Leisure rides

Off-road cycle routes

Most of the routes on the following paths are on traffic free paths or on quieter roads suitable for families and novice riders. 

• Bristol to Bath Railway Path
• Colliers Way
• Kennet and Avon Canal Path
• Norton Radstock Greenway
• Ride to the North Somerset Coast
• River Avon Trail
• Strawberry Line

On-road cycle routes

These are circular rides on quiet roads.

• Avon Cycleway
• Castle Combe
• Kennet and Avon canal
• Pilning & Severn Beach
• Severnvale
• Wotton-under-Edge

Bristol - 10 short leisure rides

• Making the most of the off road cycle network in Bristol, ten rides including ever popular routes like Bristol & Bath, and less well known routes such as the Malago Greenway and Whitchurch Railway path.

Mountain biking routes

• The Avon Timberland Trail 
• The Mendip Hills

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Off-road cycle routes

• Bristol to Bath Railway Path

Route: Bristol to Bath
Length: 13 miles
Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free)
Access: Numerous along route (see map)
Refreshments: Pubs along the way, cafés at Staple Hill and Bitton
Links: Avon Cycleway, River Avon Trail,

The Railway Path begins in central Bristol and travels through Mangotsfield, Warmley and Bitton before passing through Saltford to the outskirts of Bath.

You can join and leave the path at a number of places and tailor the distance to suit you.

Click here to find out more  

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• Colliers Way

Route: Dundas Aqueduct, Radstock and Frome
Length: 17 miles
Type: Disused railway (traffic-free) and minor roads
Access: Numerous places to join (see map)
Refreshments: Visitor centre with refreshments at Dundas Aqueduct and pubs along route
Links: NCN route 26

There are a number of places to join if depending on how far you would like to cycle.

Click here to find out more

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• Kennet and Avon Canal Path

Route: Bath to Reading
Length: 84 miles ( Bath to Devizes 22 miles)
Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads
Links: Bristol to Bath railway path and Severn & Thames Cycle Route between Gloucester and Reading.

The historic canal links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through spectacular scenery between Reading and Bath. Cycling is permitted along the length of the canal, except for a short section near Froudes Bridge and Woolhampton

Click here to find out more

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• Norton Radstock Greenway

Route: Radstock to Midsomer Norton
Length: 2 miles
Type: Disused railway (traffic-free)
Access: There are a number of places to join (see map)
Refreshments: Radco supermarket and Tea and Trade cafe
Links: Colliers Way

Click here to find out more

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• Ride to the North Somerset Coast (National Cycle Network Route 41)

Route: Bristol to Portishead
Length: 11.5 miles (5.5 miles to Ham Green)
Type: A mix of traffic-free routes, purpose-built cycleways and quiet roads; some hills
Access: Various access points between Pill and Portishead
Refreshments: Available in both Portishead and Bristol at each end of the path
Links: Avon Cycleway (Regional Route 10)

Click here to find out more

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• River Avon Trail

Route: Pill to Hanham
Length: 12 miles (or 7 or 5 miles)
Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads
Access: There are numerous places to get onto the Trail including Pill Harbour, Princes Wharf, Castle Park, Conham and Hanham Weir.
Refreshments: Pubs at Hanham Weir
Links: Bristol and Bath Railway path

There is a choice of a 7 mile trip between Bristol and Pill Harbour or a 5 miles trip from Bristol to Hanham Weir.

Click here to find out more

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• Strawberry Line (National Cycle Network Route 26)

Route: Yatton to Cheddar
Length: 8 miles
Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free)
Access:Various access points along route
Refreshments: Pubs, cafes and Thatchers Cider Shop
Links: Avon Cycleway (Regional Route 10)

Click here to find out more

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On-road cycle routes

• Avon Cycleway (Regional route 10)

Route: Around Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire
Length: 85 mile circuit made of 13 shorter linking routes.
Type: It largely follows narrow and quiet country lanes
Links: With National Cycle Routes 3 & 4, and Bristol to Bath railway path.

A signposted route which takes in many picturesque villages, numerous historic landmarks and a variety of landscapes. The 13 linking routes allow loop routes of 30-50 miles to be selected using Bristol or Bath as a base.
Find out more at: Order a leaflet from your local council

Click here for a map

Click here for a description of the route

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 Castle Combe

Route: Circular route starting from near Westerleigh via Dodington, Acton Turville Castle Combe and Pucklechurch
Length: 30 miles
Type: Some on main roads but majority on quiet country lanes
Links: Bristol to Bath Railway path

Click here to find out more

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• Kennet and Avon Canal Path

Route: Bath to Reading
Length: 84 miles
Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads
Links: Bristol to Bath railway path and Severn & Thames Cycle Route between Gloucester and Reading.

The historic canal links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through spectacular scenery on its way between Reading and Bath. Cycling is permitted throughout the length of the canal, except for a short section near Froudes Bridge and Woolhampton

Click here to find out more  

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• Pilning & Severn Beach

Route: Circular route starting from Olveston via Severn Beach and Pilning
Length: 12 miles
Type: Some on main roads but majority on quiet country lanes
Links: Avon Cycleway, Severn Vale route at Olveston

Click here to find out more

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• Severnvale

Route: Circular route starting from Winterbourne via Tytherington, Oldbury on Severn and Almondsbury
Length: 27 miles
Type: Some on main road but majority on quiet country lanes
Links: Pilning & Severn Beach route at Olveston, Avon Cycleway

Click here to find out more

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• Wotton-under-Edge

Route: Circular route starting from Iron Acton via Hillesley, Wotton-under-Edge and Rangeworthy
Length: 25 miles
Type: Some on main road but majority on quiet country lanes
Links: Avon Cycleway

Click here to find out more

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Find out more about the Picturesque bike rides at www.southglos.gov.uk/cycling  

Mountain biking routes

• The Avon Timberland Trail  

Where: Ashton Court Estate, Bristol

The yellow trail in Ashton Court is a great place for youngsters or inexperienced riders to have a go on the rough tracks because the route is not too technical  More adventurous mountain bikers can follow the pink trail in 50-Acre Wood to test out their skills in more rugged terrain.  

Click here to find out more 

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• The Mendip Hills (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)

Where: Black Down, near Burrington Combe, North Somerset

Miles of trails to cater for various level of experience from novices to expert mountain bikers.

Click here  for a map and here to find out more  

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The West of England is an ideal location to cycle around or start your journey from. For longer trips, you can easily access Gloucester to the north, Wiltshire, Reading to the east, Somerset to the south, and South Wales to the west.

Downloads: 

Midsomer Norton