North Sea Cycle Route
Encyclopedia
The North Sea Cycle Route is a 6000 km cycle route through England
, Scotland
, Norway
, Sweden
, Denmark
, Germany
, The Netherlands and Belgium
. It is also known as EuroVelo
route 12 (EV12).
The cycle route was officially opened in 2001, and is an international project between the countries participating, making 68 partners in 8 countries. In 2003, the route was awarded a Guinness record
certificate confirming that the North Sea Cycle Route is the world's longest cycle route.
In 2008, journalist Bernie Friend had a book published about the route, Cycling Back to Happiness - Adventure on the North Sea Cycle Route, which follows his attempts to overcome a travel anxiety on the 6,000km coastal cycle path.
of Harwich
at Parkeston. The signposted North Sea Cycle route meets National Cycle Route 51 in a park to the south of Dovercourt
station. The North Sea Cycle route is then signposted with National Cycle Route 51 south-east to Colchester
where it picks up National Cycle Route 1, although cyclists could also take the National Cycle Route 51 in the other direction to Harwich, then take a (seasonal) foot ferry north using NCR 51 to Felixstowe
and then either head directly for the NCR 1 using Regional Cycle Route 41
to Woodbridge
or take a more scenic route using RCR 41 up the Suffolk coast and join NCR 1 near Saxmundham
.
Once on NCR 1, this route takes you all the way to the Scottish border and up to the Shetland Islands.
Due to the closure of the Smyril Line
ferry (Shetland Islands to Norway) service getting from Orkney to Norway can be problematic. There are two weekly flights from Sumburgh Airport
to Bergen
.
, and exits to Sweden at Svinesund
. The route follows the southern coastline, and is approx 1000 kilometers long. Along the route several towns are visited, among them Haugesund
, Stavanger
, Kristiansand
, Arendal
, Larvik
, Sandefjord
, Tønsberg
, Fredrikstad
and Sarpsborg
. The whole route is marked with a sign that reads 1, as it shares it route with the Norwegian national cycle route no 1.
. From Skagen (NE tip of Denmark) it continues south to Grenaa following national route 5. From Grenaa you can take the ferry to Sweden and continue the route in the Swedish section.
, and exits to Germany at Nieuweschans
. The route follows the entire stretch of coastline, and is approx 450 kilometers long. The whole is route is split into two national routes, i.e., the LF1 (Noordzeeroute) and LF10 (Waddenzeeroute).
The LF1 starts from Sluis
to Den Helder
. With a perfect sun and beach just what you need while biking, this route shows the Dutch part of the LF1. The unruffled waters of the sea, happily waving beach grass and sand crunching under your tires: LF1 is to experience the Dutch coast unrivaled. To start the route in Den Helder and cycle through long strips of dunes and seaside fishing villages to major cities such as Haarlem and Middelburg. Definitely fun to bike over the massive Sea Barrage and kilometers of dams, including the world famous storm surge. And thanks to many tourist places along the way, accommodations are available for every taste. This makes an ideal route for an overnight trip or cycling.
The LF10 starts from de Noordzeekust and ends in Nieuweschans
. This route shows you the Groningen and Frisian coast at its best. The salty, fresh wind on your back and gaze at the endless green pastures cycling along vanished villages, congested inland seas, hidden, stinzen, mounds and basalt dikes. Highlights include the former island of Wieringen
in North Holland, part of the route, Lauwersmeer National Park
. The route also passes over all ports with ferry connections to the Dutch Wadden Sea. A little "island hopping" to Vlieland
and Schiermonnikoog
is easily possible.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, The Netherlands and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It is also known as EuroVelo
EuroVelo
]EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation to develop 13 long-distance cycle routes crossing Europe. The total length is , of which more than are in place....
route 12 (EV12).
The cycle route was officially opened in 2001, and is an international project between the countries participating, making 68 partners in 8 countries. In 2003, the route was awarded a Guinness record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
certificate confirming that the North Sea Cycle Route is the world's longest cycle route.
In 2008, journalist Bernie Friend had a book published about the route, Cycling Back to Happiness - Adventure on the North Sea Cycle Route, which follows his attempts to overcome a travel anxiety on the 6,000km coastal cycle path.
England
The English section of the route starts at the PortHarwich International Port
Harwich International Port is a North Sea seaport in Essex, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Stour one mile upstream from the town of Harwich, opposite Port of Felixstowe...
of Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
at Parkeston. The signposted North Sea Cycle route meets National Cycle Route 51 in a park to the south of Dovercourt
Dovercourt
For the neighbourhood in Toronto see Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson-JunctionDovercourt is a small seaside town in Essex, England. It is older than its smaller but better-known neighbour, the port of Harwich, and appears in the Domesday Book of 1086...
station. The North Sea Cycle route is then signposted with National Cycle Route 51 south-east to Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
where it picks up National Cycle Route 1, although cyclists could also take the National Cycle Route 51 in the other direction to Harwich, then take a (seasonal) foot ferry north using NCR 51 to Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
and then either head directly for the NCR 1 using Regional Cycle Route 41
Regional Cycle Route 41
Regional Cycle Route 41 in Suffolk runs from Snape to Bramfield through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Links to* National Cycle Route 1 at Felixstowe and also near Bruisyard* NCR 51 at Felixstowe* RCR 42 at Snape...
to Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
or take a more scenic route using RCR 41 up the Suffolk coast and join NCR 1 near Saxmundham
Saxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
.
