Countryside, castles & cake – the Avon Cycleway in 7 stages

Roaming the sprawling Somerset countryside and its hidden historical gems on your bicycle – what could get better than that? This Collection guides you through diverse scenery around the city of Bristol; from unique Victorian piers jutting into the River Severn to Iron Age hill forts and Aerospace museums. This fun and easy ride offers something for everyone.

Although the original Avon Cycleway runs 85.5 miles (137 km), our Collection guides you 141.6 miles (228 km) to include a few detours to the best sites along the way.

You can start and finish your adventure at any point along the Avon Cycleway as it forms a loop around Bristol. We’ve started this Collection from Temple Meads train station in Bristol to make it easier to reach the official route.

Each of the seven stages in this Collection can be shortened or combined to match your fitness level and time frame. They work well together as an epic adventure or individually as city escapes, especially if you live in or around Bristol.

Following quiet country lanes and traffic-free cycle paths, the Avon Cycleway is suitable for all levels of riders. With no challenging climbs, it is a perfect first adventure for the whole family as you will climb a total of 6496 feet (1980 meters) over the seven stages.

Whether you prefer your roadie or sturdy touring bike, any set of two wheels is suitable for the Avon Cycleway. The route follows excellent surfaces, with only a few bridleways that can become muddy after rain.

To ensure your adventure is both fun and comfortable, each stage ends in a town or village with accommodation, as well as restaurants or cafes to please your stomach. Food lovers (i.e. everyone) can tuck into a cream tea at a former railway waiting room or try Wickwar’s famous cask ale en route.

The Avon Cycleway is a varied adventure: birdwatching in ancient forests, indulging in cake stops at vintage tea rooms, exploring magnificent country estates, wandering the graffiti-covered Bristol streets, and much much more.

You can easily reach the start line of this Collection in the vibrant city of Bristol by train. The city enjoys direct rail connections to London, Cardiff, Plymouth and Birmingham. You will also find a huge range of accommodation in the city.

For train tickets and timetables, visit: thetrainline.com/stations/bristol-temple-meads

For more information about the Avon Cycleway, visit: sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/avon-cycleway