Severn Crossing Circular (No passport required!)

Another in Bob's series of seriously amazingly flat rides! Starting Point = The quiet little village of Severn Beach. We head north up the coast on the sea front, before peeling off along a mixture of cycle paths and quiet country lanes to reach the Old Severn Crossing. Weather permitting - we head out over the old bridge (don't panic! - there's a well-protected cycle path either side of the motorway!) - dropping just over the border into Wales. Off at the other side, around and back - to return to England on the other side of the bridge. We then head off down some quiet roads around some beautiful little South Gloucestershire villages, before picking up another cycle path that wends it way through the Western Distribution Park and dropping us back in to Severn Beach. A beautiful quiet countryside ride - it clocks in at 22 miles - but it is really very flat - at the lowest we're just a metre or so above sea level..... and the highest point we're only 50 metres higher! If the distance worries you - you can opt out of the bridge crossing - its effectively a there-and-back section - so you could save your legs some 4-5 miles - we circle back to you up before continuing along the route. During this ride you'll find yourself standing at the midpoint of the Old Severn Crossing- towering over the Bristol Channel looking south to the Second Severn Crossing (don't panic - the view is epic but there's a barrier fence keeping you safe!) - then see the equivalent view to the north. You'll cycle over, past, under or alongside the M4, M48, and M49 - but you'll be struck but how tranquil the ride really is - and how beautiful this part of the country really is - and what an amazing network of paths and tracks there is linking it all together. Now - some pointers..... - you'll want to be on a hybrid, tourer or MB - I've done it on a roadie but there are some rough bits that you're arse will thank you for having thicker tyres over! - The pace is likely to be a leisurely 10mph - and like I said - its a really flat run out. - There will be a halfway stop - but we'll take a vote - either a little village shop and a sitting under a shady tree for snacks, cakes, ice-creams and cold drinks... or a few hundred metres further on, a quiet village pub. - I've said "Adults Only" - but really that should probably say "No Under 10s" (give or take). Be aware that there are a couple of short sections alongside busy roads, and some road crossings, etc. A bit of basic bike sense is required - so probably not a great ride for the really young ones. - This is not a ride for a windy day - the bridge is generally exposed - and if the wind comes in from the south or west, you are often reminded how close the whole ride is to the coast! As ever - do keep your eye on this listing - i'll postpone 24hrs ahead if the weather looks like spoiling the party. Any questions - or if you'd like me to contact you direct in case of postponement: [email protected]