK-wide network of more than 16,000 miles of signed paths and routes. The National Cycle Network paths have been launched on OS Maps that you can access here. Sustrans is also the National EuroVelo Coordination Centre in the UK.

0117 926 8893

Dover - Shetland Islands on National Cycle Route 1

Further information on Sustrans' National Route 1, a long-distance cycle adventure stretching 1,695 miles through some of the UK’s most stunning scenery. EuroVelo 12 follows the route along the east coast and EuroVelo 5, from Caterbury to Dover.

Route 1: Fakenham – Harwich

The route follows the Fakenham to Harwich route, which is also part of the North Sea Cycle Route; a 6,000 km chain of exciting experiences waiting for the cycling tourist to discover. The route is one of the flattest National Cycle Network routes and is the ideal way to experience the tranquil beauty of the East Anglian countryside.

Route 51: Harwich - Colchester

Following national route 51 you travel inland picking up the River Colne near Wivenhoe before arriving in Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester. Colchester attracts more than 4.5 million visitors each year so make time to explore its unique heritage and history.