Once on NCR 1, this route takes you all the way to the Scottish border and up to the Shetland Islands.
Scotland
The entire route is using National Cycle Route 1.Due to the closure of the Smyril Line
Smyril Line
Smyril Line is a Faroese shipping company, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland, previously, it also served Norway and the United Kingdom. Smyril is the Faroese word for the merlin....
ferry (Shetland Islands to Norway) service getting from Orkney to Norway can be problematic. There are two weekly flights from Sumburgh Airport
Sumburgh Airport
-Other tenants:*Maritime and Coastguard Agency *Bristow Helicopters*Bond Helicopters -Incidents and accidents:...
to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
.
Norway
The Norwegian part starts in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and exits to Sweden at Svinesund
Svinesund
Svinesund is a sound separating the Swedish municipality of Strömstad in the province of Bohuslän in the county of Västra Götaland from the Norwegian municipality of Halden in the county of Østfold....
. The route follows the southern coastline, and is approx 1000 kilometers long. Along the route several towns are visited, among them Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
, Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
, Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
, Sandefjord
Sandefjord
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
, Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
and Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.Sarpsborg is part of the fifth largest urban area in Norway when paired with neighbouring Fredrikstad...
. The whole route is marked with a sign that reads 1, as it shares it route with the Norwegian national cycle route no 1.
Denmark
The Danish section starts at the German border on the west coast following national route 1 all the way north to SkagenSkagen
Skagen is a projection of land and a town, with a population of 8,515 , in Region Nordjylland on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
. From Skagen (NE tip of Denmark) it continues south to Grenaa following national route 5. From Grenaa you can take the ferry to Sweden and continue the route in the Swedish section.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands part starts in SluisSluis
Sluis is the name of both a municipality and a town located in the west of Zeelandic Flanders, in the south-western part of the Netherlands....
, and exits to Germany at Nieuweschans
Nieuweschans
Bad Nieuweschans is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Oldambt, about 12 km east of Winschoten. In April 2009 the municipality of Reiderland changed the name from Nieuweschans, to promote the town as a spa...
. The route follows the entire stretch of coastline, and is approx 450 kilometers long. The whole is route is split into two national routes, i.e., the LF1 (Noordzeeroute) and LF10 (Waddenzeeroute).
The LF1 starts from Sluis
Sluis
Sluis is the name of both a municipality and a town located in the west of Zeelandic Flanders, in the south-western part of the Netherlands....
to Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
. With a perfect sun and beach just what you need while biking, this route shows the Dutch part of the LF1. The unruffled waters of the sea, happily waving beach grass and sand crunching under your tires: LF1 is to experience the Dutch coast unrivaled. To start the route in Den Helder and cycle through long strips of dunes and seaside fishing villages to major cities such as Haarlem and Middelburg. Definitely fun to bike over the massive Sea Barrage and kilometers of dams, including the world famous storm surge. And thanks to many tourist places along the way, accommodations are available for every taste. This makes an ideal route for an overnight trip or cycling.
The LF10 starts from de Noordzeekust and ends in Nieuweschans
Nieuweschans
Bad Nieuweschans is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Oldambt, about 12 km east of Winschoten. In April 2009 the municipality of Reiderland changed the name from Nieuweschans, to promote the town as a spa...
. This route shows you the Groningen and Frisian coast at its best. The salty, fresh wind on your back and gaze at the endless green pastures cycling along vanished villages, congested inland seas, hidden, stinzen, mounds and basalt dikes. Highlights include the former island of Wieringen
Wieringen
Wieringen is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It consists of a former island, also named Wieringen, and there are plans to make Wieringen an island again by widening the Amsteldiepkanaal into a lake called the Wieringerrandmeer.-Population centres :The...
in North Holland, part of the route, Lauwersmeer National Park
Lauwersmeer National Park
Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer is a national park in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, the Netherlands. It consists of the southern and eastern parts of the Lauwersmeer .-History:...
. The route also passes over all ports with ferry connections to the Dutch Wadden Sea. A little "island hopping" to Vlieland
Vlieland
Vlieland is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. The municipality of Vlieland has only one major town: Oost-Vlieland . It is the second-least densely populated municipality in the Netherlands ....
and Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog is an island, a municipality, and a national park in the northern Netherlands. Schiermonnikoog is one of the West Frisian Islands, and is part of the province of Friesland....
is easily possible.