Migratory birds fly above green headlands and rocky coastlines; sand dunes merge into the crashing waves of the North Sea; ancient cathedral spires pierce city skylines; country lanes twist through layered hilltops. With diverse nature and history, flat lanes, and rural idyll, the East of England is perfect to explore from your saddle.

This Collection guides you 218.7 miles (352 km) from Hull to Fakenham, discovering the beautiful countryside and towns along the way. Although the official Sustrans route runs 202 miles (325 km), I’ve included a few small detours to interesting sites nearby. You’ll discover the East of England in seven stages, ranging in distance from 21.5 to 38.4 miles (34.7 to 61.8 km). Of course, you can also feel free to lengthen or shorten the routes.

Aside from a hillier section through the Lincolnshire Wolds, this adventure is mostly flat making it a great choice for any ability. You climb no more than 1,181 feet (360 m) in one day and most of the stages have less than 328 feet (100 m) of elevation gain.

You explore the rich counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk following the National Cycle Network 1 and 65 most of the way. You ride along a network of country lanes and traffic-free paths, such as the historic Water Railway Cycle Route, allowing you to enjoy the rural scenes away from traffic. However, although you ride on cycle paths around 20% of the time, you cannot avoid some busier sections through towns and cities. Any bike is suitable for this adventure.

The coastal counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk are brimming with history stretching from Norman invasion to pirate pillaging and beyond. On this route, you can visit the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, explore 12th-century abbeys and medieval castles, marvel at Sandringham House and Gardens, the Queen’s favourite country retreat, and enjoy a slower pace of life at historic harbours.

Your bike will also take you to spectacular nature spots. You can watch wading and migratory birds flock to the Snettisham Nature Reserve on the Norfolk coast, enjoy a picnic in front of the colourful striped cliffs of Hunstanton, and work up a sweat cycling through the hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds. There are plenty of opportunities to swim in the sea and relax on the beach, too.

Each stage ends in a town, village, or city, with accommodation options and places to grab a bite to eat. The area also has a number of campsites if you prefer to sleep outdoors. You are never far from a pub, shop, or cafe on this route but it’s still worth packing a few snacks in your panniers.

The start of your adventure in Hull is easy to reach by train. Unfortunately, it is slightly harder to return home from Fakenham as the town has no station. Here, you can either backpedal to King’s Lynn (22.4 miles/36 km) or continue to Norwich (30 miles/48.2 km). Both towns have train connections.

This route makes up the northern leg of the Hull to Harwich route through the East. You can find more information on the southern sections, here: komoot.com/collection/940635/flat-lanes-green-fields-cycling-the-ncn-1-from-fakenham-to-harwich