Cycling
Explore Bristol and the surrounding area via these great roads. We've even thrown in some great eateries for when you need to refuel!
Bristol is a city with a wonderfully diverse cycling scene. Not only will you find a wide variety of locations for mountain biking and street riding, but there are also great spots for road riding and cyclocross too. With a number of Sustrans cycle routes around the city, as well as a thriving cyclocross community and race league, Bristol really does seem to have it all for us bike junkies.
Check out some these beautiful routes, and some tasty pit stops for extra energy along the way.
1. Bristol and Bath railway path
Distance: 13 miles
Starting from St. Philips Road in Bristol and ending at Pulteney Bridge in Bath is the Bristol and Bath railway path. It's a paved walking and cycle route running between the two cities with numerous landmarks to see and learn about on the way, as well as plenty of opportunities for well earned coffee and beer stops.
The railway path is steeped in local heritage, as it was used as a railway for over 130 years. After its close at the end of the 1960s, it wasn’t until 1986 that the railway was fully converted into the path locals have come to know and love today.
With multiple historical and refuelling stops along the route, it’s guaranteed to be a fun and educational pedal.
Food and drink
Warmley Waiting Room
The Hop Pole
2. Route 3 & Sustrans – Chew Valley Lake
Distance: 27 miles
Staying out of the way of traffic during the majority of this loop, it’s the perfect journey to get your legs spinning whilst taking the beauty of the local views.
This 27-mile loop using national cycle routes 3, 33, 334 and 410 will take you down to the top of Chew Valley Lake, where you can admire the landscape surrounding the reservoir.
The beauty of the Sustrans cycle network is that most rides can be tailored to be as long or as short as you like. You can lengthen the Chew Valley Lake route by following Route 3 down to the Mendip hills and beyond – Route 3 is over 330 miles long, giving you plenty of road to play about with and explore.
Refuel at the lake with some locally-sourced fish and chips, the ONLY way to relax at the lakeside.
Food and drink
Salt & Malt
If you fancy a larger, multiple day challenge then you can follow Route 3 from Bristol, through the Mendips, down to Glastonbury, Bridgewater, Taunton, Westward Ho! and all the way down to Lands End.
3. Cheddar Gorge
Distance: 40 miles
You can’t look towards the West Country without mentioning the beauty that is Cheddar Gorge. Situated in the Mendip hills area and named a place of outstanding natural beauty in 1972, Cheddar Gorge is an attraction for cyclists, walkers, motorcyclists and drivers. With its winding roads twisting up between the gorge, it never fails to provide an awe-inspiring landscape, whatever the weather.
To head down to the Cheddar Gorge and do a loop back to Bristol, you’ll be covering at least 40 miles, with plenty of options to make it longer and explore the area of outstanding natural beauty a little more. If you want to stay out of traffic as much as possible, then you can stick to Route 3 until you reach the beautiful roads of the Mendips.
Food and drink
To reward yourself and top up your energy levels after a long ride, there are plenty of cafes and stops on hand. A popular stop for riders is the Lilly Pool café just north of Cheddar. It has a campsite too, so it could be a perfect spot to stay overnight if you’re embarking on a bigger ride further south.
4. Western Cyclocross League
Bristol offers a lot more in terms of riding, as it also has a strong cyclocross presence with various races and events all year round!
The Western Cyclocross League covers Bristol, Bath, Gloucester and Cheltenham, offering both a winter and summer league. The league aims to help cyclocross grow and become more accessible for everyone, whether it be to try out once or twice, or to race regularly and progress onto national races.
They also provide some cyclocross coaching sessions for those who are new to the discipline and want to get a better grasp on the best way to race, train and practise.
To get involved head over to their Facebook page or website.
