Lands End to John O'Groats Cycle Guide – Britain, Europe

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Day 4: Bridgwater to Stroud

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Total Distance: 65.4 miles
Cycling Time: 5 hours

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From the foot of the Mendip Hills a choice of routes can be followed. The first continues north to cross the hills and continues on to Bristol from where a gentle course is followed in Gloucestershire to reach the town of Stroud overlooking the Vale of Berkeley in the heart of the Cotswolds. The alternative is more picturesque and explores the gorge at Cheddar before detouring south-east around the Mendips to visit the historic centres of Wells and Bath, finally continuing along the border of Wiltshire and Avon into the Cotswolds and on to Stroud. Whichever itinerary is chosen the scenic splendour of the area will ensure a memorable day’s cycling.

Bridgwater    0 miles    (169.6 miles)
The A38 leaves the town north, fringed with the hardy grasses and abandoned boats that impress a coastal flavour which is often reinforced by the biting wind that cuts in from the Bristol Channel. The area is quite exposed with open farmland stretching as far as the eye can see. The cycling is physically easy but the exposed nature of the area would make for a miserable ride in adverse conditions. The villages of Dunball, Pawlett, Huntspill and Highbridge provide welcome reminders that progress is being made.

Brent Knoll stands to the north of Burnham-on-Sea and rises to over 400ft overlooking the Channel. The site is now owned by the National Trust and was originally an ancient hill fort.

At the fork in the road continue along the A38 to reach the town of Axbridge on the edge of the Mendips.

Axbridge    14.9 miles    (184.5 miles)
Camping: 1m E off B371, ½m E on A31, 2½m SE on A371 at Cheddar.
Village Stores, Post Office.

Axbridge is a small village located at the foot of the Mendips and serves as a popular touring base for exploring the area.

The Mendips
The Mendip Hills are a fine example of limestone upland scenery. The hills only rise to the modest altitude of 1000ft although the rounded tops provide magnificent viewpoints across the Severn Estuary and the vast Plains of Salisbury. The edge of the range provide perhaps the most spectacular and dramatic of the Mendip scenery. The course of ancient streams have created vast subterran-ean caverns in the porous rock. Where these roofs have collapsed open gorges have been formed of which there are fine examples at Cheddar and Ebbor.

To the south the Mendip Hills present a steep front rising abruptly from the plains. The terrain to the north is inherent of glacial tundra with rolling hillocks that, when viewed from a vantage point on the hilltops, appear as a turbulent sea of verdant patchwork.

From Axbridge follow the A38 that carves a path north through a breach in the hills. The wooded slopes and scattered villages clinging to the limestone outcrops provide welcome interest after the flat lands of the previous day. Continue through the villages of Winscombe, Churchill and Lower Langford until once again the terrain levels as the route begins the run into Bristol.

Bristol    16.1 miles/31 miles    (200.6 miles)
Campsite: ½m W of Bristol centre A370; Youth Hostel, B&B, Guest Houses, Hotels.
Tourist Information, Post Office, Rail Station, Hospital, Theatres, Cinemas, Banks, Library, Cycle Shop, Shops.

Bristol has a strong maritime history. The city itself grew up around the harbour at the mouth of the Avon and rapidly established itself as an important trade centre for export. The city has historic connections with the discovery of America since many of the early settlers sailed from the port. The Avon Gorge is spanned by Brunel’s famous suspension bridge.

The course taken through the city is largely a matter of preference dependent on what attractions the city holds. For some it will merely provide an unwelcome obstacle to be overcome as quickly as possible while for others it will be a place of interest at which to spend some time.

The quickest way through the city is to follow the A38 into the city centre from where an inner ring road gives access to the desired escape route. Although quick, this route is not overly pleasant and demands a determined approach for the most satisfactory result.

An alternative follows the bank of the Avon to the west of the city before continuing north on the A38 to Stroud as follows:

Follow the A38 to reach Bridgwater Road. This leads to Bedminster Down Road and delivers a nervous cyclist at a large roundabout named “The Batches”. Turn left to follow the A3029 that leads over a further roundabout to Brunel Way. This crosses the entrance to the floating harbour, then makes a left turn to join Hotwell Road on the banks of the Avon, with the Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the Avon Gorge ahead. Join the cycleway beside the road and follow it in the direction of Avonmouth. After nearly 3 miles reach the area of Sea Mills and turn right by a golf course on the A4162 onto Sylvan Way. Continue along Dingle Road, Canford Lane and Canford Road before turning left on the A4018 to climb Brentry Hill and continue to the intersection with junction 16 of the M5, first along Passage Road, then Wyck Beck and finally The Causeway. The B4055 now leads pleasantly to the town of Almondsbury where the A38 is rejoined at a very convenient village corner shop.

The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is an area of unforgettable natural beauty formed by a band of limestone rock that stretches north-east to the Humber and south-west to the Blackdown Hills. The exposed western edge of this rock band commands a fine viewpoint across the Severn to the hills of South Wales and it is this edge that provides the most imposing scenery. The highest point is near Cheltenham at Cleeve Hill. This rises to just over 1000ft. It is the rock itself that characterises the area due to its extensive use as a building material. It can be found in the stone walls, bridges, cottages and churches and harmonises perfectly with the landscape.

Continue north on the A38 to contour the west flank of Stinchcombe Hill, passing through the villages of Alveston, Falfield, Stone, Woodford and Newport along a fast and furious road to turn right on the B4066 just after crossing a rail line signposted “Dursley”. Follow this to a T-junction and turn left to another T-junction with the A4135. Turn right into Dursley (cycle shop), turning left just past the church on the B4066. The quiet road weaves pleasantly along the steep sided river valley before climbing through the wooded slopes past the village of Uley. The route continues along an undulating crest with beautiful views across the Cotswolds. The road passes Woodchester Park on the right before fringing the birch and oak trees of Stanley Wood. A series of short, heart-stopping descents leads down into the Frome Valley and the town of Stroud.

Stroud    34.4 miles/65.4 miles    (235 miles)
Campsite: 1½m S off A46, 1m S on Rodborough Common; Youth Hostel, B&B, Hotel.
Tourist Information, Rail Station, Hospital, Post Office, Theatre, Cinema, Banks, Library, Shops.

Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds this bustling market town provides a scenic stopover after a long day in the saddle. The textile industry dates back to the 16th century and reached a peak in the early 19th century following the introduction of mechanised looms. St Lawrence church and the town hall are examples of the town’s former wealth.

The alternative route visits the spectacular gorge at Cheddar before turning south-east along the A371 through the village of Wookey, famous for the cave system formed by the River Axe, and on to Wells. This city has one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England dating back to the 12th century.

The hills of Mendip still bar northward progress and the A371 provides the escape route into Shepton Mallet before finally turning north to join the A37 at Downside and continuing on the A367 to Radstock and on to Bath.

The preserved Roman spa with its impressive Victorian facade combines with the splendid Georgian architecture to make Bath one of the most elegant cities in the country.

Leave the city on London Road to join the A4 before once again turning north on the A46 that leads into the heart of the Cotswolds and on to Stroud. This route covers a distance of 57.5 miles, giving a total distance for the day of 72.4 miles. It would take approximately 6 hours’ cycling time, which would obviously leave very little time for sightseeing, but if time allows the trip could be made over 2 days and is certainly recommended. Both Bath and Wells have cycle shops, and accommodation is available at all towns.