BRITAIN’S MOST BEAUTIFUL SHORTCUT

Easy bike rides allow cyclists to simply be in the moment. There is something indefinable about the speed and movement that keeps things interesting and makes the journey magical. Add to that the wind in your face and the sights, sounds and smells of the awakening countryside at this exciting time of year, and even an easy bike ride can become something out of the ordinary.

The most glorious routes are often found beside waterways – gentle rivers, placid lakes, remote reservoirs and, of course, along countryside canals. One of the finest cycles in Britain follows the Crinan Canal, once an