The Macmillan Castles Bike Ride is set to return for its 25th year on Sunday 4th June 2023 and is expected to attract around 200 to 300 riders.
The Macmillan Castles Bike Ride Returns for 2023
Blog Posts
Free Family Learn to Ride and Cycle Confidence Events
Swindon Cycle Campaign has received grant funding through Sports England and Sustrans to help support local people to learn to cycle. With the Together Fund grant we’re planning four ‘Family Learn to Ride and Cycle Confidence’ events throughout the year. The events will be completely free to attend and offer a hub of support and... Continue Reading →
Interactive cycle parking map
With the increase in cycle parking stands in Swindon since the pandemic (thanks to Government funding) it seemed a good idea to plot these on a Google map layer. The new interactive map has now been launched and has clickable pins that show a photo of the cycle parking, and details about whether the infrastructure... Continue Reading →
Christmas Children’s Bike Appeal
Have you got any children’s bikes sat in the garage or not being used? Children grow out of bikes so quickly and a once dearly loved bike can easily be forgotten about. That pre-loved bike could make a local child’s Christmas this year. Matt Jones, a local bike mechanic who runs bike repair business ‘Run... Continue Reading →
Free Cycling Facilities on our Doorsteps
Whilst we eagerly await the new cycling facilities planned at the Moredon Sports Hub here are a few other great and free ways to enjoy cycling with the family over winter. Thanks to the efforts of wonderful local community groups and volunteers, these facilities exist to use for free at anytime. West Wheels All Wheels... Continue Reading →
Saving Money on Cycling
The rising cost of living has led to more people getting on their bikes as a cheap form of transport and leisure activity. You really don’t need any special clothing or equipment to get started. For most of my bike trips I’m in normal clothes and riding a secondhand shopping bike. Just invest in good... Continue Reading →
Learning to Ride a Bike!
Recently our little person passed a huge milestone and learnt how to ride a bike of his own! Unlike my generation, who mostly learnt to cycle using stabilisers, many children nowadays have what’s known as a balance bike. You can either buy a specific balance bike or just take the pedals (and stabilisers!) off an... Continue Reading →
Getting More Women and Girls on Bikes
I love getting around by bike, it’s such a feeling of freedom and it’s great fun. It’s a healthy way to travel, for both me and the planet. It’s a cheap form of transport and I can carry all the things I need with ease in my basket, pannier bags and child-seat. I’m very aware... Continue Reading →
FREE, fun, guided rides with Let’s Ride Swindon
Do you want to build confidence getting around your local area by bike? How about discovering more of the hidden gems of Swindon? British Cycling volunteers like me organise regular, FREE, guided bike rides across Swindon. We’re all fully trained and have first aid qualifications so you’re in safe hands. Let’s Ride is a nationwide... Continue Reading →
Bikes for Ukraine
The people of Swindon have been doing their bit to help support the people of Ukraine through the Swindon Welcomes Ukraine project. The project helps new arrivals from Ukraine find community and fulfilment in the local area. Within this project a ‘Bikes for Ukraine’ scheme was set up reflecting the requests of new arrivals wanting... Continue Reading →
Going Car-Free
With the cost-of-living crisis we are all being forced to look more closely at our finances. We decided to go car-free around 4 years ago, after finally admitting to ourselves that the costs of repairs, insurance and services just weren’t worth it. It has saved us hundreds, if not thousands, each year since. We’d gone... Continue Reading →
Making Swindon a Better Place to Cycle
What does Swindon Cycle Campaign (SCC) do? Well, we aim to be the voice of cycling in Swindon – a group of volunteers dedicated to making our town a safer and more attractive place to cycle in. This voice needs to be as diverse as possible and we desperately need voices of people who would... Continue Reading →
Highway Code Changes to Support Walking and Cycling
The Highway Code has been updated to help improve road safety and offer greater protection for vulnerable road users in Britain, making it safer for people to make journeys by foot and cycle. The revised Highway code mainly seeks to clarify existing rules. Most notably this includes a Hierarchy of Road Users, where those who... Continue Reading →
Highway Code Changes to Support Walking and Cycling
The Highway Code is being updated to help improve road safety and offer greater protection for vulnerable road users in Britain. The new rules of the Highway Code are expected to come into place on January 29th and, providing parliament accepts them, they offer significant improvements to help make it safer for people to make... Continue Reading →
Christmas Children’s Bike Appeal
Have you got any children’s bikes sat in the garage or not being used? Children grow out of bikes so quickly and a once dearly loved bike can easily be forgotten about. That pre-loved bike could make a local child’s Christmas this year. Matt Jones, who runs local bike repair business ‘Run & Repair’, is... Continue Reading →
Hayes Knoll Road – A Safer Route to Cricklade
If you’ve cycled out to Cricklade from Swindon recently you’ve probably noticed the concrete blocks across the junction at Hayes Knoll Road (near the Cricklade & Blunsdon Railway). Access is avaliable for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders and the changes have created a much safer and more attractive environment to enjoy. Drivers can still access the... Continue Reading →
Swindon’s LCWIP
Have you heard of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, or LCWIP, for short? Probably not. It’s doesn’t sound very exciting however it is an important document which, in the very near future, will shape our streets. Across the UK councils are producing LCWIPs as a planning tool to help prioritise active travel in... Continue Reading →
Streets for our futures
The quiet streets of the pandemic gave us a glimpse of what living in a low-traffic neighbourhood could be like, and it saw a huge sore in the amount of people walking and cycling. I enjoyed being able to walk in the middle of a traffic-free street, rather than squeezed onto the usual narrow, cracked... Continue Reading →
Moredon Sports Hub
Something exciting is happening at the end of this year - Swindon will have a new cycling, football and wellbeing hub! Yet to be given its official name, the multisport and recreation hub has been years in the making, and work on its construction is now underway at the site in Moredon. Swindon Borough Council... Continue Reading →
FREE, fun, led rides starting up again soon!
With lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, British Cycling volunteers like me are preparing to restart a programme of free, guided bike rides across Swindon. From the spring, our local team of fully qualified ride leaders will be putting on rides especially aimed at those who bought a bike, or returned to cycling, over the past... Continue Reading →
Missing Links
Lockdown has highlighted to all of us how much we value being able to go outside and explore – to get a breath of fresh air, listen to the birds and get some exercise. But sometimes, it can be hard to know where to cycle if a lack of safe routes are available. Cycling UK,... Continue Reading →
Cycling from 8 to 80, and Beyond
Would you be confident making a journey by bike with your 8-year-old child or your 80-year-old granny? Possibly not. However, all-new planning guidance could help change that. In July last year, following the 2020 lockdown ‘Cycle Boom’, the government released an important document which could really help us move towards the goal of becoming a... Continue Reading →
Get Cycling for World Bicycle Relief this New Year
I’m a keen advocate of cycling not being a seasonal sporting activity but an important year-round mode of transport. I love seeing the changing seasons by bike and wrapping up on those frosty winter mornings. There couldn’t be a better time than now to get out into the fresh air and enjoy nature, with so... Continue Reading →
Lockdown in the Saddle
It feels wrong to admit it but in some ways I quite enjoy lockdown, notably the quieter roads and chance to slow down. Less traffic on my local streets also means that I feel more confident to make more journeys with my little boy on my bike. Despite being a fairly confident and regular bicycle... Continue Reading →
Give a Child the Gift of a Bike this Christmas
Difficult times often seem to bring out the best in the community. Matt Jones, who runs local bike repair business ‘Run & Repair’, has been going above and beyond to help people get from A to B this year, amid the difficult challenges brought about by the pandemic. Since April, Matt has single-handedly received, repaired,... Continue Reading →
Highway Code changes – Consultation
Would you like it if drivers gave you a bit more wiggle room when you’re cycling? Or maybe if passing a row of parked vehicles wasn’t like playing a game of Russian roulette with car doors? Well back in July the government launched a long overdue consultation on proposed Highway Code changes, to update it... Continue Reading →
The challenges of new urban infrastructure
During lockdown the UK saw a renaissance in the popularity of cycling, largely as a result of less motor traffic on our streets. Following this, the government made funding pots avaliable for councils across the country to trial temporary road space re-allocation schemes, aimed at encouraging a continuation of ‘active travel’ (ie walking and cycling)... Continue Reading →
Free Led Bike Rides in Swindon
If you are amongst the thousands of people up and down the country who have recently discovered (or re-discovered) the joys of cycling there is some good news for you. British Cycling has recruited a team of specially trained volunteer ride leaders who are ready to help you explore more of Swindon by bike. Ride... Continue Reading →
Lockdown Cycle Boom
Have you been cycling more since lockdown? Well the country has seen a cycle boom thanks quieter roads, good weather, cycling as daily exercise and bike shops being listed as essential businesses. Swindon’s cycle retailers have never been so busy, with Mitchell Cycles reporting queues of up to 1.5 hours as everyone dashes to get... Continue Reading →
Reflections on lockdown
Well, who would have thought just a few months ago that this country would be in ‘lockdown’ because of a global pandemic? Whilst the reasons for the lockdown are undeniably terrible, some of the changes to our environment and lifestyles have arguably positive elements. The quieter roads have opened-up much more space for people to... Continue Reading →
Safe cycle links with Highworth and Wootton Bassett
For years, Swindon Cycle Campaign has been pushing to get a safe, traffic-free cycle path to link Swindon with outlying towns such as Highworth and Royal Wootton Bassett. The benefits of creating such links could be numerous, particularly in terms of reducing the demand for car travel and increasing safety. Whilst councillors have typically been... Continue Reading →
Child Cycle Training in Swindon
Until we get a cycle network resembling some of northern European countries, our children need to learn how to keep safe whilst riding on our current roads and cycle paths. Cycling charity, Life Cycle UK works in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to deliver Bikeability (cycling proficiency) in Swindon’s schools. They now also offer fun... Continue Reading →
Access to the countryside
Lots of people complain about Swindon, but I think that there are plenty of things to be positive about in our town. Having been born and bred here I was quick to move away and see the ‘real world’ at 18, see how much greener the grass was on the other side. After living in... Continue Reading →
The E-Bike Revolution
Have you tried an electric bike yet? E-bikes are fast becoming a more common sight on our streets, opening up cycling to a whole new group of people. In the UK we’re only just catching onto the e-bike revolution, whereas approximately a third of bike sales in countries such as Germany and Holland are now... Continue Reading →
Just Like Riding a Bike
Can you remember when you first learned to ride a bike? Like many people I learnt as a child. I must have been about 3 or 4 and I had a little red Raleigh with a doll seat on the back. I loved riding my bike and spent most of my summer holidays as a... Continue Reading →
Safe routes to school and work
I generally love my commute to work on my bike, it’s the perfect way for a gym-aphobe like me to get some exercise, avoid traffic and enjoy some (mostly) fresh air. I’m lucky that my route is predominately on quiet roads and shared paths, but there are some sections of busier roads which I just... Continue Reading →
Free cycle confidence courses and led rides this summer in Swindon
Are you tempted to dust off your bike this summer and try cycling? It’s a fantastic, fun way to get active and explore your local area and there’s plenty of opportunities this summer to get cycling for free! Swindon Borough Council are supporting the ‘Let’s Ride’ initiative, a partnership between HSBC and British Cycling to... Continue Reading →
Swindon Cycle Campaign 