Rides in Somerset

jjjjjjonny

Going to be in somerset (burnham on sea) with the chance for a couple medium length rides. Thinking of giving Cheddar to Burrington coombe loop a go and possibly a beach ride from burnham to weston supermare and back. Just wondering if any people from the area know of any better rides?

Ive got a cross bike so a bit of light off road would be good but I like road riding too.

cheddarpaul

Afternoon and at last, a post I can reply to!

The climbs up the Mendips are awesome, Cheddar Gorge, Burrington, Old Bristol Road, etc, will certainly get the heart pounding. Saying that, riding across the Somerset levels also affords some lovely quiet roads, views and coffee stops if you plan it properly.

Not much to do heading in to WSM.

From Burnham I would head East over the levels and then up the Mendips, on to Wells and back, or, down to Glastonbury / Somerton / Langport and then back, just two options for a good circular route.

With a cross bike (as I have one), the world opens up a little more for you. Around Wedmore and Cheddar you can find hundreds of miles of droves to follow. If you head to Cheddar then there are a lot of fire roads and tracks you can follow around Shipham, Rowberrow, Churchill, and head up to the trig point on the Mendips, etc.

Ping me if you want more detailed plans.

jjjjjjonny

cheddarpaul wrote:

Afternoon and at last, a post I can reply to!

The climbs up the Mendips are awesome, Cheddar Gorge, Burrington, Old Bristol Road, etc, will certainly get the heart pounding. Saying that, riding across the Somerset levels also affords some lovely quiet roads, views and coffee stops if you plan it properly.

Not much to do heading in to WSM.

From Burnham I would head East over the levels and then up the Mendips, on to Wells and back, or, down to Glastonbury / Somerton / Langport and then back, just two options for a good circular route.

With a cross bike (as I have one), the world opens up a little more for you. Around Wedmore and Cheddar you can find hundreds of miles of droves to follow. If you head to Cheddar then there are a lot of fire roads and tracks you can follow around Shipham, Rowberrow, Churchill, and head up to the trig point on the Mendips, etc.

Ping me if you want more detailed plans.

thanks for the reply, so much to do in such a short space of time!

definitely want to have a look at some of the tracks around Wedmore and Cheddar any particular spots/ roads you recommend?

also where abouts in the levels is a good cafe run? thanks again in advance

StillGoing

Porlock Hill and brag about it forever if you make it to the top. Not the toll road either.

jjjjjjonny

philthy3 wrote:

Porlock Hill and brag about it forever if you make it to the top. Not the toll road either.

"connecting Porlock to Lynmouth and Barnstaple in Devon and is the steepest A-road in the United Kingdom" think i may give it a miss this time round...

redvee

philthy3 wrote:

Porlock Hill and brag about it forever if you make it to the top. Not the toll road either.

Only if you don't use the inner ring

sloppyschleckonds

Don't bother with Cheddar, head along the road to Draycott Steep.

alh14

Draycott steep...clues in the name. Cheddar is a beautiful climb and if you have never done it, it's worth doing.

I would ride to the bottom of Burrington, then up it, first right to charterhouse, right at charterhouse, down shipham hill to cheddar, up cheddar then back down Burrington. Good cycling friendly cafe in cheddar is "simply gorgeous" cafe ! But you need to ride down to the roundabout after to get the full cheddar strava segment (if that's your thing !)

sloppyschleckonds

Good shout, I always preferred Burrington, is Dereks tea rooms still there?

jjjjjjonny

alh14 wrote:

Draycott steep...clues in the name. Cheddar is a beautiful climb and if you have never done it, it's worth doing.

I would ride to the bottom of Burrington, then up it, first right to charterhouse, right at charterhouse, down shipham hill to cheddar, up cheddar then back down Burrington. Good cycling friendly cafe in cheddar is "simply gorgeous" cafe ! But you need to ride down to the roundabout after to get the full cheddar strava segment (if that's your thing !)

That sounds like a nice ride, might give that a go actually

helmetberg

The Mendips and surrounding area are worth an explore, I often don't meet a car or another sole for 45mins plus around there if you stick to the lanes.

Some lovely riding to be had between the Mendips and Bristol - Butcombe, Blagdon, Chew Magna, the flatlands around Weston etc etc etc.

Cheddar is a nice climb, recommended. Burrington Combe is also good. Harptree Hill will certainly get the blood pumping. As the previous poster mentioned, try and rip down Cheddar and Burrington as well as climb them. A fitting reward for the hard work climbing them.

alh14

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Good shout, I always preferred Burrington, is Dereks tea rooms still there?

No the dark pub is still there and there's now a mtb shop too.

jameses

Helmetberg wrote:

try and rip down Cheddar and Burrington as well as climb them. A fitting reward for the hard work climbing them.

You'll be lucky getting down Cheddar quickly - I've been down a dozen times and the only time I didn't get held up by traffic was on an overnight ride! Almost always seem to end up behind a tour bus at 10mph :roll:

Mad_Malx

jjjjjjonny wrote:

possibly a beach ride from burnham to weston supermare and back.
.

I'm not sure this is possible, I don't think you can get round Brean Down or cross the Ax river north of Brean. NCR 33 from Brean is partly unmetalled road up to WSM though, so good on a cross.

Cheddar isn't so busy after the horrific tourist tat bit at the bottom and worth doing if you've not before, but better in the morning. Burrington definately. Very quiet droves across to Wells are nice too, then Old Bristol Road back up onto the Mendips.

jjjjjjonny

If this weekend has taught me anything it's that I need to practice my climbing and the somerset levels are amazing

handful

A bit late now, just saw this but in case you come again....

I live close to Burnham and many of the rides spoken about are my "usual" rides. The good thing about Burnham is the variety of rides available. Like you say the levels are amazing if you don't fancy a climb but usually the wind is pretty brutal so not always as easy as you think it will be. If hills are more your thing you have either the Mendips, Cheddar, Burrington etc and loads of others including Draycott Steep mentioned above if you want something extreme (25%) or the Quantocks which has some fantastic rides and scenery. Too numerous to mention but anything from undulating if you skirt around right up to extreme if you go to Crowcombe/ Triscombe area. (Also 25% and legendary in terms of difficulty!!)

Also mentioned above is the link from Brean Down to Weston. There is technically an off road route but that would include a stretch on the beach which is clearly not great if you value your bike! There is a new path though that you can get to from Diamond Farm through to Uphill, I think it's cycle route 33 from memory. That is accessable with a normal road bike but a little rougher than some might like so cross bike ideal. HTH

jjjjjjonny

handful wrote:

A bit late now, just saw this but in case you come again....

I live close to Burnham and many of the rides spoken about are my "usual" rides. The good thing about Burnham is the variety of rides available. Like you say the levels are amazing if you don't fancy a climb but usually the wind is pretty brutal so not always as easy as you think it will be. If hills are more your thing you have either the Mendips, Cheddar, Burrington etc and loads of others including Draycott Steep mentioned above if you want something extreme (25%) or the Quantocks which has some fantastic rides and scenery. Too numerous to mention but anything from undulating if you skirt around right up to extreme if you go to Crowcombe/ Triscombe area. (Also 25% and legendary in terms of difficulty!!)

Also mentioned above is the link from Brean Down to Weston. There is technically an off road route but that would include a stretch on the beach which is clearly not great if you value your bike! There is a new path though that you can get to from Diamond Farm through to Uphill, I think it's cycle route 33 from memory. That is accessable with a normal road bike but a little rougher than some might like so cross bike ideal. HTH

I'll definitely come back as I've got ties to the area. Did burrington combe whilst I was there, which was pretty tough after a morning ride as well.