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The North-South Divide (NSD) is an unusual but interesting route spanning west to east across the central belt of the UK that takes in a contrast of landscapes from the Cambrian Mountains in Wales to the Fens in East Anglia and everything in between.Starting at the well-known university town of Aberystwyth on the west Wales coast, then finishing at the quintessentially British, old-fashioned seaside town of Southwold on the Suffolk coast. Some of the many highlights include the wild and remote Welsh mountains, the equally sparse Kerry Ridgeway, the Shropshire Hills including the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge, the Ironbridge Gorge, Cannock Chase, the National Forest and the UK's largest lowland pine forest at Thetford in the heart of East Anglia.This 360 mile (579km) route with over 20,000 feet (7,000m) of elevation gain will take you through Ceredigion, Powys, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
About the author
Vince Major lives in Northamptonshire and has been riding mountain bikes since 1989. His broad MTB experiences range from XC, freeride and downhill at home and abroad. His vast knowledge of good MTB areas in the UK stems from the fact that living in Northants, not being a MTB hotspot itself, has meant travelling to other areas to find and ride the best trails. One advantage of being in a central location means relatively quick and easy access to other parts of the UK. Vince has also acquired a wealth of experience in organising MTB events and bike trips at home and abroad for friends and club mates. These range from single days out to ten day epics, always with the emphasis on 'having an adventure'.
