Harder cycle rides
These rides are for more experienced cyclists - mainly 25+ miles with much more road riding including some busier main roads. More hills, some steep and long. All distances are approximate.
Ride 1: 33 miles BoA - Batheaston - Bannerdown - Marshfield - Castle Combe - Corsham - Great Chalfield - BoA
Ride 2: 8 miles BoA - Turleigh - Winsley - Limpley Stoke - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
Ride 3: 12 miles BoA - Winsley - Viaduct - Monkton Combe - Midford - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
Ride 2: 8 miles BoA - Turleigh - Winsley - Limpley Stoke - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
Ride 3: 12 miles BoA - Winsley - Viaduct - Monkton Combe - Midford - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
Ride 1: 33 miles BoA - Batheaston - Bannerdown - Marshfield - Castle Combe - Corsham - Great Chalfield - BoA
See the route on Mapometer.
This is a toughie; it’s not for the faint hearted and certainly not for children unless they are competent and experienced. It is about 33 miles long and ideal for a Sunday morning when traffic is lighter on the A363 Bath Road out of BoA.
It's very hilly in the first half with some busy main road riding in places. It covers some beautiful countryside with wonderful views and gorgeous quiet lanes. You can ride it quickly in half a day ride or make a full day of it as there are plenty of interesting places to visit on the way – Marshfield, Castle Combe, Biddestone, Corsham Court and Great Chalfield, with lots of places to stop for refreshment.
Starting at the Town Bridge go across the mini roundabout up Silver Street, turn left into Springfield, straight across the mini roundabout at the top, turn right at the next mini roundabout in front of Christ Church, straight across the next mini roundabout and join the Bath Road (1 mile). Follow this road for about 5 miles through Sally in the Woods until you join the main A4 roundabout at Batheaston. Go straight across this roundabout towards Batheaston village and at the next mini roundabout take the 3rd exit to double back up Bannerdown Hill (6.5 miles). Follow this road for about 2.5 miles and at the end of a long, straight stretch (old Roman road) take the left turn towards Ashwick and Marshfield. Follow the road for about a mile; at the T-junction in Marshfield turn right to go through the village and out at the other end to the junction with the A420 where you turn right (13 miles). Follow the A420 towards Chippenham for about 400 metres, taking the first left, just after a farm onto a lovely quiet side road. Now follow the signs all the way towards Castle Combe. Take care after about 3 miles where the road narrows as it enters a wooded valley; the road here is quite damp and rough and there is a sharp right hand turn at the valley bottom which can take you by surprise. Also, this is a popular walking area so be prepared for walkers to appear from nowhere! When you come to a T-junction turn left downhill into Castle Combe village (17.5 miles), where you may like to stop for a pint or in the café in the centre. Continue along this road uphill out of the village and where it splits after 400 metres take the right hand fork which soon leads to the main road, where you turn right. Follow this road for about 1.5 miles, alongside the Castle Combe car racing circuit on your right and into Yatton Keynell (19.5 miles). In the centre of Yatton Keynell turn right immediately in front of the post office and follow this narrow road for about a mile to the crossroads at the A420. Go straight across, through Biddestone (21.5 miles) and follow the road to the A4 traffic lights at Cross Keys, just outside Corsham (23 miles). As you are now on the Wiltshire Cycleway just follow the blue cycleway signs through Corsham, Neston (25.5 miles), Atworth ( 27 miles), Great Chalfield (29.3 miles), Bradford Leigh (31.2 miles) and back to Bradford.
See the route on Mapometer.
This is a toughie; it’s not for the faint hearted and certainly not for children unless they are competent and experienced. It is about 33 miles long and ideal for a Sunday morning when traffic is lighter on the A363 Bath Road out of BoA.
It's very hilly in the first half with some busy main road riding in places. It covers some beautiful countryside with wonderful views and gorgeous quiet lanes. You can ride it quickly in half a day ride or make a full day of it as there are plenty of interesting places to visit on the way – Marshfield, Castle Combe, Biddestone, Corsham Court and Great Chalfield, with lots of places to stop for refreshment.
Starting at the Town Bridge go across the mini roundabout up Silver Street, turn left into Springfield, straight across the mini roundabout at the top, turn right at the next mini roundabout in front of Christ Church, straight across the next mini roundabout and join the Bath Road (1 mile). Follow this road for about 5 miles through Sally in the Woods until you join the main A4 roundabout at Batheaston. Go straight across this roundabout towards Batheaston village and at the next mini roundabout take the 3rd exit to double back up Bannerdown Hill (6.5 miles). Follow this road for about 2.5 miles and at the end of a long, straight stretch (old Roman road) take the left turn towards Ashwick and Marshfield. Follow the road for about a mile; at the T-junction in Marshfield turn right to go through the village and out at the other end to the junction with the A420 where you turn right (13 miles). Follow the A420 towards Chippenham for about 400 metres, taking the first left, just after a farm onto a lovely quiet side road. Now follow the signs all the way towards Castle Combe. Take care after about 3 miles where the road narrows as it enters a wooded valley; the road here is quite damp and rough and there is a sharp right hand turn at the valley bottom which can take you by surprise. Also, this is a popular walking area so be prepared for walkers to appear from nowhere! When you come to a T-junction turn left downhill into Castle Combe village (17.5 miles), where you may like to stop for a pint or in the café in the centre. Continue along this road uphill out of the village and where it splits after 400 metres take the right hand fork which soon leads to the main road, where you turn right. Follow this road for about 1.5 miles, alongside the Castle Combe car racing circuit on your right and into Yatton Keynell (19.5 miles). In the centre of Yatton Keynell turn right immediately in front of the post office and follow this narrow road for about a mile to the crossroads at the A420. Go straight across, through Biddestone (21.5 miles) and follow the road to the A4 traffic lights at Cross Keys, just outside Corsham (23 miles). As you are now on the Wiltshire Cycleway just follow the blue cycleway signs through Corsham, Neston (25.5 miles), Atworth ( 27 miles), Great Chalfield (29.3 miles), Bradford Leigh (31.2 miles) and back to Bradford.
