Go West: London to the Welsh Coast – 8 Days, 2 Wheels and a Whole Lot of Hills

What happens when you hop on a bike in central London and just keep pedalling west until you reach the Welsh coast? In Go West, bestselling author Steve Silk — known for The Great North Road — sets out to find the answer. Eight days, 300 miles and a whole lot of hills later, he’s got a story packed with adventure, humour and the kind of unexpected moments that make long‑distance cycling so addictive.

This isn’t the straight‑line, dual‑carriageway slog your sat‑nav would suggest. Steve swaps motorways for quiet country lanes, service stations for castles and museums, and even trades his bike for a canoe for a full day drifting down the River Wye. Seen from the saddle, the journey becomes a rich, close‑up portrait of England and Wales — from the dreaming spires of Oxford to the historic streets of Gloucester, Monmouth and Carmarthen, with spectacular scenery stitched between them.

And what other direction out of London can offer three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two national parks in such quick succession? It’s a route that proves wildness is never far away — just a few pedal strokes beyond the city.

Steve rides the English section solo before three cycling friends join him for the tougher Welsh terrain, adding camaraderie, banter and shared grit to the mix. Along the way, the book is enriched with legends, local history, moments of reflection and plenty of laughs.

Part travelogue, part adventure story, part celebration of friendship, Go West is a joyful reminder that you don’t need to cross continents to have a meaningful journey — sometimes the perfect escape starts right outside your front door.