B4461 to Severn View services?

[DanZac]

I need somewhere to stay around the Thornbury (North of Bristol) area as it fits in with a northbound LEJOG leg and the Travelodge at the Severn view services comes up as cheap option. The question is, is it accessible without taking your life into your own hands?
The B4461 coming in from the north side doesn't look to bad on Google maps and certainly seems a lot more appealing than the A403 approach, but a bit of first hand knowledge would be good, I'm guessing that the services must be accessible from the bridge on foot/bike as part of the foot crossing route, is the 4461 part of that route?
Any information would be much appreciated.

 

[summerdays]

The A403 is a far busier road that is well used by lorries, the B4461 is a quieter road, but unless I'm confused they approach Aust from totally different directions....? The A403 going towards Avonmouth, and the B road going towards Alveston. Maybe I've misunderstood which parts of the roads you are talking about.

There is also an alternative road between Aust and Thornbury that goes via Littleton on Severn which goes past a pub serving food. It's a backwater road. You don't even need to go into Thornbury and can keep on going up the lanes through Hill, Berkeley etc.

So are you coming from Bristol approaching your accommodation?

 

[Spinney]

Let us know where you're coming from and we can probably work out a decent route. There is a motorway roundabout to negotiate (but a very quiet one), but I think it may be possible to avoid that as well - I know there is a footbridge over the M48 that you can cycle over (it may involve a few steps at the north end, but they're not steep or too many, I think). However I'm more familiar with the lanes to the north of the M48.

 

[mjr]

The footbridge from the Severn Bridge cycle track (follow signs for that if you want to find the bridge) had steps into the services when I noticed it years ago. More recently, I noticed a cycle track around the west side of the motorway junction roundabout and into the services, although you still have to cross the slip roads unprotected if you use that.

 

[DanZac]

My apologies for the confusion there everyone and many thanks for all the responses. I will be approaching from the Bristol direction. As such the 3 best approaches looked to be either:
1) Pick up the A403 at some point after Avonmouth.
2) Skirting round the west side of Filton then work up towards Easter Compton and pick up the B4055 to Pilning and Northwick then the minor road to Ingst which looks like it then links up with the B4461 after crossing the M48.
3) Similar to 2 but leave the B4055 earlier and go through Awkley and Olverston towards Elberton to pick up the B4461 after crossing the motorways around Jnc 21.
It sounds like the B4461 is ride able and I would rather avoid any steps if possible as I'm part camping part hotel / B&B so will be fully laden. I will probably go with either option 2 or 3 depending on how I feel on the day unless of course any of you knowledgeable folks have any more info.

 

[Spinney]

Both your 2 and 3 sound OK. I haven't cycled all those roads, but I've been from the Thornbury direction over the Severn Bridge quite a few times, and although the roundabout is a motorway junction, when I've been there (usually in the middle of the day), it's never been that busy. It shouldn't be a problem. To be honest, personally I'd be more nervous about 'skirting round Filton' as the roads in Bristol are also pretty busy - but I'm not particularly familiar with that bit of your route.

 

[summerdays]

Those are from the S. Glos cycling map.

I know most of that area either by bike or car and the north side of Bristol though I'm a hill avoider so I will take longer routes for an easier life!

 

[DanZac]

Brilliant, thank you all for your replies and advice, that puts my mind at ease and solves another one of my planning issues.
Only another couple of hundred issues to address and I will be ready for a summer of cycling.

 

[Aravis]

I used to live in Chepstow, commuting by bike daily to Bristol, and I know the area intimately. I would say there is absolutely nothing to worry about in negotiating the roundabout at the eastern end on the M48 Severn Bridge whichever way you come from. It's usually quiet if you want to use the roadway and there are segregated cycle lanes if you prefer that. Also, from the services, you can easily get to the cycle path on the northern side of the bridge without returning to the roundabout and without using any steps.

I think your bigger decision is how to negotiate Bristol. Are you aware that there is a cycle track over the M5 Avonmouth Bridge? This enables you to avoid Bristol altogether. It brings you into the middle of Shirehampton on the eastern side of the M5. From there I would suggest negotiating the massive roundabout providing access to the M5 at Avonmouth - walking if necessary - to get to the A403 which will take you to Aust. That's one awkward roundabout in place of at least 20 which you'll face if you head through Bristol. The A403 really isn't that bad - some heavy lorries do use but it's not particularly busy, there's plenty of space and visibility is good. And it's flat! There's also an excellent coastal stretch as you approach the village of Pilning.

Alternatively, from Shirehampton you could find your way into the lanes that sit between the M5 and the coast, making your way to Aust that way. That would be good too.

 

[DanZac]

Many thanks for that @Aravis and all the others who have taken the time to respond it's all much appreciated insider info. A bit of local knowledge counts for so much and gives the insight that you just can't get from a map or my normally reliable friend at google.

 

[Ajax Bay]

See the relevant bit of my route on my LEJOG (Day 3 first hour). Perfectly civilised.