Geograph - photograph every grid square

The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes. It was created by the charity Sustrans Link (Sustainable Transport), aided by a National Lottery grant.

Many routes aim to minimise contact with motor traffic, though 70% of them are on roads. In some cases the NCN uses pedestrian routes, disused railways, minor roads, canal towpaths, or traffic-calmed routes in towns and cities.

National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network passes through Watford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Worksop, Sheffield, Manchester, Blackburn, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal and Windermere, and will connect London and Threlkeld (nr. Keswick) in Cumbria when complete.

Link National Route 6 on the Sustrans web site.

The National Cycle Network was opened in 2000.To commemorate this major project by Sustrans, the Royal Bank of Scotland donated a thousand mileposts to the project.

There are four different designs of Millennium Mileposts. The first post to be commissioned was designed by the English artist, John Mills, and his piece was entitled the Fossil Tree. The post takes the form of an abstract tree with relief imagery of fossils depicting the passage of time from early primitive creatures to the ultimate demise of fossil fuel driven technology. This milepost is sometimes nicknamed "Fish on its nose".

The Scottish sculptor Iain McColl designed the second post, the Cockerel. The influences behind this one are Miro's "The Fork" and Branusci's "The Cock". This design has additional space that has been left for partners to cast their own short message.

The design by Welsh artist, Andrew Rowe, is based upon the nautical and industrial heritage of his native Swansea and can have up to four directional fingers. An alternative interpretation is that it is inspired by the design of a Welsh love-spoon.

The fourth post is titled "Tracks", designed by Belfast artist David Dudgeon. The main design on the post shows the tracks made in the landscape by cyclists. This is complemented by a piece of text exploring sensations and observations one makes whilst travelling through various environments. The "Irish" design was the last to be implemented and installed. It was only at last in 2024 that I got to see one.
Although sometimes identified as the "English", "Welsh", "Scottish" and "Irish" mileposts respectively, mileposts of all designs can be found anywhere throughout the United Kingdom.

Sustrans initiated a program for volunteers to repaint all the mileposts in 2021.

1000 Millennium cast iron mileposts were funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network, and found along the cycles routes through the UK.

There are four different types of posts, "Fossil Tree" by John Mills, "The Cockerel" by Iain McColl, "Rowe Type" by Andrew Rowe, and "Tracks" by David Dudgeon. The four artists are from each country of the UK though all posts can be found in all four countries.

Read the National Cycle Network article Link