Cycling UK Forum

There often seems to be yacht moored downstream of the Yeo sluice, beyond the railway bridge columns. It does make me wonder whether the RAMSAR constraints were over-estimated and using the line of the railway with a new bridge could have saved considerable delay and expense.

foxyrider wrote: ↑14 Sep 2024, 6:46pm

Has anyone any experience of the 'new' cafe, The Owl in the oak, on Yeo Bank Lane? https://www.owlintheoak.co.uk/about

Last Friday the sky was blue, the air calm, so I decided an afternoon ride to see Sand Bay on a sunny day, returning by train from Weston or Yatton would do very well. Approaching the new crossing I saw the 'Owl in the Oak', and thought 'Who wants to traipse round the edge of Worle, who needs Sand Bay when here is a cafe?'. So stopped for coffee and cake in a pleasant, quiet, sunlit marshland setting, served promptly at the table.
About 1600, so the several customers who were there when I arrived had gone when I left.

Then returned directly to Bristol, after a token trip to the banks of the Yeo, realising that I would just miss the train from Yatton, so the ETA going direct would be much the same. (Which it would have been had I not punctured in Clifton - just think, if I had not ridden home I might not have ridden over the flint or glass, or whatever.)

It is fully open and I have ridden it three times this year.

wjhall wrote: ↑14 Sep 2024, 10:54am

foxyrider wrote: ↑9 Jul 2024, 10:50pm Rode through today, They've got a bit carried away with all the gates .... ...!

I have now ridden it 2.5 times and see what you mean about the gates. At the north end there is a farm gate with adjacent self-closing bridleway gate, then a low bridleway gate allowing horses but not motor traffic, with cycle bypass. It is obviously intended that in normal use the low bridleway gate should be closed across allowing gate free cycle access and low step horse access, with the farm gate normally open and closed only when there are cattle on the path.

It has been set the opposite way with the farm gate closed and the low bridleway gate pinned open, a classic example of misunderstanding what they were supposed to build, or what they have built. Alternatively it could be that gate setting is left to the farmer who finds it easier to leave them in the cattle-safe position.

240913-8615 Tutshill sluice path - N end - gates.JPG

There is actually the same set up at the south end although they are a bit further apart. At least the loose surface has settled some although the worst of the lateral trenches on the northern sluice crossing is still a matter of some concern as of Wednesday last.

Has anyone any experience of the 'new' cafe, The Owl in the oak, on Yeo Bank Lane? https://www.owlintheoak.co.uk/about

foxyrider wrote: ↑9 Jul 2024, 10:50pm Rode through today, They've got a bit carried away with all the gates .... ...!

I have now ridden it 2.5 times and see what you mean about the gates. At the north end there is a farm gate with adjacent self-closing bridleway gate, then a low bridleway gate allowing horses but not motor traffic, with cycle bypass. It is obviously intended that in normal use the low bridleway gate should be closed across allowing gate free cycle access and low step horse access, with the farm gate normally open and closed only when there are cattle on the path.

It has been set the opposite way with the farm gate closed and the low bridleway gate pinned open, a classic example of misunderstanding what they were supposed to build, or what they have built. Alternatively it could be that gate setting is left to the farmer who finds it easier to leave them in the cattle-safe position.

wjhall wrote: ↑15 Jul 2024, 9:49pm There are limits to what a beast proof closure can allow, and what can reasonably be called a bicycle. There is also a technique to using a kissing gate, which is simple, but does not seem to be universally understood.

Both Uphill gates have radar keys, which is the obvious solution for people with giant conveyances.

Failing that, how do you keep out motor vehicles, keep livestock in and allow large vehicles? Preferably without cattle grids.

A simple gate? seems to work in most places, kissing gates for bikes is simply over thinking it

There are limits to what a beast proof closure can allow, and what can reasonably be called a bicycle. There is also a technique to using a kissing gate, which is simple, but does not seem to be universally understood.

Both Uphill gates have radar keys, which is the obvious solution for people with giant conveyances.

Failing that, how do you keep out motor vehicles, keep livestock in and allow large vehicles? Preferably without cattle grids.

wjhall wrote: ↑15 Jul 2024, 5:47pm

foxyrider wrote: ↑11 Jul 2024, 7:15pm
To add to the bike unfriendly kissing Gates south of Uphill!

The kissing gates at the Uphill reserve boundaries are designed to accommodate cycles and do so.

Well actually they don't, i've seen a few ebike users really struggling, tandems are impossible without some acrobatics and trailers, handcycles & cargo bikes have no hope without some lifting gear! Even prams & pushchairs have issues, they are a disgrace and completely over the top as a restriction / containment measure.

foxyrider wrote: ↑11 Jul 2024, 7:15pm
To add to the bike unfriendly kissing Gates south of Uphill!

The kissing gates at the Uphill reserve boundaries are designed to accommodate cycles and do so. Bridleway gates that can be opened without dismounting, like the two in the centre of the reserve could not be used because they can be left open, which the kissing gates cannot, and so they provide an effective outer barrier to livestock.

From the Tutshill path I only recall the two double gates at the ends, which are more difficult to use than the narrower bridleway gates. I cannot think what they are for. They can be opened to vehicle width so do not keep unauthorised vehicles out. The path will not be used for livestock movements, and if it is it would be no different from an ordinary road. It there is a possible need to close the path at times, this could be done by gates that are normally locked back. At least the complicated livestock crossroads with four gates and cattle grids that was in the planning application has been omitted.

Westonians, at least in my age group, seem to be very keen on it. I chatted to a group for a while, and incited them to write ungrateful letters to the council about the deep gravel and gullies. The gullies are part of the original sluice structure and should have been covered with gratings, the gravel should have been compacted before opening. It is puzzling that the dogleg over the sluice has not been tarmaced like the rest. Could it be because putting in proper foundations for a tarmac road would have damaged the river bank?

Westonians may be pleased about the access to the north, I found the access to the south a little underwhelming. After Wick St Lawrence you find yourself enjoying the Worle Northern Distributor, serving housing estates that were probably not there when the path was first proposed. I turned off and went down to Woodspring Priory, admired the muddy gully draining out upstream of Middle Hope, then went back to Yatton, using Dolemoor Lane. Sand Bay and the Toll Road can wait for another day.

wjhall wrote: ↑11 Jul 2024, 10:50am Add them to the list with the flawed bridleway gate on the path from Lower Strode Road to the Tideway.

To add to the bike unfriendly kissing Gates south of Uphill!

foxyrider wrote: ↑9 Jul 2024, 10:50pm Rode through today, They've got a bit carried away with all the gates and care is needed at the actual sluice - some patches of deep chippings and a couple of quite big drainage channels across the full width. ....

So that's 'Open' in the local authority meaning of the word, one snagging error and one design fault, on a charitable interpretation. Add them to the list with the flawed bridleway gate on the path from Lower Strode Road to the Tideway.

I consider myself lucky when I cycled this route some 20 years ago when the sluice was having a major upgrade. Construction traffic was accessing the site from both sides so there were no barriers to cross and one could ride straight through. No elfin safety barriers in those days.

My ghasts are flabbered

Rode through today, They've got a bit carried away with all the gates and care is needed at the actual sluice - some patches of deep chippings and a couple of quite big drainage channels across the full width.

Plenty of bikes going through which will no doubt annoy the burghers of KS and quite apart from cutting a lump out of the Weston / Clevedon journey its a lot more pleasant than the A370 and safer too!

Yes it is now open. I'm planning to ride it tomorrow.