Holkham 70.3. Apple Watch Ran Out of Power on the Run
A rolling 90 km road cycling loop from Wells-next-the-Sea, England through Holkham, Burnham Norton and Stanhoe, with 441 m of climbing. Most of it (52.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 64.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 89.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 441 m
- Riding time
- 3–4 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Wells-next-the-Sea
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 441 m
- 90 km
Route description
- Wells-next-the-Sea
- Holkham
- Burnham Norton
- Stanhoe
- Shernborne
- Sandringham
- Flitcham
- East Rudham
- Dunton
- Wells-next-the-Sea
This route begins and ends in Wells-next-the-Sea, taking a loop through several places including Holkham, Burnham Market, and Docking. The road surface is predominantly paved (97%), with minor gravel or unpaved sections (2%) and some unmapped parts (1%). The road types vary: 33.4km on main roads, 23.4km on minor roads, 19.2km on major roads, and smaller segments on quiet streets, paths and tracks. Rider should expect 52.6km on main roads without a cycle lane, and 64.4km on roads with posted speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Highlights
- The Mount peak at 89m near km 34
- Two climbs: 2.1km at 2.5%, 1.7km at 2.5%
- Wells-next-the-Sea start and finish
- Longest named road: Fakenham Road, 20km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 55.9 km | 2.1 km · 50 m · 2.5 % · max 4.5 % | 89 m |
| Unnamed climb | 82.9 km | 1.7 km · 43 m · 2.5 % · max 3.8 % | 72 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 59% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 64.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 38% main road · 26% minor road · 22% major road · 11% quiet street · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 52.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 64.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Fakenham Road (20 km), Stanhoe Road (6 km), Main Road (6 km), Wells Road (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 12% descending · 76% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.1 km from 5.9 km, dropping 29 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 23 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops, 1 water point, 3 petrol stations, 7 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 8.6 kmNisa Local · convenience store · 360 m off route
- 8.6 kmDavid Jagger · pharmacy · 370 m off route
- 11 kmThe Victoria · restaurant · 80 m off route
- 11 kmE-Motion Cycles · bike shop · 60 m off route
- 14.6 kmDrinking water · 160 m off route
- 21.1 kmDeepdale Stores · supermarket · 260 m off route
- 21.1 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 24.4 kmPharmacy · 630 m off route
- 33.3 kmDocking Fish Bar · fast food · 70 m off route
- 44.5 kmBoots · pharmacy · 650 m off route
- 45 kmBiagio's Coffee Shop · café · 70 m off route
- 50.8 kmFfolkes Arms · pub · on the route
- 54.8 kmValley Filling Station · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 61.5 kmThe Dukes Head · restaurant · 50 m off route
- 65.6 kmTattersett Tea Rooms and Restaurant · café · 40 m off route
- 70.4 kmAviator · pub · 70 m off route
- 88.9 kmCourtyard Cafe · café · 240 m off route
- 88.9 kmToilets · 160 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 8 km — Wells-on-Sea (station), 1.2 km off route
Worth a stop
- 1.2 km — Obelisk (monument)
- 17.5 km — Priory church of Saint Mary (ruins)
- 34.2 km — The Mount (peak, 89 m)
- 48.2 km — Saint Mary (ruins)
- 70.6 km — Dragonfly Hide (viewpoint)
- 88.2 km — Holkham Park (attraction)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Cycle Hire (340 m)
- Food and coffee
- Courtyard Cafe (260 m)
Know before you go
- 12.2km stretch without café, shop or water between km 21.1 and 33.3
- 52.6km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 64.4km on fast roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- Short 2% average climbs but gradients up to 4.5%