The best cycling routes around Swindon

Water parks and meandering rivers

Thanks to its Thames Valley location, cycling from Swindon can easily take on a rather watery theme. In fact, the source of the Thames is within pedalling distance, around 14 miles (22 km) by road and makes for a fantastic objective. Between Swindon and the source of London’s great river is the Cotswold Water Park. No, it’s not packed with flumes and floats; the water park is a vast lake system with lanes and bridle paths between its near-200 lakes. The perfect place to spot birds while chomping on a flapjack. 

Riding to hillforts and panoramic views

There are numerous fantastic bike rides from Swindon that lead you to some of the area’s oldest historic places. To the south, ride up to Barbury Castle, an Iron Age hillfort with exceptional views over Swindon and its valley. Nearby, you can find the Hackpen Horse, one of Wiltshire’s many chalk horses carved into its downs. The climbs to reach the tops of the downs can be steep but they tend to be fairly short-lived. 

If you’re after a traffic-free route, you can take the disused railway path and ride it southwards from Swindon, running parallel with a Roman road. You could follow it to the pretty town of Marlborough and branch off at any time to cycle a loop through the gorgeous downs and back to the start. For even more history, cycle east to reach Wayland’s Smithy, one of the most well-preserved Neolithic burial chambers in the country, and Uffington Castle and White Horse. All are accessible via roads or have roads close by as well as having hard-packed bridleways. 

Cycling around Swindon throughout the year

No matter what time of year you’re riding, there are cycle routes out from Swindon that offer a balm for the soul. Spring and summer through the water park and along the Thames see magnificent flowers and trees in their full glory. In winter, the water park is home to 20,000 overwintering birds.

In the hills, the shoulder seasons offer golden light. In summer, the long daylight hours allow you to ride at any time or do dawn-to-dusk rides, exploring great swathes of the surrounding countryside.