Cycling UK launches the Cantii Way

The new long-distance cycling route takes two-wheeled travellers through the ‘Garden of England’

Read time 2 mins

Published May 26, 2022

Base editorial team
BASE editorial team BASE writers and editors who live and breathe adventure every day. We love adventure storytelling as much as we love adventure itself.

Launching today (26th May), the Cantii Way, is a 145-mile (234 km) cycling route beginning and ending in the village of Wye, close to Ashford in Kent. The route takes in diverse scenery and the rich history of an area often referred to as the ‘Garden of England’.

The route is designed to be a perfect introduction to multi-day cycling and can be ridden in one go, over three to four days or can be split up into sections and cycled over several weekends, with regular train stations along its length. Utilising a combination of quiet country lanes, byways and bridleways, it is manageable by anyone of reasonable fitness, and whilst it is best tackled on a gravel or touring bike, the Cantii Way is do-able on most bikes apart from road bikes.

Making use of part of the North Downs Way Riders’ Route that Cycling UK launched in 2018 in collaboration with Kent Downs AONB, the Cantii Way takes riders deep into Kent’s rich history, vibrant modern culture and natural beauty.

It’s a perfect location for cycling, and the Cantii Way gives you the very best of the Garden of England

To help people access the route and make the most of the opportunities along its length, Cycling UK has produced a free downloadable guide written by mountain bike guide Max Darkins. You can also download the GPX file for free on their website.

Sophie Gordon, Cycling UK’s campaigns officer behind the creation of the Cantii Way says:

‘The Cantii Way is both a perfect introduction to the wonders of cycling around Kent, and also for those looking to try cycle tourism for the first time. It’s not just great for beginners though, Kent is rich in history, rich in culture and rich in cuisine. It’s a perfect location for cycling, and the Cantii Way gives you the very best of the Garden of England.’

The route is named after the Cantii, an Iron Age Celtic tribe that Julius Caesar encountered on his abortive conquest of England in 54 BCE, it is from them that both the county of Kent and city of Canterbury derive their names.

Passing through well-known destinations such as Canterbury, Whitstable and Dover, there are plenty of cultural opportunities to make the most of, and with orchards, vineyards, hop-drying oast houses and local farms along the way, the route can be equal parts culinary and cycling tour if you want it to be.

Cyclists enjoy the views from above the Wye Crown on the Kent Downs.

The new route is a part of Cycling UK’s wider goal to create a network of long-distance, off-road routes across the length and breadth of Great Britain, taking in its amazing places and wild landscapes.

The Cantii Way is the fifth long distance cycling route Cycling UK has launched since its riders’ route for the North Downs Way was unveiled in 2018. A sixth route will be launched at the end of summer in Norfolk.

For more inspiration for UK adventures on two wheels, check out Markus Stitz’ self-filmed short, Wild About Bikepacking, which documents his experience cycling the Argyll’s Islands route

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