Swindon routes

[philinmerthyr]

I'll be in Swindon tomorrow with about 3 hours free for a ride. Where should I go? I'd prefer traffic free, well marked routes if possible as I don't know the area.

 

[vickster]

Have a look at cycle-route.com

 

[robjh]

If you like hills, go south. If you like it flatter, go east, west or north.
The trouble is that the road network within Swindon itself is confusing, and getting out of town in the right direction is not always obvious for a newcomer. The compensation is though that once out of town you are in a lovely area for cycling, plenty of quiet roads, good scenery and pretty villages.

Sorry I don't have time for a longer reply, but for starters I would head south towards Wanborough (one big steep hill to contend with) then ride along the B-road towards Uffington and its White Horse chalk carving, and head back through places like Shrivenham. Or for fewer hills do a circuit somewhere around Shrivenham, Fernham, Faringdon, which are all to the east, or else head for the Cricklade area to the NW - this is very flat, but I found getting out of Swindon while avoiding huge roads to be particularly tricky in this direction.

 

[the_mikey]

There are cycle paths around Swindon, they're called 'Flyers' and there's more info on this website:

http://www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/about-us/swindon-flyers/

Outside of that there are few traffic free routes, other posters will have better local on road routes.

 

[mikeymustard]

Not traffic free as such but national cycle route 45 takes you up to the lakes around South Cerney, coffee and cake at the Waterside Cafe (GL7 5RL) and back through Ashton Keynes should be a comfortable 3 hours.

 

[philinmerthyr]

Not traffic free as such but national cycle route 45 takes you up to the lakes around South Cerney, coffee and cake at the Waterside Cafe (GL7 5RL) and back through Ashton Keynes should be a comfortable 3 hours.

Is it easy to follow? I'll be starting on Kingshill Rd

 

[mikeymustard]

Is it easy to follow? I'll be starting on Kingshill Rd

Google maps is pretty good if you set it to bike mode

 

[adamhearn]

I agree with above, Swindon's road network is confusing at best and you'll almost certainly get lost even with a sat nav...it's a sprawling mass of housing estates.

Head east from Kingshill Rd leaving central Swindon towards Westlea. You'll pick up the 45 as per the following maps:

Once you're out of Swindon (joining B4553 after exiting Mouldon Country Park) anywhere West or North is pretty quiet. I've plotted a loop just as a example and the distance is approx 25 miles. Have fun!

 

[KnackeredBike]

The best place to go in Swindon is a road that leads to somewhere that isn't Swindon.

 

[philinmerthyr]

I agree with above, Swindon's road network is confusing at best and you'll almost certainly get lost even with a sat nav...it's a sprawling mass of housing estates.

Head east from Kingshill Rd leaving central Swindon towards Westlea. You'll pick up the 45 as per the following maps:

View attachment 370495 View attachment 370496 View attachment 370497

Once you're out of Swindon (joining B4553 after exiting Mouldon Country Park) anywhere West or North is pretty quiet. I've plotted a loop just as a example and the distance is approx 25 miles. Have fun!

Thanks. I ended up by the lakes up past Cricklade ar a cafe. Nice quiet roads. Not as exciting as the Brecon Beacons were I live but it was a decent ride out.

 

[User482]

I did a nice ride yesterday, heading out to Purton, Wootton Bassett and Avebury. You could loop back round towards Savernake and Aldbourne.