London To Somerset Route, any suggestions?

[shoelaces]

Hi,

In a couple of weeks time I'm thinking of cycling all the way from Islington, London to central Somerset (Wells). So I'm wondering if anyone has done a simlar thing? How is the ride? and does anyone have a recommended route?

At the moment it is looking like it's the A4> A361> A366

http://maps.google.c...&mra=ls&t=m&z=8

Oh, as a newbie I should add that I am planning to attempt this ride on my 90's aluminium road bike, gearing 50/34x11-26 and carrying a nice big Carradice Nelson saddlebag full of clothes and sandwiches!

Cheers

 

[TheBoyBilly]

The As 4 & 361 are very busy roads mate, I am not sure you will enjoy the ride. Trowbridge, for example, has quite a few haulage/distribution centres in the area (if I recall correctly from my trucking days) Try to find some quieter roads that run alongside-ish, or as a suggestion (and if your bike can handle it) how about cycling the Kennet & Avon canal down to Bath?

Bill

 

[Zaphod]

I'm from near Wells, about 12 miles away so I'm fairly familiar with the area, and I rode the A4 from Bath to Slough about a month ago, so hopefully I can give you some good advice. My route I would suggest would be A4 to Beckhampton, the road surface was fairly good and between the hours of 7am and 1pm the A4 between there and slough was quite busy but I never felt as if I was in danger, but then that's down to personal preference. From Beckhampton I'd take the A361 to Trowbridge and then onto the A366, which is a rather nice little road down to Radstock, going through several small villages and towns. I'd watch out for one of the junctions in Norton St. Philip though, as you can't see if there's any other traffic very easily at all, and it's right in the middle of a hill! At the end of the A366, you can continue straight across the A362, along the B3139 towards Wells; that road finishes there, and that is also fairly quiet and takes you through some rather nice little villages.

If your bike's capable of towpaths, like TheBoyBilly said, I'd come off the A4 at Hungerford and then go on the Avon and Kennet canal down to Trowbrige, and then take the roads from there I described. It's a nice path, as far as I know, I've been Bath to Devizes on it.

Oh, and if you take the A366, as you get out around Faulkland, if you look down to the hill to the right and see a big black conical shape, that's where my house is!

 

[shoelaces]

Thanks for your suggestions.
I'm going to attempt this ride tomorrow! Still not to sure which route I'll take. I'm not sure I'll survive.

I spent ages plotting a route down lots of country lanes, but knowing me I'd probably keeping getting lost. Turning the route from a mere 125miles to 225miles or something. So A4 it is.
The Kennet & Avon is a good suggestion though, I may well meander down it for a little bit. I think the main problem I have is deciding on a route out of London! We shall see what happens.

If I remember correctly there's a great little pub in Faulkland, might be worth a stop!

 

[Chutzpah]

If your route allows, consider a diversion to Frome and join us for the Cobble Wobble

http://www.cobblewobble.co.uk/

Either way you go very near my house in Radstock with that route, so I'll do a virtual wave