Take the bikes and enjoy a healthy, fit and fun day out with the family; follow our top suggestions for the best cycling destinations in the UK

The Isle of Wight, known as the garden isle, is the perfect place to notch up your first end-to-end; riding the spine of the island, from east to west only takes a day. Riding up on high chalk wolds is also a trip that affords great views of the whole island. Alternatively try the cycleway around the island if heights aren't your thing.

Take your bike on the ferry to Cowes and try the rail-to-trail cyclist's route leading to Newport, then follow the Tennyson Trail towards the amusements of Alum Bay and the chalky pinnacles of the Needles. In between cycling there are plenty of family activities to explore, such as Butterfly World and Flamingo Park in Ryde or the Big Cat Sanctuary in Vendor.

For more information: Visit www.wightlink.co.uk/cycling/index for details of six island routes

Norfolk's mainly flat landscape is ideal cycling for those who want to take it easy. It has few major roads so there are plenty of opportunities to take to quiet byways and investigate areas like the Norfolk Broads and the Fens. Explore miles of beaches, fishing towns and imposing Martello towers, relics of Britain's defences against Napoleon.

The Norfolk Coast Cycleway runs from Cromer to Kings Lynn, dipping inland to Holkham, with its quiet lanes, along the way. More experienced cyclists can take advantage of the section of the Hull to Harwich Cycle Network route which runs through West Norfolk.

For more information: Click here for details of the Norfolk Coast Cycleway

The New Forest has over 144 square miles of car-free cycle tracks to explore and is ideal for families. Cycling on the road is relatively safe, as most roads in the New Forest have a 40mph speed limit although it's important for cyclists to stay alert so as not to collide with the many ponies that have a habit of just standing in the road! The ponies (there are some 5,000 of the furry beasts) are tame and can be petted, but mums will be very protective of their foals, so treat them with respect. There's plenty to see in this 900-year-old forest, with wildlife including deer, and beauty spots such as Beaulieu and neighbouring Bucklers Hard. And don't forget to take a break and enjoy a cream tea!

For more information: click here for details of the New Forest cycle routes and code of conduct

The county of Kent has made great strides towards developing cycle tourism recently and tourist information centres have leaflets on the many cycle routes to explore.

Some of the more interesting routes include the Crab and Winkle Way named after the disused Crab and Winkle railway line. This is an off-road route running for 12 km between the city of Canterbury and pretty Whitstable. The Heron Trail takes you on a 29-kilometre route around the Hoo peninsula and you can leave the trail to explore a nature reserve famous for its herons, which give the Trail its name.

For more information: Click here for details of the Crab and Winkle Way

Click here for details of the Heron Trail

The Peak District, which lies mainly in Derbyshire, offers some safe and scenic cycling for beginners, plus some really challenging stuff for the more advanced.

Families can enjoy quiet, easy, traffic-free cycling on a network of disused railway lines. The High Peak Trail, formerly the High Peak and Cromford Railway, runs for 17 miles on wide, well-surfaced paths through White Peak country with its rolling hills. To find out more about the railway you can visit the museum and visitor centre on the trail at High Peak Junction, near Matlock Bath.

For more information: Click here for details of the High Peak Trail

The great thing about cycling the islands is that they have spectacular mountain scenery but the roads tend to hug the shoreline where it's flat, so you can enjoy the view without wearing yourself out.

There's the added attraction of glorious beaches to stop off at - where you'll often be the only visitor - not to mention the excellent views across the water to other islands. Try to make time to get to the Outer Hebrides where the quiet lanes are a cyclist's heaven.

For more information: Click here for more details of cycling in the Hebrides

The Celtic Trail runs from the Old Severn Bridge at Chepstow to Pembrokeshire National Park, winding through some scenic countryside, taking in country lanes, canal towpaths, and disused railway lines. There are a few hills to contend with, but on the whole it's suitable for everyone. There is also a high-level route from Pontypridd for mountain bikers which climbs to heights of over 600 metres for some great views.

From Bridgend the trail goes on to Swansea Bay and the ruggedly beautiful Gower peninsula, the Millennium Coastal Path in Carmarthenshire, then on up to Fishguard in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Take a diversion at the Worm's Head on the Gower coast for seal spotting!

For more information: Click here for details of the Celtic Trail

The Cornish Way, part of the National Cycle Network, runs for 180 miles from the Cornwall county boundary near Bude to Land's End, meandering through towns and villages along the way, some inland, some on the coast.

Most of the trails use quiet roads and there are traffic-free off-road sections too. All the trails have traditional Cornish as well as standard English names. The route also encompasses the Camel Trail (An Hens Camhayl), a level, traffic-free trail, suitable for all abilities, which runs along a disused railway line, ending up at the pretty Camel Estuary.

For more information: Click here for details of the Cornish Way and the Camel Trail

The Cotswolds offer good cycling on quiet roads. There are some gentle hills but overall nothing involving too much effort. The area has lots of handsome towns like Cheltenham and pretty villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, plus plenty of old pubs and some lovely rolling English countryside. You can cycle all or part of the 100-mile Cotswold Way, which runs all the way from Chipping Campden to Bath.

There are miles of good road cycling but also plenty of off-road opportunities too. Narrow winding roads provide a challenge and there are some great viewpoints, like the one above the chocolate-box village of Painswick.

For more information: Click here for details of the Cotswold Way