Cycling

Weston-super-Mare is brilliant for cyclists. The town is wrapped by picturesque countryside and surrounded by exciting places to visit by bike. We’ve got leisurely flat rides as well as testing hill climbs in the nearby Mendip Hills or the breath-taking Cheddar Gorge. But, let’s start with something less strenuous and perfect for families.

The Brean Down Way

The Brean Down Way starts slap bang in the centre of Weston’s promenade. It offers a lovely flat introduction before winding its way into the pretty village of Uphill past cliffs and gorgeous scenery, through a nature reserve and out pretty-much-on-the flat all the way to the massive chunk of rock that is Brean Down. It’s a fabulous eight-miles each way, which is largely off-road, has tea-shops along the way, and is about as good as you’ll find anywhere for a family bike ride. For more information and a route map click here

The Strawberry Line

Another great and easy family ride is the Strawberry Line which starts in Yatton – about a ten-minute train ride from Weston – and goes all the way to Cheddar. If you haven’t got your own bike, or don’t want to put it on the train, there’s a bike hire place right outside Yatton station. It’s also next to the station café which does fantastic cakes which you won’t be able to resist stuffing into your saddle bag.

Then, it’s a gentle, largely off-road, ten-mile amble at your own pace through countryside on disused railway tracks through the Thatchers Cider Farm, the dramatic Shute Shelve Tunnel, the pretty village of Axbridge, Cheddar Reservoir and into Cheddar itself.

There’s pubs and cafes on the way so it is a ride worth taking time over, and if you’ve still got a little bit of fuel left in the tank when you get to Cheddar, it’s worth clicking through the gears and getting those legs pumping for an extension you’ll never forget, riding through the much more taxing Cheddar Gorge itself.

Easy rides from Yatton train station

Yatton station makes a great starting point to explore North Somerset and its incredibly varied landscape. Turning left out of the station car park and then taking a right up Moor Road will take you in the direction of the droves, a beautifully flat landscape of fields separated by ditches. From there you can freestyle a ride through lanes and pretty villages. Heading out in that direction also offers you a quieter route into Clevedon with its historic pier and pretty seafront.

You can also reach Clevedon by turning left from the station onto a busy main road before turning left into quiet country lanes around Kingston Seymour. From there, follow lanes towards Clevedon before taking another left, at a gate on a bend, onto a cycle path which leads to the sea wall offering splendid coastal views all the way to Clevedon, see picture below.

  

There’s also a lovely ride from Clevedon to Portishead. From Clevedon, you could head for the coast road, which is accessed from Walton-in-Gordano. The ride does involve a climb but it’s worth it for the views along the top before dropping down into Portishead Lake Grounds for a bite to eat and then returning via Clapton-in-Gordano through the long, winding and pretty Nortons Wood Lane back to Clevedon. You could do it the other way round, but the hills feel steeper.

Tougher rides

For cyclists with plenty of miles in the tank, Yatton also makes a good base to ride out to Goblin Coombe where the hills start getting that bit steeper. Burrington Combe and the Mendip Hills are also huge favourites for riders who enjoy hill climbing. There’s pain, but there’s gain because the views are just wow!

Links to popular cycling routes

Here's a handy guide to some popular rides you may not have yet discovered.

Mountain Bike Riding

There’s plenty of exciting mountain bike trails in North Somerset. Here’s a guide to some which are popular.

BMX or stunt riding

It’s one of Weston’s best-kept secrets but tucked away in the woods near Sand Bay are some of the most exhilarating and daring stunt jumps in the country.

The thrilling Sand Bay Dirt Jumps at Kewstoke attract riders from all over the South of England and their talents have to be seen to be believed. There’s a good gathering of highly-talented enthusiasts there most weekends often including riders from as far away as Hampshire and Cornwall.

Getting here with you bike

If you're planning to travel to Weston with your own bike, the town has excellent rail links. However, it is advisable to book bike spaces on certain trains. For more detailed information on taking your bike on the train to Weston, visit the GWR website.

To determine whether you need to book a bike space, simply use the national rail journey planner. Locate your desired train, click on the bike icon under 'Additional Info,' and it will inform you of the number of available bike spaces and whether booking is necessary.

Cycle routes and links

When it comes to planning your cycling adventures in Weston, The North Somerset Cycle Map is an invaluable resource. This map is free from local libraries or can be downloaded from www.betterbybike.info.  The North Somerset Cycle Map highlights cycle racks throughout the area, ensuring that cyclists have convenient access to these facilities at key locations. Cyclists in the area are also eagerly awaiting the opening of the Pier to Pier route at some point in 2023 which will link Weston and Clevedon Pier.

Bike Hire

Bikes can be hired in Weston town centre from UFO in the Sovereign Shopping Centre. There's also a cycle hire centre next to Yatton train station which is right at the start of the Strawberry Line. There's also Brean and Burnham Bike Hire.