Bideford to Worcester or Birmingham

[frank m. lee]

Hi,
I am a Canuck (Canadian) and wish to bike from Bideford up to either Worcester or Birmingham, thought the Tarka trail went up thataway, using canal towpaths. . Anyone done it, want to do it, knows the pathway or can steer me onto a bike book that would get me from A to B, or B to B, or B to W. Thinking of a three day bike ride, staying at pubs or tenting it along the way. Was born in Bideford so thought it would be a great starting point.

 

[MikeG]

I don't know all the route, but I know both ends. Definately, 100%, without question, certainly (got it yet? ) head to Worcester, not Birmingham. Worcester and surrounds are gorgeous. Birmingham is a huge metropolis, designed around the car. The lanes of North Devon will be hard going (some of it very hard indeed), but are utterly beautiful. The lanes of Worcestershire are gentle, and utterly gorgeous.

I would certainly advocate avoiding Bristol, and going through the Cotswolds instead. You might consider Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Frome (pronounced Froom!!), Trowbridge, Chippenham, Stroud, Gloucester, Ledbury, Worcester. Get off the A roads as much as you can, and plan your entry to Gloucester carefully, as it is hard to avoid the dual carriageway. We did exactly this on our Land's End to John O'Groats ride, and I can provide greater detail if you want it.

What a fantastic ride!

Mike

 

[climo]

Use the Sustrans maps. Google it.
It's route NCN 3 from near Bideford to Bristol using canal towpaths & minor roads. Nice route & apart from Exmoor reasonably flat. From Bristol northward I believe there's another Sustrans route.
Sustrans routes wander about a bit, are sometimes off road (but not MTB territory) but are excellent if you want to see a bit more than boring main roads. They're mainly signposted.
Note: Your route goes through the Somerset levels which are badly flooded. I would think that the canal paths are waterlogged or closed. The paths may have collapsed or be dangerous so you may be forced on to the main roads.

 

[MikeG]

......Note: Your route goes through the Somerset levels which are badly flooded. I would think that the canal paths are waterlogged or closed. The paths may have collapsed or be dangerous so you may be forced on to the main roads.

I assume you are talking about my route.

You are right of course, but I assumed that the ride would happen in the summer, and not in the next few weeks. Even if the levels aren't perfect by the time of the ride, I would rather dodge some road workers etc in the levels than play with the traffic in Bristol.

 

[mark c]

There is only one section along the canal thats flooded betwwen East Lyng and North Newton and thats part is where you are directed onto the the rd that runs alongside, and the flooding is deep as i found out .

 

[bikepacker]

I live near Worcester and have done this route a few times. I rarely go on the Sustrans routes because of the long diversions they take but I do use some other cycle routes. The slowest toughest and nicest route is to do the North Devon Coast road and keeping close to the coast to Bridgewater.

My preferred route is Bideford to Great Torrington.
GT to Taunton via South Molton, Bampton and Wilveliscombe.

From Taunton to Bridgewater you can use the Sustrans route but having done it a few times I prefer to use the A38 or back lanes.

From Bridgewater to Axbridge, again I use the A38 but there are nice lane routes across the levels. Cheddar nearby is worth a look.

Leading from the A38 near Axbridge is the Strawberry Line cycle route, this takes you through to Yatton. From there take the road through to Clevedon and onto towards Portishead. Off this road you will see marked the Avon Cycleway. Follow this all the way to Thornbury and keeping to the lanes head for Slimbridge via Berkeley. From there I always go back onto the A38 until Quedgeley but there is a Sustrans alternative. Go around Gloucester on the marked cycle route towards the Docks.

Where you have a view over Gloucester City Centre and the Cathedral to your right, on your left is a cycleway marked to Highnam. Take this but when the path splits continue on to Maisemore.

From there follow the A417 for a few miles before branching right to Corse Lawn and Upton on Severn. You can then choose which side of the river you wish to approach Worcester.