North Bristol to Portishead

[Spinney]

Hi All
Mr Spinney & I are looking for a house to buy within cycle commuting distance of Rolls Royce at Filton (he's the commuter, not me).
One of the places under consideration is Portishead.

Does anyone have any experience of commuting from Filton/Aztec West area to Portishead? Basically anything that involves cycling over the Avonmouth Bridge and then going into Portishead along the Sheepway.
Mr S wonders about what the cycle track around the industrial estates between Pill and Portishead is like as a regular commuting route, winter and summer. Youths hanging around under the bridges? Broken glass? Vegetation overrunning the path in the summer? We've cycled it ourselves a few times at the weekend, but this isn't quite the same as relying on it as a regular commuting route.

Any advice gratefully received!

 

[the snail]

My only experience is from audax, but it seemed ok, although I'm sure it has it's share of youths/broken glass etc. You can certainly cycle over the bridge, it's a long way up though - don't look look down if you suffer from vertigo

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 1559105"]
I'd be interested in replies to this, as we're curiously also looking at moving to Portishead.

The Avonmouth bridge? Is that the motorway one? Can you cycle over it?
[/quote]

Yes, there is a cycle path on the east side of the bridge. We are wondering a bit about the effect of strong winds on the bridge when using it for a regular commute. For most of the way there is a solid, head-height barrier between the motorway and the cycle path, but at the top of the bridge this turns into open railings (still safe enough to keep the cars off) that I imagine would let the wind blast through on winter evenings!

Once you are over the bridge, to get to Portishead you either go through Pill, cross the A369, faff around in Easton-in-Gordano, cross the motorway on a footbridge and then go down the Sheepway into Portishead (assuming you want to avoid the bit of the A369 on that side of the motorway), or (from the Avonmouth Bridge) you go under teh motorway and along a cycle path around the edge of teh industrial estates. This winds round all the car parks, and is not very wide, but is traffic free. This puts you on the Sheepway again. From a couple of 'road tests' it appears to be a bit shorter than going through Easton, and certainly no more faffy.

Mr S's concern was how cycleable that would be in winter, and whether it gets broken glass etc on it. It may be that it is too far out of Portishead to be a place for local 'yoofs' to gather, but we just wondered if anyone had any knowledge from using it on a regular basis.

Where would you be commuting from?

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 1559108"]
Not sure yet, haven't got the job!
[/quote]

In that case, good luck!

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 1559110"]
Thanks. Just looking at options at the moment. I'd be happy to cycle into bristol from portishead. The route over the bridge gets to the nearest railway station to portishead. I think.
[/quote]

If you are aiming for the city centre, it's not too far to cycle all the way, but does involve a busy A road...

 

[adds21]

I don't do it often myself, but I know a couple of people who cycle from Portishead to Bristol via the Pill path. They don't go over the M5 bridge, but carry on though Pill and along the river to Ashton (so I can't comment on the M5 bridge, other than to say it's been fine on the few weekends I've done it).

My understanding is that the Portishead to Pill section is fine most year round, and quite heavily used by cycle commuters, so in fair condition (certainly Portishead is renowned for terrible traffic out of town, so many people cycle).

[QUOTE 1559110"]
Thanks. Just looking at options at the moment. I'd be happy to cycle into bristol from portishead. The route over the bridge gets to the nearest railway station to portishead. I think.
[/quote]

The locals are fighting to reopen the Portishead railway, which is currently just used for freight, and only goes as far as the docks. That may well be a few years off, if ever, but it may be an option for some. (edit: link)

FWIW, although not the route to North Bristol, the Pill Path along the river and under the suspension bridge towards Bristol City center is a fantastic way to start the day. I often do it by joining the Pill path half way along. Did it this morning in fact.

 

[Spinney]

My understanding is that the Portishead to Pill section is fine most year round, and quite heavily used by cycle commuters, so in fair condition (certainly Portishead is renowned for terrible traffic out of town, so many people cycle).

This is helpful, thanks.

I've done the route along the river from Pill - as you say, a very nice route. But unfortunately not the right direction for MrS's commute!

 

[summerdays]

I've only ever done the bridge in reasonable weather so can't really comment on that or beyond to Portishead, but the route from Rolls Royce to the bridge would be fine if a little jammed at Christmas time since it would probably take you past the Mall (which get sufficiently grid locked in the run up to Christmas to make it a destination by bike only from November onwards).

As for the Portway - I like cycling along the cycle path beside the river, either side of the river in fact but in bad weather the Portway side whilst more exposed is a better surface than the Pill path. The Pill path has occasionally been blocked by rock falls in the past once or twice.

 

[Spinney]

I've only ever done the bridge in reasonable weather so can't really comment on that or beyond to Portishead, but the route from Rolls Royce to the bridge would be fine if a little jammed at Christmas time since it would probably take you past the Mall (which get sufficiently grid locked in the run up to Christmas to make it a destination by bike only from November onwards).

As for the Portway - I like cycling along the cycle path beside the river, either side of the river in fact but in bad weather the Portway side whilst more exposed is a better surface than the Pill path. The Pill path has occasionally been blocked by rock falls in the past once or twice.

Thanks Summerdays.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Portishead to Filton?. Not very easy, hilly. Perhaps you'd be better off moving to somewhere like Staple Hill or Downend. Then you can commute along the cyclepaths beside the A4174 ring road and the hill at the end as you pass Abbeywood MOD up to the A38 isn't too bad. Plus, on the eastern side of Bristol, you have access to the Railway Path for either getting into central Bristol or cycling out to Bath.

Portishead would be great for commuting to central Bristol along the Pill path, but it seems a bit awkward for getting to Filton. Which route would you take?.

 

[Cyclist33]

I have family in Parrys Lane and once cycled to Portishead from there over the Avon bridge and through Portbury. It was a really lovely ride. Can't help more than that sorry but.

Stu

 

[adds21]

Portishead to Filton?. Not very easy, hilly.

I disagree. It's not hilly at all. Here's a elevation graph of a ride I did recently though that area. The Filton to Portishead section is from about the 20 miles to 35 miles (eg, ignore the hills at the end, that's not part of the route).

 

[summerdays]

If you were starting at RR ... would you not take the new road to the Mall (as long as you aren't a pedestrian!!!), then head for Henbury ... ok its a slight downhill from there, then past Blaise, and down Long Cross which is the only real hill (down hill again in that direction) on the route between the bridge and RR. (Though you are correct that East Bristol is probably the flattest! - Parry's Lane was hard in the heat today!!)

 

[Spinney]

Got new house last week, but in Charfield (about 12 miles north of Bristol) - so the question about cycling to Portishead no longer relevant! Are you still moving to the area?

 

[Arjimlad]

Welcome to the area !

I live in Winterbourne and last Saturday took a nice ride through Charfield to North Nibley and back. A nice ride into Filton for you from there, I think. Do you join the A38 and head south ?