London to Bristol by bike

[purplephil]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum so bare with me. I'm currently planning a cycling trip with a friend covering NCN Route 4 from London to Bristol at the end of May. We're planning to do this over 4 days and we would like to be recommended places to stay overnight (B&B's) at various points. I'm sure many of you have done this route, so we would be very appreciative of any suggesstions.

Many thanks,

Phil.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My timings were different to yours so I can't comment on accommodation. But if you like canals, railways, industrial archaeology, real beer, good food and having a dang good time on a bike you are in for a treat. The only downside is that the towpath on some stretches is a bit pants surface wise and slows you down.

The Barge Inn at Seend is one must among many.

 

[Brains]

I did it a few years ago
We B&B'ed and spent the nights in Hungerford, Bradford on Avon and Bath (and maybe someplace else) I forget wether we did it in 3 or 4 days

I'd suggest you follow the NCN4 route, as we stayed on the tow path in a few places where they suggested that the road was the better option. They were right.

 

[danrees]

I was thinking of doing London to Carmarthen (South Wales) via Bristol in 6 days?

I hope this is not wildly optimistic if you are saying 3 to 4 days to Bristol!

 

[jay clock]

I did Winchester to Bristol last year, and can strongly recommend the towpath from Bradford on Avon through Bath, then the railpath frm Bath to Bristol.

 

[HeartfeltDawn]

Bath dweller here so I can tell you about some bits of the journey...

The towpath from Devizes to Trowbridge can be a bit slow in parts. Some of the pedestrians are very annoying and there's been a proliferation of middle aged women in groups of three and four jogging slowly in a line, blocking up the entire path. They don't like it if you ring your bell and they have to move, and I've had some disagreements with them. The best incident was last summer, when a woman with a kid underneath a Cycle Network sign said 'I thought they'd banned bikes!' The Devizes to Bath towpath is very scenic. Plenty to see so the pedestrian delays won't bother you too much. Avoncliff just after Bradford on Avon has the Cross Guns pub, OKish food and beer, and some other cafes there offer good stuff. Bradford on Avon offers plenty to look around too. Avoid Trowbridge!

The Bath to Bristol Railway path is awesome. It's wide in most parts, nothing horrendous surfacewise, and pretty quick. On the way to Bristol, you pass through Bitton, home of the Avon Valley Railway (http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/). Salford offers some good pubs too. There's one slightly hilly bit but nothing too major. It'll be a nice end to your ride.

Anyone from round these parts doing the Action Research Bristol to London 100? It'll be my first big trip.

http://www.action.org.uk/get_involved/action_100_bristolbath_to_london

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Avoid Trowbridge!

depressingly run down with a huge derelict pie factory in the middle when I went through it in August

The Bath to Bristol Railway path is awesome. It's wide in most parts, nothing horrendous surfacewise, and pretty quick.

You are not wrong. It is a 'must do' and an example that every local council should be forced to follow. Essentially a motorway for bikes. Brilliant. I can't remember the name of the place on it but there is an old station with platforms, sculpture a really old-fashioned tea stall and around the corner a really good bike shop.

 

[HeartfeltDawn]

depressingly run down with a huge derelict pie factory in the middle when I went through it in August

Aye, that pie factory used to house my friends and I during our uni vacations. 9 weeks of earning was the maximum I could take in there. I lived in Trowbridge for far too many years.

You are not wrong. It is a 'must do' and an example that every local council should be forced to follow. Essentially a motorway for bikes. Brilliant. I can't remember the name of the place on it but there is an old station with platforms, sculpture a really old-fashioned tea stall and around the corner a really good bike shop.

The Bath-Bristol route was the first Sustrans route, I believe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustrans

Generally I'm on in away from the peak hours but did cycle back from Bristol to Bath there last week around 6pm. Despite considerable cycling traffic, it didn't slow up with an increase of users.

I think Warmley is the place you're thinking of. The tea stall was open over Easter, very nice in the sun. Webbs of Warmley is probably the bike shop you're thinking of.

http://www.webbsofwarmley.co.uk/10265/info.php?p=1&pno=0

 

[yoyo]

I have cycled from REading to Bristol and would recommend following Route 4. The canal is ok ish from Newbury to Hampstead Marshall and then it needs to be route 4 on the road to Devizes. Devizes to Bradford on the canal is very quiet and away from it all once you pass Seend. Bradford to Bath is beautiful scenically and the path is good. I endorse everything that has been said about the Bath to Bristol rail path.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I think Warmley is the place you're thinking of. The tea stall was open over Easter, very nice in the sun. Webbs of Warmley is probably the bike shop you're thinking of.

http://www.webbsofwarmley.co.uk/10265/info.php?p=1&pno=0

That's it Warmley. The people who run Webbs were amazingly generous and helpful

"I'm after a bungee or something to strap something to my rack"
"Here, have this, just taken it off a new hire bike, it's yours now for free"