Top 20 Bike Rides and Cycling Routes around Bristol

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.