Cider loop
A trip out into some of the nicest countryside around Bath to see an ancient burial mound, a historic pub serving local Somerset ciders (with camping options), Farleigh Hungerford castle, Iford manor and gardens, and finally a gravel ride along the Avon canal back to Bath.
Plan on making a day of it and stopping along the way, this ride packs a lot of interest in a relatively short (but hilly) distance.
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
Plan on making a day of it and stopping along the way, this ride packs a lot of interest in a relatively short (but hilly) distance.
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
- sections near Wellow can be quite muddy, but you can detour around these on back lanes
The Marshfield boogie
The Marshfield Boogie is named after my favorite little village for a pastry and glass of milk at the country store (or whatever you prefer...). The route is part of a loop I created circling Bath via bridleway as much as possible. You start up the Cotswold Way, traverse some of the prettiest valleys around Bath to Marshfield, and then drop back down to Batheaston. There's plenty of fun bridleway along the way, some lovely country lanes and some cycle path along the canal.
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
- some bridleway descents that can be quite slippery in the wet, but nothing too crazy
- be careful on the 200m section along the A46
SW Bath explorer
This loop gives you a taste of lesser explored countryside southwest of Bath, and has big chunks of dirt byway and bridleway. There are some great views along the way, and it is really quite bucolic!
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
- some bridleway descent from Upper Twinhoe to Combe Hay is rocky and steep
- some byway sections may be quite muddy in parts
Castle combe's finest
Probably the prettiest area around Bath!
This loop takes you from Batheaston straight up Banner Down along the former Roman Fosse Way and then hops over the eastern edge dropping down via byway and fun lanes into the valley leading to Castle Combe. Head up the valley floor through green pastures until pointing up through sheep land to Peter Gabriel's place (it's the fancy one...). Drop back down to Slaughterford, then on to Ford and then work your way along beautiful byways and bridleways to Castle Combe (where Harry Potter lives, they say). From Castle Combe, you'll circle around the racing circuit and drop down via bridleway past Kent's Bottom (silly Kent) and West Yatton Down to Long Dean where things get even more picturesque, if that's possible. From here, you work your way back down to Batheaston along the east side of the valley. The old industrial site you'll pass through in Slaughterford is not to be missed, along with Weavern Farm (old stone farm site) at Monk's Wood. If you're pooped at this point, you can always head straight down the bridleway along the valley stream, but the views are quite nice if you follow the route up through the forest to gain a commanding view of the valley back towards Bath as you skirt south along the hillside via bridleway.
*Some of the bridleways on this route can be quite boggy in the wet months, be warned!
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
This loop takes you from Batheaston straight up Banner Down along the former Roman Fosse Way and then hops over the eastern edge dropping down via byway and fun lanes into the valley leading to Castle Combe. Head up the valley floor through green pastures until pointing up through sheep land to Peter Gabriel's place (it's the fancy one...). Drop back down to Slaughterford, then on to Ford and then work your way along beautiful byways and bridleways to Castle Combe (where Harry Potter lives, they say). From Castle Combe, you'll circle around the racing circuit and drop down via bridleway past Kent's Bottom (silly Kent) and West Yatton Down to Long Dean where things get even more picturesque, if that's possible. From here, you work your way back down to Batheaston along the east side of the valley. The old industrial site you'll pass through in Slaughterford is not to be missed, along with Weavern Farm (old stone farm site) at Monk's Wood. If you're pooped at this point, you can always head straight down the bridleway along the valley stream, but the views are quite nice if you follow the route up through the forest to gain a commanding view of the valley back towards Bath as you skirt south along the hillside via bridleway.
*Some of the bridleways on this route can be quite boggy in the wet months, be warned!
Bike Needs
Gravel or MTB
Technical Difficulty
- Some slippery when wet and fairly steep sections of bridleway and byway