Ride 2: 8 miles BoA - Turleigh - Winsley - Limpley Stoke - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
See the route on Mapometer.
Although fairly short, this is a great training ride with a couple of challenging hills.
Start in St Margaret’s car park, go over the McKeever footbridge, turn left into Church Street, along the footpath at the end and up the steps into Newtown. Turn left to follow Belcombe Road out through Turleigh towards Winsley. Go up the hill out of Turleigh and at the T-junction (2 miles) turn left into Winsley, go through the village and out onto the main road the other side. Turn left and go down Winsley Hill (take care); at the bottom of the hill go under the railway bridge and turn immediately left towards Limpley Stoke (3 miles). Follow this road up the hill until you reach a T-junction where you turn left to drop down into Freshford. Continue on through Freshford, it's a winding road that goes past the school (keeping it on your right), goes left then right, downhill and past The Inn at Freshford pub. Cross the river bridge then keep going without turning off. You hit a very steep hill (Staples Hill) that's about a mile long, keep going when you reach the top and continue on through Westwood for about another mile. Take the left turn that picks up Route 254 and the Wiltshire Cycleway, turn left at the end of the road and follow this back into BoA.
See the route on Mapometer.
Although fairly short, this is a great training ride with a couple of challenging hills.
Start in St Margaret’s car park, go over the McKeever footbridge, turn left into Church Street, along the footpath at the end and up the steps into Newtown. Turn left to follow Belcombe Road out through Turleigh towards Winsley. Go up the hill out of Turleigh and at the T-junction (2 miles) turn left into Winsley, go through the village and out onto the main road the other side. Turn left and go down Winsley Hill (take care); at the bottom of the hill go under the railway bridge and turn immediately left towards Limpley Stoke (3 miles). Follow this road up the hill until you reach a T-junction where you turn left to drop down into Freshford. Continue on through Freshford, it's a winding road that goes past the school (keeping it on your right), goes left then right, downhill and past The Inn at Freshford pub. Cross the river bridge then keep going without turning off. You hit a very steep hill (Staples Hill) that's about a mile long, keep going when you reach the top and continue on through Westwood for about another mile. Take the left turn that picks up Route 254 and the Wiltshire Cycleway, turn left at the end of the road and follow this back into BoA.
Ride 3: 12 miles BoA - Winsley - Viaduct - Monkton Combe - Midford - Freshford - Westwood - BoA
This is a variation of Ride 2 above and although it's short there are two grinding hills. This is another great training ride.
See the route on Mapometer.
Start in St Margaret’s car park, go over the McKeever footbridge, turn left into Church Street, along the footpath at the end and up the steps into Newtown. Turn left to follow Belcombe Road out through Turleigh towards Winsley. Go up the hill out of Turleigh and at the T-junction (2 miles) turn left into Winsley, go through the village and out onto the main road the other side. Turn left and go down Winsley Hill (take care); at the bottom of the hill go under the railway bridge and follow the road round to the right to the traffic lights. Turn right briefly, onto the A36 and immediately left up Brassknocker Hill for a short sharp climb. Taking the first left after 150 metres onto a quieter road; follow this road through Monkton Combe until the road takes a natural sharp right-left, after which you should find a left turn, signed NCN Route 24. Take this left and continue on to Midford. At the cross-roads take a left down onto the B3110 for 100m or so, taking the first left which takes you up a longish steady climb up to the A36 at the top of Limpley Stoke. You can now carefully negotiate crossing the A36 (the road you want is opposite to the left), and continue down into Freshford. Continue through Freshford, on a winding road that goes past the school (keeping it on your right), goes left then right, downhill and past The Inn at Freshford pub. Cross the river bridge then keep going without turning off. You hit a very steep hill (Staples Hill) that's about a mile long; keep going when you reach the top and continue on through Westwood for about another mile. Take the left turn that picks up Route 254 and the Wiltshire Cycleway, turn left at the end of the road and follow this back into BoA.
This is a variation of Ride 2 above and although it's short there are two grinding hills. This is another great training ride.
See the route on Mapometer.
Start in St Margaret’s car park, go over the McKeever footbridge, turn left into Church Street, along the footpath at the end and up the steps into Newtown. Turn left to follow Belcombe Road out through Turleigh towards Winsley. Go up the hill out of Turleigh and at the T-junction (2 miles) turn left into Winsley, go through the village and out onto the main road the other side. Turn left and go down Winsley Hill (take care); at the bottom of the hill go under the railway bridge and follow the road round to the right to the traffic lights. Turn right briefly, onto the A36 and immediately left up Brassknocker Hill for a short sharp climb. Taking the first left after 150 metres onto a quieter road; follow this road through Monkton Combe until the road takes a natural sharp right-left, after which you should find a left turn, signed NCN Route 24. Take this left and continue on to Midford. At the cross-roads take a left down onto the B3110 for 100m or so, taking the first left which takes you up a longish steady climb up to the A36 at the top of Limpley Stoke. You can now carefully negotiate crossing the A36 (the road you want is opposite to the left), and continue down into Freshford. Continue through Freshford, on a winding road that goes past the school (keeping it on your right), goes left then right, downhill and past The Inn at Freshford pub. Cross the river bridge then keep going without turning off. You hit a very steep hill (Staples Hill) that's about a mile long; keep going when you reach the top and continue on through Westwood for about another mile. Take the left turn that picks up Route 254 and the Wiltshire Cycleway, turn left at the end of the road and follow this back into BoA.