At the start of this year, I had gone twelve years without getting on a bike, let alone going for an hour-long cycle. However, after a few weeks in lockdown, I had exhausted every route in the vicinity of my house, so I decided to dust off my bike and venture further afield by exploring Bath, UK.

I’ve found cycling is a great way to spend a Saturday. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I see how many kilometres I’ve cycled, and it’s a great way to get into nature too. There’s no better feeling than coasting down a hill and listening to the birds singing.

Cycling has given my week a bit more structure and is something I now really look forward to. I love researching new routes throughout the week and have found it is an amazing way to explore the local area. I’ve cycled past many cute cafés that I am desperate to visit when the lockdown eases.

If you fancy setting off on a cycle, here are my recommendations of some routes to try in and around Bath.

BRISTOL TO BATH CYCLE PATH

This was the first cycle I did in lockdown and so, as you would expect, it was a very wobbly ride. I even managed to fall off my bike at one point, although thankfully I fell straight into a bush which somewhat cushioned my fall, much to the amusement of the cows in the field opposite.

The views on this cycle path are beautiful; there is a mixture of open fields, old railway tracks, tunnels and wooded areas.

That being said, the path is quite bumpy in some places so if you have an uncomfortable bike saddle this may not be the route for you. I also found it was very busy, so if you are worried about social distancing, maybe try visiting on a week day.

The other thing I would note about this cycle path is that some sections are very narrow, making it difficult to manoeuvre if you are a new cyclist like me. I had to get off and walk for some parts, but if you don’t mind this then I’m sure you will enjoy the journey.

 CHIPPENHAM TO CALNE

We drove from Bath to the starting point of this cycle path in Chippenham when the lockdown travel rule was lifted, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

In fairness, it was an incredibly windy day, which made the cycle much more difficult, but the path was very bumpy and made up of gravel and dirt for most of the way. 

After this ride, we learnt to look up cycle paths on Sustrans to see what the route is like in terms of how much is traffic-free and what material the path is. I would definitely recommend doing this. There’s nothing worse than getting to a cycle path only to find it’s not right for you.

TWO TUNNELS

I loved this cycle path until I got to the part with the tunnels. One is over 1000 metres long and, although there are lights and jazz music playing halfway through, it is still pitch black and freezing cold in comparison to the outside world.

I found the tunnels mildly terrifying, although this did have a benefit: I cycled through them faster than I have ever cycled anywhere else. If you don’t mind tunnels, this route is a great one to try. It’s very central, so you won’t need to travel to get to the start, and there are some lovely views as you get out of the city.

RANSTOCK CYCLE PATH

This is my favourite route we have tried so far. It is very smooth, not too long, with lots of lovely spots to stop for a picnic along the way. If you don’t drive, this route connects to the Colliers Way path which goes closer to Bath, although a portion of this is on the road, so make sure you feel confident before attempting it.

Views of rolling hills and overgrown railway tracks are visible all the way along, and it’s not as busy as some of the more central routes. There is a very slight incline one way, but this makes the way back very easy with lots of coasting.

I hope these routes will inspire you to get out on your bike and make the most of the glorious countryside which surrounds Bath. It is a beautiful area and well worth exploring.

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 Written by Jasmin Perry