Apple Treats & Bike Adventures in Durham Region

Algoma Orchards. Photo Credit: Richard Oldfield. 

Find all the ingredients for a delightful ride, apple adventure and farm fresh experience in Durham Region. Sample some tasty treats at unique ride destinations following one of the region’s cycling routes, or creating your own, and enjoy biking from urban centres to the many countryside settings and stops nearby.

Durham Cycle Tours Map

Making it easy to plan your next great ride in Durham Region, just east of Toronto and north to Lake Simcoe, find all the resources you need using the Durham Cycle Tours map and our route suggestions and info shared by local riders below.

Durham Region Apple Adventure

A is for adventure, the apple variety in Durham, with 23 locations around the region where you can taste hard apple cider and wines, visit apple growers and farms and try mouth-watering apple fritters. Along with the Apple Adventure Map, we’ve plotted the locations on easy to reference digital maps together with cycling routes that take you past key Apple Adventure stops. And if you decide to forage off on a different ride route look out for the roadside Durham Farm Fresh signs for further directions to local food producers, farms and market stores.

Algoma Orchards. Photo Credit: Richard Oldfield.

West Clarington Route

Route Map: ridewithgps.com/routes/42832869

This 62km route can be started at Bowmanville Beach, which has ample parking and public restrooms. Following the shores of Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, bike west and north from Darlington Provincial Park to Courtice. Taking Nash Road east, a favourite with local cycling clubs, pedal a small detour north on Maple Grove Road to Maple Grove Orchards or south to Watsons Farms. Don’t miss the jaunt north to Tyrone and Tyrone Mills, a top ride stop with a historical touch. According to local cyclists:

“Tyrone Mills is a must stop for its array of mini sugar donuts and pizza baked in a real traditional outside clay oven, plus it’s just a treat to sit and relax and take in the atmosphere.” Jim, Clarington Cycling Club

Looping back towards Bowmanville, detour to the hamlet of Orono and the Buttercup Hollow Pantry, or Algoma Orchards, a regular stop for local clubs, with lots of outdoor covered seating, making it perfect for groups of all sizes.

Tyrone Mills. Photo Credit: Jim Boate. 

Greenbelt Route

Route Map: www.greenbelt.ca/exploremap

Try a small slice of the Greenbelt Route from Tyrone to Old Scugog Road, along Raglan Road, Myrtle Road and Ashburn Road, for some sweeping views of farmland greenery and hill top vistas to Lake Ontario. There are a number of apple and farm fresh stops enroute that are a welcome beacon to cyclists. Try Archibald’s Orchard & Winery, Enniskillen for an oversized ice cream cone at the Village Store or some ice cold chocolate milk at Sargent Family Dairy. You don’t want to miss the White Feather Country Store near Raglan, famous for their apple fritters and picture worthy giant white chicken statue.

Uxbridge Loop

Route Maps: ridewithgps.com/routes/42832435 (longer) & ridewithgps.com/routes/43004468 (shorter)

While the full 65km road route journeys north from Uxbridge and connects to additional loops in north Durham, an abbreviated 34km with a crossover at Sandford Road is a great alternate and hits a number of top spots for apple adventures and more. Plus, as a bonus of shortening the loop, you’ll now have more down time to enjoy: two top-rated cideries, Banjo Cider and Slabtown Cider, each with a welcoming garden setting and patios; Little Thief Bakery for breads and donuts; and voted #1 bakery stop in Durham Region by the Oshawa Cycling Club, Aninna’s in Goodwood for its array of oozing butter tarts, outdoor picnic area and well used bicycle parking stands.

“One of the most popular stops for cyclists in Durham is Annina’s Bake Shop in Goodwood. You are guaranteed to find the place full of cyclists on nice days.” Richard, Oshawa Cycling Club.

Banjo Cider

Port Perry Uxbridge Rail Trail, Gravel & Road Loop

Route Map: ridewithgps.com/routes/42840600

For a ride that has a touch of it all and includes plenty of gravel and trail, country air, town amenities and a touch of road riding on the Greenbelt Route, this 60km route is a definite pleaser. Add in a few stops to max out on the apple experience with a visit to: Hank’s Pastries in Port Perry, one of several places in this historic town right on Lake Scugog; or just north of town at Two Blokes Cider and Applewood Farm and Winery, both with pretty tasting rooms and surrounded by apple orchards.

Apple Orchards on Durham Country Road

Just Ask a Cyclist

Being that Durham Region is quite famous for apple growing, and well known for having great riding on both roads and trails through easily accessible countryside, it is no surprise that cyclists from near and far have discovered the joys of this ride destination and all the top tasting spots to sample the local food flavours and treats. Be sure to add an apple adventure on your ride radar this season.

Additional Information: 

• Durham Region Apple Adventure – Read more about each of the farm fresh orchards, tap rooms and local bakeshops included.
• Durham Cycle Tours Map – Download map and GPX files for 14 cycling routes.
• Durham Tourism –  Tourism information for things to do and see, places to eat and where to stay during your visit to Durham
• Ontario By Bike – Durham Region – Great Places to Cycle – Find more regional and cross-regional road and trail cycling routes, published maps and resources, and bicycle friendly businesses to eat, visit and sleep.

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Sponsored Content Partner: Durham Tourism / Durham Region