Olveston to Berkeley

Meet 10.15 for a 10.30 am start

Olveston to Berkeley along quiet country lanes, about 22 miles, there and back

Parking is in the allotment car park in Olveston – What3words /// bland.crypt.earlobes.

Coffee stop at the Post Office, Oldbury on Severn.

Lunch available at the White Hart tea rooms in Berkeley.

Newent Loop - (Difficult for non-electric)

Meet at 9.30 am for 10 am start

Ride starts from Lewell Street car park, Newent (£4 day).

20 miles on country lanes, well sign posted.

Coffee at Trioscape garden centre.

lunch at Rose and Crown, Redmarley.

Climb 400 mts.

If numbers are high, we will need orders for lunch, menu on their website.

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Park in the Pontymoile Canal Basin at 10:15 ready to start at 10:30.

Pantymoile Basin – Fountain road, Pontypool. NP4 8ER. Free car park holds several vehicles but  parking spaces on Fountain road available if full. Must vacate car park by 4 pm. (AA 40 mins)

This 22-mile traffic free linear ride takes us along the well-maintained tarmac towpath beside the Monmouthshire &
Brecon Canal, part of Route 49, going South all the way to Newport,

The first half is a navigable canal through scenic countryside between Cwmbran and Newport, we are
beside the non-navigable section of canal through woods, fields and parkland. Going under
the M4, we then follow the Route 47 cycle way to the Newport riverside to stop for lunch at
Gregs (a good selection of hot and cold food, drinks and snacks),
before returning on the same route back North to tea, cakes and maybe ice-cream at
Pontymoile.

The towpath is easy terrain, predominantly flat with some short medium inclines next to the
canal locks. These are mostly downhill going South, and uphill coming back. We will take a
slower pace along these sections in the afternoon to accommodate everyone. There are
several road crossings, mostly with traffic control lights, but no cycling along busy roads. We
share the towpath with pedestrians & other riders, so an occasional bell ring may be
needed.

Forest of Dean

All on forest tracks, mainly on the Family Cycle Trail. The ascents and descents are gradual but there is a short steep ascent to the Beechenhurst picnic stie and then a steep descent towards the end of the ride which cyclists can take at their own pace.

We will stop at Beechenhurst picnic site for coffee and then at Mallards Pike for lunch. Bring your own refreshments or purchase from the cafes.

Please arrive by 10.00 am ready to start at 10.15 am.

Meet in Parkend, SO 614 079, GL15 4JD. Park in the gravel car park at the side of the cricket pitch. The entrance is on right hand side of the road from the Coleford direction .

When the ride is announced on WhatsApp please let me know that you would like to come. o

Cardiff Bay

Meet 9.45 am for a 10 am start

The ride is mainly along the river Taf into Cardiff before taking a circular route round Cardiff Bay. From the starting point, we will follow the river Taf on the Taf Trail until we get to Bute Park, where we will go through the park and stop for a coffee and cake. Then we will return to the Taf Trail and head towards Penarth Marina and we will cycle around Cardiff Bay and past the Senedd. We will have to walk a short distance due to the pedestrians.

We will stop for lunch in a cafe on the Bay. After lunch, we will proceed via the Cardiff wetlands area back to the Taf Trail  and follow this back to the start. It is just over 20 miles, with very little ascent, on tracks suitable for any bike.. We should be back by 3 pm.

We will start the ride at 10 am from Longwood Drive in Cardiff, which in very near junction 32 of the M4.. Leave the M4 at junction 32 and head towards the Asda Cardiff Coryton Superstore. Pass the superstore and we will park a few hundred yards on the right on Longwood Drive.

Bridge to Bridge

Meet 9.45 am for a 10 am start

A Meander around the Severn Bridges

A mainly flat ride along quiet lanes.

From the car park in Tenby lane ST 539917 (2 nd on the right up the hill from the
mini roundabout by Tesco Express in Bulwark), we make our way over the old
Severn bridge. We then take the Thornbury Road, B4461, turning right to
Olveston, where we pick up the Avon Cycleway. We wend our way along quiet
lanes, past Pilning Station, eventually reaching the B4055 and Easter Compton.
From here we travel over the motorway, towards the estuary on the NCN. We
cross the A403 and follow a tiny track until we emerge at Severn Beach and the
Estuary. Here we stop for lunch at the famous Shirley’s café run by the same
family since the 1940’s, (also a traditional sweet shop). We ride along the
Promenade under the Prince of Wales Severn Bridge. The route takes us along
more quiet lanes back towards the Old Severn Bridge
Approx 20 miles with only 1 big hill.

