Mixed · United Kingdom
Marston to Northwich
A flat 50 km road cycling route from Marston, England to Northwich through Middlewich, Cranage and Withington Green, with 90 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding
- Distance
- 49.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 90 m
- Riding time
- 2–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Marston → Northwich
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 90 m
- 50 km
Route description
- Marston
- Middlewich
- Cranage
- Withington Green
- Jodrell Bank
- Swan Green
- Lostock Gralam
- Pickmere
- Great Budworth
- Northwich
Starting at Northwich, the route passes Witton and reaches Middlewich at 10.6 km. The path includes minor roads for nearly half the distance, quiet streets, and some main roads including 7.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes, with a notable stretch on Byley Lane and Holmes Chapel Road. The ascent is minimal, with an elevation gain of 90 m and a highest point at 82 m around 25.8 km near Jodrell Bank.
The route also passes through Cranage, Goostrey, Withington Green, and notable points like Jodrell Bank close to 25.4 km. There is a longest stretch without café, shop, or water between 26.8 km and 40.1 km, about 13.3 km. Facilities including cafés, shops, water points, toilets, bike shops, and railway stations are distributed along the route with three bailout stations at Northwich, Goostrey, and Lostock Gralam.
Surface types vary from 78% paved roads to 8% gravel or unpaved and 14% unmapped sections. Roads include minor roads, paths, quiet streets, main and major roads, plus some track sections, ensuring variety in terrain and traffic conditions. Food and drink options are available at several places including The Butty Bar at the start and Spinner & Bergamot pub near the finish.
Highlights
- Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre at 26.8 km
- Middlewich with a water point and Tesco Express
- Longest shops and cafés stretch between 26.8 and 40.1 km
- Byley Lane and Holmes Chapel Road sections
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 7.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 47% minor road · 17% path · 15% quiet street · 11% main road · 10% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 7.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Byley Lane (3 km), Holmes Chapel Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 78% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel and 14% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 1% climbing · 1% descending · 98% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 40 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 3 water points, 2 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Butty Bar · fast food · 360 m off route
- 0 kmAldi · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 0 kmJack Gee Cycles · bike shop · 460 m off route
- 0 kmSainsbury's · petrol station · 280 m off route
- 0 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 450 m off route
- 10.5 kmTesco Express · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 10.6 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 320 m off route
- 11.4 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 11.4 kmShell · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 19.3 kmThe Trading Post · bakery · 40 m off route
- 20.4 kmGoostrey Village Store · convenience store · 40 m off route
- 20.4 kmGoostrey Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 26.8 kmPlanet Pavilion Cafe · café · on the route
- 26.8 kmToilets · on the route
- 40.1 kmAvandale Lodge · clinic · 170 m off route
- 42.3 kmSpar · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 43.8 kmThe Farm Club · café · 40 m off route
- 47 kmDene Well · spring · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Northwich (station), 820 m off route
- 20.9 km — Goostrey (station), 600 m off route
- 39.8 km — Lostock Gralam (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 7.4 km — Bramble Cuttings (picnic site)
- 10.6 km — Roman Theatre (attraction)
- 26.8 km — Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre (attraction)
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Northwich (820 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Jack Gee Cycles (460 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Butty Bar (360 m), Burger King (390 m)
- Shops
- Aldi (110 m), Sainsbury's (390 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Spinner & Bergamot (100 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 13.3 km from 26.8 to 40.1 km
- 7.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 7.5 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 8% gravel or unpaved surface