Cycling in the Wessex counties of Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight. Wilts

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Cycling in the Wessex counties of Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight. Wiltshire and Somerset

Opportunities for cycling in the beautiful south west counties of England is endless. From the very serious indeed to the rider who just wants a day out or a weekend break. Incredible variations of distance, of stunning scenery and levels of difficulty create a wealth of rides that can only delight.

The pleasures of cycling on the wilds of Dartmoor

Pleasures of the open roadPhoto © Copyright L Temple 2008

An inexpensive riding holiday in the Wessex region could easily be organised, the only problem would be what route to take, there are so many!

Healthy too.

Go alone or as a group – family, friends or workmates.

Join a club, there are many – it does not matter whether you are a serious or professional or an occasional friend of this form of transport – there is one for you. A great way to spend time with like minded folk doing something you all enjoy.

Pack the bike on the car or go by public transport. Larger train companies take bikes, but the smaller private ones may not. National Express coaches will take bikes if they can be folded and are packed properly.

At the Langport and River Parratt Visitor Centre in Somerset and in one or two other places - bikes can be hired.

There are some B&B's and guesthouses that will take care of your luggage from their accommodation to your next while you go on your merry way. Check with your accommodation provider beforehand. However you may be nice and organised, travel light and back pack.

The coordinator of a National Cycle Network - NCN - is Sustrans and they have numbered the routes. Some of these are very long indeed, but there is no need to ride from one end to the other – unless you want to of course. Safe riding avoiding heavy traffic, many of the routes are off road.

Sustrans state that there is a route within two kilometres of most people so they are easy to access. They have produced a PDF document as a map showing all the network in England, Scotland and Wales. Download it from www.sustrans.org.uk/ and see the amazing total. Have fun planning a route.

Many cycling routes are also walking and horse riding trails.

Ladies visit Sustrans Bike Belles site for your own distinct vision of the sport.

Congratulations to Sustrans they received a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category.

Want to help Sustrans and enjoy a family friendly ride? The volunteer Ranger groups are organising Fresh Air Mile rides across the country and the rides are open to all. Raise money for Sustrans and enjoy a day out at the same time. There is a prize of a Ridgeback Comet bike to the one who raises the most money out of all the Fresh Air Miles rides.

Wessex had one along the Kennet and Avon Canal on Sunday 21 June. It started between 11 am and noon at the Packhorse Bridge in Barton Farm Country Park. The route was along the canal path for four miles as far as the Dundas Aqueduct and back again. If you would like to take part in other rides, please contact Richard Craft, Sustrans Volunteer Ranger either by telephone: 01225 866 601 or email richardcraft@talktalk.net who should be able to put you in touch with other rides.

NCN Routes in the Wessex Region

NCN 2 - Kent to Cornwall,
When it is eventually completed this incredible route will pass through all the counties in the south of England. In Wessex there are several sections already completed, notably the trail between Dorchester and Lyme Regis. While only thirty miles, there is so much to see that it would make a short holiday.

NCN 3 – Bristol to Land's End.
This route has two names, The West Country Way until it arrives in Cornwall when it becomes The Cornish Way. Part of the route follows the popular Tarka Trail .

There are branches of NCN 3 for further exploration of this lovely countryside. Attractive towns along the way are Wells with its magnificent cathedral, Taunton the county town of Devon, Barnstaple on the Tarka Trail , plus Bude and St Austell in Cornwall.

NCN 4 forms part of the Severn and Thames route and is the main one through Wiltshire . There are two options. The southern option goes along the Kennet and Avon route between Pewsey and Trowbridge and the northern one connects Marlborough and Chippenham.

NCN 23
From Reading in Berkshire to Sandown in the Isle of Wight . Cross from Southampton to East Cowes on the Island by ferry. The route travels from Reading to Basingstoke and then on to Alton and Winchester. From Wincheser the route travels through Eastleigh and on to Southampton. Across the water one must needs go over the River Medina on the Floating Bridge to West Cowes. From there to Newport, the Island's main town, and finish at Sandown, a most attractive coastal town.

NCN 24 - Otherwise known as Colliers Way – also a walking route. Runs from Dundas Aqueduct over the Kennet and Avon Canal to Frome.

Dundas Aqueduct (from western end) taken by © Copyright Rod Ward Sept 2006.

Follows old railway lines and pretty lanes in the Somerset countryside. Called the Colliers Way for the old coal mines in the area. Radstock Museum on the route tells their story. Frome is an attractive ancient town with a large number of listed buildings.

NCN 25 – All in Dorset From Longleat, a country house and safari park belonging to the Marquis of Bath to Gillingham in the Blackmore Vale and down to the coast at Poole.

NCN 26 from Clevedon, a small seaside town in North Somerset to beautiful Wells, on to Castle Cary in South Somerset and Yeovil on the county boundary. The route then crosses into Dorset to the county town of Dorchester

NCN 27 also known as the Devon Coast to Coast Route. Starts at Ilfracombe on the stunning North Devon coast to Plymouth on the beautiful South Devon coast. Right across the county. For part of its route it follows the ever popular Tarka Trail named for Tarka the Otter, a novel by Henry Williamson.

