AS the summer holidays begin its a great time to explore Worcestershire’s wonderful countryside on two wheels.

You can plan routes for yourself but, to help you find some of the best and safest routes, local cycle campaigners have worked with the local councils and others to provide details on suggested routes around the County.

Some of these routes can be found and downloaded from the county council website worcestershire.gov.uk by searching for ‘Cycle Routes’. They include eight signed routes from 6.5 to 14 miles starting in Worcester.

Also on the website is the ‘Bredon and Around the Hill’ route (signed as L21) and longer routes using the signed National Cycling Network leading out from Worcester to Droitwich, Pershore and Evesham plus a route between Bewdley and Bridgnorth.

Malvern Hills District Council offers six routes of between 5.5 miles and 8.5 miles in the scenic Teme Valley.

These, together with maps for your smart phone, can be found by searching for ‘Teme Valley Trail Guide’ at visitthemalverns.org

Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk provides suggested on and off-road cycle routes in the AONB.

Malvern Hills Trust has developed three excellent and well signed mountain bike trails to suit all abilities at malvernhills.org.uk.

The ‘Meadows of the Malvern Chase’ is a 34-mile ride (with shorter options) linking Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s reserves in the south-west corner of the county – worcswildlifetrust.co.uk (NB The linking route from Queenhill is no longer cyclable).

Over in Wychavon, Cycle Evesham Vale, with support from GWR and Wychavon Council, has just launched the ‘Evesham Vale Rail Trails’ and a free app. There are six routes of between 17 and 27 miles, all starting from Evesham station – cycleeveshamvale.org/valerailtrails/

Not to be outdone, Wyre Forest Cycle Group is busy working with Wyre District Council to develop seven short leisure rides. A website – wyreforestcycling.co.uk – has just been launched where rides have started to be uploaded.

Printed copies of some of the above can often be found at tourist information centres and the county’s excellent independent bike shops.

We’ll also have supplies on the Bike Worcester stand at the Worcester Show on Sunday, August 15.

Why not leave the car at home, cycle over and say hi!