The best cycling routes around City of Bristol
4.4
(920)
20,987
riders
607
rides
Last updated: October 9, 2025
4.8
(49)
208
riders
1. Chew Valley Lake loop from Bristol
57.4km
03:33
490m
490m
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.7
(12)
110
riders
2. Towards Clevedon from Bristol - plenty of gravel
48.4km
03:19
460m
460m
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.0
(2)
23
riders
3. North Bristol gravel loop from Lawernce Hill
20.5km
01:42
160m
160m
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.0
(1)
607
riders
4. Ashton Court Greenway – Ashton Court Gatehouse loop from Parson Street
23.0km
01:45
260m
260m
Expert bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
4.8
(20)
406
riders
5. Ham Green Lake – Portishead Marina loop from Parson Street
38.6km
02:23
240m
240m
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.3
(14)
366
riders
6. Chew Valley Lake – Clifton Suspension Bridge loop from Clifton Down
55.0km
03:31
540m
540m
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.1
(23)
458
riders
7. Staple Hill Tunnel – Rodway Common loop from Bristol Temple Meads
18.6km
01:08
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.5
(30)
379
riders
8. Bristol Whales Sculpture – Ham Green Lake loop from Bedminster
27.6km
01:44
170m
170m
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.7
(20)
320
riders
9. Ashton Avenue Bridge – Festival Way loop from Bedminster
27.4km
01:40
160m
160m
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.9
(21)
307
riders
10. Festival Way – Ashton Court Greenway loop from Montpelier
58.7km
03:31
290m
290m
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
More Information
From the city to the sea
A historic city, cycle routes through Bristol and out towards the sea take you past the same landscapes that industry has been travelling along for hundreds of years. Inhabited since neanderthal times, Bristol itself was founded around 1,000 AD and the port area swiftly developed. Becoming one of the most important trading ports in the country, the city grew and saw many ships leaving for the New World.
Cycling from Bristol westwards makes for a wonderful day ride, taking in modest hills, flat river trails and the towering sides of the Avon Gorge. Decide which side of the Avon you want to be on when you start out for the most flexible of routes but there is a cycle path across the river alongside the M5. This means you can cycle to the sea and back in a circular route.
Notable spots for a spin
Eastwards, you can ride all the way to Bath along flawless, traffic-free, flat tarmac, perfect for family adventures as well as an easy way to get to the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Bike rides from Bristol can also whisk you south to the pretty Mendip Hills AONB where you can cycle around the grand Chew Valley Lake and delve further into rolling limestone scenery. While you’ll encounter your fair share of climbs, the views get better and better, rewarding tired legs.
One of the best locations for riding thanks to its varied terrain, staggering gorges and range of trails, the Mendips tempt Bristol’s cyclists down whenever sun is on the forecast. If exhilarating rides are your thing, cycling through the famous Cheddar Gorge is a highlight. What goes down, must come up though. If you want cake with your climbs, the Mendips are littered with cafes welcoming hungry cyclists.
If you’d rather get your cake and coffee in Bristol after pedaling around the historic floating docks, no sweat. There are so many outstanding independent outlets here that you can ride from cake shop to cake shop, some of which even provide dedicated bike parking.
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