NCN 28 from Okehampton , one of the gateways to Dartmoor to Salcombe on the south coast of the county. An area of outstanding natural beauty. The trail runs first to Newton Abbott of the racecourse fame, to Totnes at the head of the Dart Estuary and on to its finish in Salcombe.

NCN 33. The Wessex Cycleway. Has its beginnings in Pill a small village in North Somerset close to Easton in Gordano. From there the trail wends its way to Clevedon, a small coastal town in North Somerset and carries on to the seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare. From there it follows a route to Bridgewater on the edge of the Somerset Levels. Then onwards to Chard rumoured to be the original Camelot and headquarters of the legendary King Arthur and his Round Table. Also at one time the headquarters of the Kings of Wessex. The route finishes at Seaton at the mouth of the River Axe on Lyme Bay.

Mountain biking is an increasingly popular sport and some areas of Wessex are viable. Isle of Purbeck perhaps or Dartmoor. Isle of Wight is worth a try.

Other routes in Wessex

Cycling in Devon

Devon is particularly fortunate in its diversity of trails, over mystic moorland, over picturesque Devon farmland and deep wooded lanes. The Exe Estuary Trail is a beautiful off road experience, there is the popular Tarka Trail , The Granite Way from Lydford to Okehampton , part of the Devon Coast to Coast - just a taste. Ruby country, between the moors, holds Cookworthy Forest. All the forest roads are open to cycling. The Ruby Trail is a long distance cycle route being developed. The section between Haliwell Junction Nature Reserve and the Cookworthy Forest Centre is open now. Then there is Exmoor and Dartmoor (Please read Dartmoor Trails if you are a novice rider or have no experience of the moors.)

Cycling in Dorset . This pretty county's population lives mainly on the coast and this leaves a large, lovely rural area. The Castleman Trailway takes part of the Southampton to Dorchester railway and travels from Upton to Ringwood via Wimbourne. A branch of Network Route 2 runs from Dorchester to Lyme Regis on the coast.

Cycling in Hampshire

Hampshire includes the attractive New Forest. Offroad, pathways, country roads and plenty of interesting places to see. There are 15 routes through the beautiful Test Valley for varying abilities. What about starting at Petersfield for the 22 mile circular route through an area of outstanding natural beauty. Then there is the South Downs Way that takes the rider into Sussex. The Magnificat was at Highclere Castle on Sunday 7th June 2009, with long and short distance rides.

Cycling in Isle of Wight . Great for the purist and the mountain biking enthusiast. All types of terrain for the off road devotee including very steep climbs. For the traditional rider miles and miles of quiet country lanes to explore. Refreshment can be had in the cafes and pubs along the way. Events occur throughout the summer. Sunday 3rd May saw the 25th Isle of Wight Randonee . May Bank Holiday weekend is normally the Wight Diamond Festival but this having a rest this year. The Isle of Wight Cycling Festival is from 19th to 27th September 2009

Cycling in Wiltshire . An area of outstanding natural beauty covers a large part of Wiltshire. Over 7000 paths wind around this ancient, outstanding country with its plains, amazing views, hills and valleys. Off road country. Part of the National route 4 goes through Wiltshire. The Wiltshire Cycleway is regional way No 20 connecting many towns in the area. The Wessex Ridgeway runs from Marlborough to Lyme Regis in Dorset.

Cycling in Somerset . Try the Somerset Levels for less strenuous riding. The West Country Way, NCN 3, travels through some attractive Somerset countryside including The Mendips. Try the Quantocks for mountain biking. Then there is Exmoor. (Please read Dartmoor Trails if you are a novice rider or have no experience of the moors. It applies to Exmoor as well.) There are clubs for all type of devotees. Somerton holds the Wessex Cycle Festival and this year it will be held from 23rd to 25th May.

Our article, Cycling holidays and tours in Wessex is published in the Travel-Quest Cycle Holiday Directory, and provides a brief overview of cycling opportunities in the Wessex counties. The travel-quest Cycle Holiday Directory is a great resource for finding cycle touring beaks, mountain bike holidays and cyclist friendly accommodation anywhere in the world.

Cycling Organisations

Audax UK is considered to be the foremost long distance association in the country and they state they are the biggest in the world. In their words they “oversee the running of long distance cycling events, and, using a system of time checkpoints, validates and records every successful ride” This one is for the serious long distance rider to enjoy as their shortest is 125 miles.

British Cycling is the national governing body for bike racing in Great Britain and administers most competitive riding within Great Britain, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It selects the national competitors to represent Britain both in this country and abroad as well as representing Britain at the world organisation.

The Cycling Touring Club. An organisation with roots in the early days and today continuing to promote the interests of all sections of the activity at both country and district levels. Entirely a not for profit organisation they rely on the subscripton of members. Their results over the years at country level have been excellent. At a district level local groups organise rides for most Sundays and longer ones during the summer. Cafe's are important stops for more leisurely ride. Pleasant idea. Something for everyone.

CTC Wessex. Cycling for leisure and pleasure. Their area covers all of Dorset, South Wiltshire, Somerset and The New Forest. An organsation dedicated to the non competitive fan who wants a companionable ride. They are a Member Group of the Cycling Touring Club.

Wessex Cycle Racing League. For the competitive enthusiast of all disciplines of the sport in the region, their own road racing league, mountain biking, time trials, track and road racing. Organisers can arrange events under their umbrella.

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