Cycling UK Forum

Hi all,

Hoping to do Lands End to Bristol in August and looking for ANY tips and advice.
I have the Sustrans map from LE to Bude and it seems to be well covered. Presumably then heading for Barnstaple and across Exmoor to eventually arrive in Burnham-on-sea is the most logical route? Or is it more common to head for Exeter after Newquay?

Time-scale 4-5 days (but this must include travel time from Bristol - LE)

Thank you,

Having got from LE to Padstowe, you could then follow The West Country Way to Bristol
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/rout ... 4350812184
Indirect, winding and loverly.

What is your timescale?
It is possible to ride LE to Bristol in the one day:
A30 LE to Exeter, then B3181 and A38 to Bristol. 200miles or slightly more.

For mere mortals:
LE/Penzance/Hayle/Connor Downs/Blackwater/Wadebridge/Camelford/Davidstow/Hallworthy/Egloskerry/Launceston/Okehampton circa 100miles
then:
Copplestone/Bow/Crediton/Rob's Passage/Bickleigh/Tiverton/Wellington/Taunton/Bridgwater circa 85miles.
then:
Highbridge/Axbridge/Churchill/Congresbury/Clifton Suspension Bridge/Bristol circa 50miles.

Why would "mere mortals" climb up from Axbridge to Churchill or climb all the way up to the Clifton Suspension Bridge? Use the Shute Shelve tunnel and the Festival Way. I've finally written up my usual opinion for crossing northern Somerset into http://cycle.travel/by/mjray/taunton_bristol_easier

I must study your route a bit more. It sounds interesting.

I rode the route I described only last month. Indeed the hill up to Churchill is a pig, but I managed it - and have managed it many times. It's fifteen miles from Bridgwater, and those fifteen miles are flat, so Churchill Hill is the first one.

My trip over the Clifton Susp Br was a first for me by bike. Yes, the hill up from Congresbury wasn't easy with a heavy trailer in tow ............ but I survived and I didn't have to get off and walk.

The option that I've gone for before, was to cross the Avon from the A38 onto the A4 and go under the Clifton Sus Br, then up the steep hill to the zoo. That hill is a pig too.

Thanks guys, going to look at all suggestions now,

Mick F wrote:What is your timescale?
It is possible to ride LE to Bristol in the one day:
A30 LE to Exeter, then B3181 and A38 to Bristol. 200miles or slightly more.
.

Sorry, forgot to mention timescale:
Time-scale 4-5 days (but this must include travel time from Bristol - LE). Planning to get the train (from Bristol Temple Meads) to as near as LE as possible and ride the rest - any one know what this station would be?

Blimey, never knew is was possible in 1 day! That would be an achievement. Hopefully with 4 days of steady riding back it'll give us chance to do as scenic route as possible.

Mick F wrote:I must study your route a bit more. It sounds interesting.

I rode the route I described only last month. Indeed the hill up to Churchill is a pig, but I managed it - and have managed it many times. It's fifteen miles from Bridgwater, and those fifteen miles are flat, so Churchill Hill is the first one.

My trip over the Clifton Susp Br was a first for me by bike. Yes, the hill up from Congresbury wasn't easy with a heavy trailer in tow ............ but I survived and I didn't have to get off and walk.

The option that I've gone for before, was to cross the Avon from the A38 onto the A4 and go under the Clifton Sus Br, then up the steep hill to the zoo. That hill is a pig too.

Thanks for replies Mick and glad you got to go across the bridge, that hill next to it is called 'Bridge Valley Road' and it is a pig - it's also only a 10 min ride (to the base) from my house!

Bike-Rich wrote:Thanks for replies Mick and glad you got to go across the bridge, that hill next to it is called 'Bridge Valley Road' and it is a pig - it's also only a 10 min ride (to the base) from my house!

Been over the bridge a few times over the years, as we knew people in Bristol. First time I was there (1973?) I owned a Triumph Herald and parked it on the Bristol side and walked over and back.

Penzance station is the end of the GWR line.
Ten miles to LE from the station, through the town, and along the A30.
Quite hilly and "lumpy", but not anywhere near the Bristol hills.

Well, with a trailer, some of the barriers on the Shute Shelve section will be awkward, but most mere mortals don't pull trailers I don't remember any nasty barriers on Festival Way but even if there are the detour onto the old route through Long Ashton wouldn't be too bad.

The only non-pig routes I remember on the Somerset side climbing up to the level of the Clifton Suspension Bridge are the ones inside the Ashton Court and Tyntesfield estates and they're still not easy. Even in Bristol, maybe Colston Street and doubling back, or going the long way round near the railway are as good as it gets? If you want the bridge views, go for it, but I was always lazy and used the valley

Many thanks guys, much appreciated.

Great to know Penzance station is only 10miles to LE too!

Is shute shelve tunnel the just up from Axbridge? If so that's my preferred route from taunton into Bristol as well. Easy route is Taunton, across the levels (past Barrow Mump) to wedmore, then up to chedder to pick up the strawberry line, follow this all the way to clevedon, then Avon cycleway to Giordano then along and over the suspension bridge. Its not the easiest at the end but going across the bridge is very nice.

Bike-Rich wrote:Great to know Penzance station is only 10miles to LE too!

yeah but - they're Cornish miles...

honesty wrote:Is shute shelve tunnel the just up from Axbridge? If so that's my preferred route from taunton into Bristol as well.

It is indeed.

I don't like the Wedmore to Cheddar B road but maybe I was just unlucky the couple of times I rode it.

simonineaston wrote:

Bike-Rich wrote:Great to know Penzance station is only 10miles to LE too!

yeah but - they're Cornish miles...

If/when you ride that road again, check out the road signs.

The stated distance varies a bit!
Cornish joke maybe?

Go on BikeHikeUK and trace the route Penzance to LE and you'll find it comes out to 10miles statute.

Just thought I update this as we got back yesterday.
Had a great time, took a gentle ride back in around 6 days and took in as many sights and scenery as possible. We took camping gear and found sites each night.

Learned a massive amount on bike touring which was very useful as I plan to do another tour soon. Embarrassingly bikes weighed around 40kg+ each as we packed for every eventuality. Planning to make a lot of changes to my bike and set-up so it will be drastically lighter next time

Thanks guys,