Long Routes (50-80km)
For those of you wanting to venture further then these are the routes for you. If you are planning on joining us on the Fast Club rides then expect these kind of routes.
Down Portbury, Sea views, up Brockley
Distance: 51km Elevation: 654m
The perfect ride for a sunny day, heading down the Portbury descent and along a lovely lane which gives you beautiful sea views. At the end of this road you'll find yourself in Clevedon and heading back along Nailsea Wall Lane. Next, take Brockley Coombe Lane and ride your way up this gentle long climb before heading back home through Barrow Gurney and Long Ashton.
Distance: 51km Elevation: 654m
The perfect ride for a sunny day, heading down the Portbury descent and along a lovely lane which gives you beautiful sea views. At the end of this road you'll find yourself in Clevedon and heading back along Nailsea Wall Lane. Next, take Brockley Coombe Lane and ride your way up this gentle long climb before heading back home through Barrow Gurney and Long Ashton.
Down Tickenham, Yatton and up to Airport
Distance: 53.5km Elevation: 702m
Expect some nice straight lanes to Yatton after the Tickenham descent. Then a steady gradual climb round to Wrington, quiet lane with steepish bit up to the Airport. After Wrington you'll have a lovely descent into Flax Bourton before heading up Belmont Hill and home down Beggar Bush Lane.
Distance: 53.5km Elevation: 702m
Expect some nice straight lanes to Yatton after the Tickenham descent. Then a steady gradual climb round to Wrington, quiet lane with steepish bit up to the Airport. After Wrington you'll have a lovely descent into Flax Bourton before heading up Belmont Hill and home down Beggar Bush Lane.
Shortest Route to Tintern Abbey (South Wales)
Distance: 77.7km Elevation: 1093m
An introductory ride to Wales. Never again will you fear the idea of 'cycling to another country!' For today you have stumbled across a very rewarding ride that will lead you across the River Severn into South Wales.
Tintern Abbey doesn't feature highly on the route. It turns out to be a crumbling old ruin, however it is roughly the furthest point of the ride and marks a huge psychological barrier: HALF WAY!
True, this ride may seem pretty long for an introductory ride, but it's great for a warm day with a group of 2,3,4 or more. (Unadvisable for less strong riders to tackle solo).
Head out to the North of Bristol as standard, crossing under the M5. Straight over the roundabout onto the B4055 for about 4km. Continue until you you reach Station Rd 2nd road on the right, (there's an alternative route that incorporates more back lanes if you take the first right off the B4055 onto Over ln which is well worth a try, but for a simple first attempt this route gets you there and back the quickest route.)
Follow this road all the way to Tockington (over motorway bridge. You can go left before it, but it's very easy to miss and it's only 500m or so shorter.) Turn left at T-junction in Tockington, pass straight through Olverton and continue all the way to the bridge (M48). Ensure you cross the bridge on the little road to the side.
You're now in Wales! Take the A466 (can go on cycle path), up the gentle hill, over the roundabout and continue on A466 all the way to Tintern Abbey. When you reach the Abbey, there's a left hand turn slightly concealed (just before The Anchorman pub.) This road is single track and lumpy. At the T-junction turn left and left again at next junction (feels like you're doubling back). Not much more of the hill to go; don't worry!
That's the hard part done. Now you'll coast back to A466 (downhill until you're out of Wales.) And the route back is just the reverse of the one there, making it quite simple for a decent length ride.
Distance: 77.7km Elevation: 1093m
An introductory ride to Wales. Never again will you fear the idea of 'cycling to another country!' For today you have stumbled across a very rewarding ride that will lead you across the River Severn into South Wales.
Tintern Abbey doesn't feature highly on the route. It turns out to be a crumbling old ruin, however it is roughly the furthest point of the ride and marks a huge psychological barrier: HALF WAY!
True, this ride may seem pretty long for an introductory ride, but it's great for a warm day with a group of 2,3,4 or more. (Unadvisable for less strong riders to tackle solo).
Head out to the North of Bristol as standard, crossing under the M5. Straight over the roundabout onto the B4055 for about 4km. Continue until you you reach Station Rd 2nd road on the right, (there's an alternative route that incorporates more back lanes if you take the first right off the B4055 onto Over ln which is well worth a try, but for a simple first attempt this route gets you there and back the quickest route.)
Follow this road all the way to Tockington (over motorway bridge. You can go left before it, but it's very easy to miss and it's only 500m or so shorter.) Turn left at T-junction in Tockington, pass straight through Olverton and continue all the way to the bridge (M48). Ensure you cross the bridge on the little road to the side.
You're now in Wales! Take the A466 (can go on cycle path), up the gentle hill, over the roundabout and continue on A466 all the way to Tintern Abbey. When you reach the Abbey, there's a left hand turn slightly concealed (just before The Anchorman pub.) This road is single track and lumpy. At the T-junction turn left and left again at next junction (feels like you're doubling back). Not much more of the hill to go; don't worry!
That's the hard part done. Now you'll coast back to A466 (downhill until you're out of Wales.) And the route back is just the reverse of the one there, making it quite simple for a decent length ride.
Bristol - Bath Back route
Distance: 64.3km
The way to Bath that doesn't involve the railway cycle path. If you didn't know this before, there's lots of hills between Bristol and Bath - this road samples many of them.
If you've got more time, I recommend getting to Whitchurch in a more scenic way. However if you haven't experienced leaving Bristol through Bedminster - it's an interesting face to the city and the A37 throws you out in the right direction.
From Whitchurch onwards there's a succession of twisty quiet lanes that look and feel completely different to the Bristol status quo. With three pronounced hills getting you into Bath, it's not the easiest route to get you into the historic city of Bath - however for taking the road less travelled it will make all the difference. As some of the lanes are particularly 'rural' there's some stretches with dusty/muddy roads - so it's best to avoid this route on a rainy day.
Once you've arrived in Bath you'll experience one of the toughest climbs in the Bristol area - Landsdown Lane before looping around and returning on the admittedly drab A431. It is possible to re-route back onto the Bristol-Bath cycle path to avoid the A431.
Distance: 64.3km
The way to Bath that doesn't involve the railway cycle path. If you didn't know this before, there's lots of hills between Bristol and Bath - this road samples many of them.
If you've got more time, I recommend getting to Whitchurch in a more scenic way. However if you haven't experienced leaving Bristol through Bedminster - it's an interesting face to the city and the A37 throws you out in the right direction.
From Whitchurch onwards there's a succession of twisty quiet lanes that look and feel completely different to the Bristol status quo. With three pronounced hills getting you into Bath, it's not the easiest route to get you into the historic city of Bath - however for taking the road less travelled it will make all the difference. As some of the lanes are particularly 'rural' there's some stretches with dusty/muddy roads - so it's best to avoid this route on a rainy day.
Once you've arrived in Bath you'll experience one of the toughest climbs in the Bristol area - Landsdown Lane before looping around and returning on the admittedly drab A431. It is possible to re-route back onto the Bristol-Bath cycle path to avoid the A431.
GPX file (coming soon)
Cheddar 80km
Distance: 80km Elevation: 1400m
Classic cheddar ride, if you're up for slogging it up cheddar this it great!
Distance: 80km Elevation: 1400m
Classic cheddar ride, if you're up for slogging it up cheddar this it great!
