It’s magical, an airport where you can cycle. You can see the traces of an industry that still speaks to the imagination. In the Netherlands we’re spoiled, because we have several places where you can still experience that. Especially an old military airport, there you can think of something extra. We at least see that people often respond positively to pictures of the base that is closest to our headquarters (conscious choice of headquarters ;)).
We give you five bases where you can cycle over or, in some cases, along them. The most famous ones? The Dutch probably know them all. The others, perhaps a little less well known. But they can be on your bucket list.
Air Base Soesterberg
It is one of the most famous places in the Netherlands to cycle, the Soesterberg Air Base. The air base is open to the public all year round. It is often combined by families with a trip to the National Military Museum, where you unfortunately can’t cycle through, as for example in Overloon. But the air base has a beautiful wide runway. Be careful, because during the breeding season for the birds (between about March 15 and August 15), the wide runway is closed. The times afterwards are one of the most beautiful places to be. There are plenty of routes and you can also take in the climbing routes behind the military museum afterwards.
Tempelhofer field – Berlin
It is the old Berlin airport, Tempelhof. One of the most beautiful and wide-open runways where you can ride comfortably. Often competitions are also held on this public park, where many skaters, day-trippers and other recreational enthusiasts also take advantage of the space. It is located near the city and is a favorite among many local riders and riders.
Blackbushe airport – Yately – East Hampshire – UK
This is a deserted airport in England, which is popular with the locals as well as tourists. You can mainly drive over the former airstrip here, but also along the airport. That provides several beautiful route options. Below is a route over the former airport near London.
Old Kona Airport
In Hawaii you can also drive over an old section of the airport. On the west side of the island of Kona you will find the Old Kona Airport Beach and there you have a beautiful section of airstrip where you can really let loose. It is a bit of a flight, but for the participants in the Ironman World Championship it is a nice addition to the bucket list.
Campbel Airstrip Trail – Anchorage, Alaska – USA
Airports are ideal for building MTB trails. Often because there is a bit of a climb, like in Soesterberg, but also because the area of a (former) airport is sometimes elevated. In Anchorage they have thought of something like that, namely an MTB trail that runs along/over the airport. It is not entirely clear if you can actually ride over the strip here, but you do drive very close to it.
Also nice: Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand
You probably can't drive over the airbase here, but you can drive right past it and it's a 23.5km run that the locals would like to drive. It has been mowed and landscaped, but it also has something to do with flying. So we’re still writing it down.
Do you know of any more remote and deserted airports where you can cycle? We’d love to hear about them!
EDITORS' ADDITION –
Following a tip from Ronald Sietses, we also added the following. This is Željava Air Base on the border with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a special area with underground tunnels that date back to the time of the unified Yugoslavia and the construction of which began after the Second World War lasted until 1968 (a total of almost 20 years). It is an impressive area, but you really have to be careful here. Apparently, you should not leave the paths because of all the (still active) landmines.
One more addition: Værløse airport near Copenhagen. It also seems to be a beautiful one!
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.