You have a few hours, were would you ride from North Bristol?

[Lor Enzo]

Good morning everyone,
Just picking your brain on some parts of this beautiful country to explore.
I live in North Bristol and can be across the bridge in Chepstow 20-30min.

Where would you go if you had a few hours on a Saturday morning shall we say?

Trying to pull some info from the collective wisdom of this great forum.

To give you a few examples:

Just to get out of withdrawal symptoms I can ride around Wotton under Edge, Berkley or Oldbury on Severn with a longer lunch break.

I can be in the Cotswolds and ride to Leaf and Ground in Dursley in 25-30min.

I can get to Baffle Haus in 45-50min...

The idea is to ride somewhere, have a cup of coffee/breakfast/some food while admiring the bike and get home potentially in 2.5-3 hrs and be able to spend time with the family. Step by step.

I got an eye on Elan valley but I might wait a bit more to get there so the weather warms up and the family warms up too to the idea that I'll be off grid for half a day.

Thanks in advance for sharing your rides. Cheers

 

[john-g]

I'm in Weston super Mare and my usual runs are around and over the Mendips, down to Lynmouth taking in the back roads over Exmoor near Exford etc. or pop down to West Bay near Bridport for a coffee and then along the Jurassic Coast Road to Weymouth. Other runs being across the river to Abergavenny for a coffee at the Cafe at the Bus Station, then up and around Talybont Reservoir continuing to the Rhigos Mountain Road near Merthyr. Another shortish run near Abergavenny being along the back roads to Llanthony Priory then continue onwards and up over the Gospel Pass to Hay on Wye.

I also ride the Elan Valley once or twice a year, but that's a whole day out - good run though.

You should find something to suit amongst the above.

 

[wessie]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5QZkJVqBHm4iLhnV8 here is a circuit from Chepstow that I used to do from a home in Abergavenny. I have marked the bus station in Abergavenny and the Monnow Bridge Cafe in Monmouth as places to stop. I used to like getting fish and chips and sit alongside the river in Monmouth.
You can park on the pavement across the road by the old bridge https://maps.app.goo.gl/o6HuAioCP64jmXgx9 they put flower tubs in place which stops cars but bikes can fit.
To get from Monmouth to Chepstow do the road through Trellech. It is like a roller coaster. Much better than going along the river through Tintern. I recommend doing this road in both directions as you get different views. The view into the Wye Valley as you descend from Trellech into Monmouth is pretty special.

There are lots of variations such as taking the Skenfrith road from Abergavenny to Ross on Wye. Riding from Ross to Chepstow via St Briavels. Adding a loop up to Talgarth, Hay on Wye then back to Ross on Wye via the Golden Valley through Peterchurch.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Elan Valley is much too far ; that’s a serious full day ride if you plan it properly and take in all of the wonderful dams .

The Honey Cafe Talgarth is just about do able in a couple of hours , but could be stretching it a bit if you are stopping , so maybe not .

Abergavenny vineyard cafe is good for lunch

There are so many different ways of getting to Abvgny from Aust and surprisingly little time difference so study your maps ; I can think of two fabulous roads that nobody uses .

Likewise you mention Baffle Haus , which also has several route options .

 

[wessie]

There are so many different ways of getting to Abvgny from Aust and surprisingly little time difference so study your maps ; I can think of two fabulous roads that nobody uses .

I quite liked going along the old A40 past where the Steel Horse used to be and onto Raglan, then via Llansoy to Devauden and Chepstow. Less traffic than going via Usk.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Indeed Wessie ; Llansoy is a fabulous quiet and speedy shortcut route to Raglan and ABVGNY , which nobody seems to know.
The Usk road is full of power rangers at weekends and tbh it’s not worth the hassle because the time saving is negligible.

 

[Lor Enzo]

Hi there I rode the Llansoy route to Raglan and circled down to Baffle Haus on Saturday. Very pleasant road, thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Morety]

I've often ridden from Dursley to Chepstow then taken the B4235 towards Usk, then the B4598 towards Abernathy, stopping at the bus station cafe for a coffee before the return leg.

 

[wessie]

I've often ridden from Dursley to Chepstow then taken the B4235 towards Usk, then the B4598 towards Abernathy, stopping at the bus station cafe for a coffee before the return leg.

a wizard from Harry Potter lives in Monmouthshire?

 

[Morety]

Typo...bl##dy spell correct somehow changed "Abergavenny" to "Abernathy"!