Bigsweir Bridge to Symonds Yat

10.15 AM to start at 10.30 am by Bigsweir bridge.

NP25 4TS. Parking for several cars available in the layby.

(Alternative parking available if group size large).

We ride along a quiet country lane and then join an old railway track to Redbrook and onwards to a Symonds Yat.

Bring your own refreshments for a coffee stop.

Lunch at the Saracens head if you wish or bring your own.

Approximately 20 mile ride.

Avon Gorge

A flat ride of approx. 18 miles

Meeting at Bristol Portway Park & Ride (Shirehampton BS11 9QE) 10:00 am for a 10:15 am start. Note that when entering P&R use 1st parking area on the left, not the station parking area further on.

We ride down the Portway on the cycle track past towering cliffs, quaint cliffs and Bristol’s hidden Georgian past towards the spectacular Clifton Suspension bridge. Lookout for the entrance to the Vehicular railway tucked into the cliff. Where the Bristol floating harbour meets the dock we cross past the imposing Wills warehouse now renovated and enjoying life as a creative venue and upscale flats.

We cycle along the river to the Harbourside, crossing over to the Arnolfini arts centre where it is planned to stop for an early lunch in Wapping wharf at ‘ the Junction’, part of the new Cargo Food Court where hot & cold food can be purchased (or not!). There is ample outside seating so we can keep a watch over the bikes.

We then cycle past the SS Great Britain and join the River Avon Trail, with its spectacular views with woods and countryside on one side and the City on the other. We follow this all the way to picturesque Pill. Cycling on we travel over the Avonmouth Bridge, safe on the cycle path the views of the river below are stunning.

On the far side we ride into Shirehampton, then turn down towards the Portway and back to the Park and Ride.

This is a ride that combines the buzz of the city, with historic buildings and spectacular views and is virtually all along cycle paths.

It is anticipated that we would finish between 2:30 – 3:00pm and so minimise the risk of getting caught in late afternoon traffic.

Bath Two Tunnels

The Bath “Two Tunnels” ride is a beautiful journey – mostly off road using the National Cycling Networks routes (NCN). We will take a wide circular route and eventually will pass through the city on the way home. On the way, you will see the UK’s longest cycling and walking tunnel, the spectacular Tucking Mill Viaduct (with great views) and the Dundas Aqueduct. There are a few places where all but the heroic will get off and walk.

There is no hurry for this and no one will be left behind. We will park at Bitton Station (BS30 6HD) and depart at 10am sharp. So please aim to arrive at 9:30 and allow plenty of travelling time from home.

There are toilet facilities at the station and we will also use the time for the briefing about the ride.

The first stretch from Bitton station is on NCN route 4. This is a gentle (mostly) downhill ride of 4.5 miles when we reach the city, cross the river, and then take the NCN244 for 3.5 miles and along the way we ride through the two tunnels. Then we switch to the NCN24  just before Midford and ride north 2 miles toward Monkton Combe where we stop for coffee at the Angelfish Café.

Perhaps avoid the cakes as the lunch stop is just 45 minutes ride further on!

We continue towards the Dundas Viaduct. At Dundas we switch to the NCN4 and ride 3 miles to Bathampton and stop at the George Pub for lunch.

After lunch we continue on the NCN4 and ride the canal bank for 3.5 miles until we have passed through the city and we reach our original river crossing point. The final stretch is our return journey to Bitten Station 4.5 miles on the NCN4.

Pier to Pier

Meet 9.45 AM for a 10 AM start

Meeting place – Salt house Fields car park (£8.00 all day), Old Church Road, Clevedon. BS21 7TR. (Just drive towards the SEA)

Plenty of free car parking on the roads around the car park

Circular route of approx 25 miles.

Coffee stop on route followed by lunch in Weston Super Mare.

Very flat route, except for the climb out of Weston but doable.

50/50% split between cycle path and quiet roads