Reading by Bike: Routes, Hire and Riding the Kennet Path

Getting a bike: hire and the town-centre start

Reading has no city-wide bike-share scheme, so hire is mostly through local shops such as those around Caversham Road and the Wokingham Road end of town, where a day's hybrid rental typically sits in the region of £20 to £35 and weekend rates are often better value. Book ahead for a Saturday in May or June, when the towpath fills up. Many hotels in the town centre will store a bike if you ask, but few have dedicated racks, so a folding lock and a wall bracket in your room matter more than you might expect.

The natural start is the Oracle riverside or the station forecourt; both put you minutes from the Kennet and Avon Canal. From Reading Station, head down Station Road, cross at the Forbury, and pick up the towpath east of Blake's Lock. The first mile through the Oracle and the old Huntley and Palmers brewery buildings is slow going, with blind corners and pedestrians, so treat it as a warm-up rather than a route.

The Kennet Path east and west

East from Blake's Lock, the path runs clean and flat towards Sonning and Shiplake, roughly seven miles of gravel and packed earth past the Dreadnought and the outskirts of Woodley. It is the best riding in the area for a relaxed half-day: no traffic, plenty of benches, and pubs at Sonning Eye. Surface is decent for a hybrid but hard work on narrow road tyres. In winter, expect standing water between the weir and Shiplake; the section floods most years, so check the canal trust's notices before setting out.

West is wilder and less groomed. The towpath towards Theale and Aldermaston Wharf is rough in places, with tree roots and a couple of awkward gates, but it is quieter and the views open out across the Kennet valley. Ride it in autumn for the colour, or on a dry April morning. I would choose the eastern stretch for a first visit and the western one if you have a full day and a bike with wider tyres; the western path is not one to attempt after heavy rain on a road bike.

Hills, back lanes and the Chilterns edge

For something with gradients, head north-west to Caversham and up through Emmer Green towards Mapledurham and Whitchurch-on-Thames. The climb out of Caversham is short and sharp, and the lanes beyond are narrow and popular with local clubs at weekends, so ride early. A loop of roughly 20 miles takes in Goring and Streatley, with a stop at the riverside in Goring; it is a solid half-day with a couple of proper hills and good surfaces throughout.

South of the river, the lanes around Shinfield and Arborfield are flatter and less scenic, useful mainly for a quick hour if you are staying near the Madejski Stadium. The real draw is the Ridgeway edge towards Streatley, which you can link to the Goring loop. Skip the A4 and the Oxford Road entirely; both are fast, narrow in places and unpleasant on a bike, and there is no safe parallel route for much of the Bath Road corridor.

Where to stay and what to skip

For a cycling trip, I would book near the Oracle or between the station and the Forbury: you are five minutes from the canal, close to the hire shops, and can leave the car behind. Caversham is quieter and better value on weekdays, with the added advantage of being on the right side of the river for the Chilterns loop, though the bridge adds ten minutes of traffic to any town-centre start. Avoid the business parks out by Thames Valley Park if you want to ride without a car transfer.

Skip the Reading Half Marathon weekend in spring, when the towpath and town centre are congested and hotel rates jump; the same goes for graduation week in July. Late September is the sweet spot: dry paths, quiet pubs and comfortable temperatures. Bring lights for the towpath even in summer, since the tree cover between Blake's Lock and Sonning darkens early, and carry a spare tube, as the flint on the western stretch is unforgiving.