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Meeting a friend at pedalabikaway tomorrow
What's the best direct-ish route by bike? I'm familiar with the route as far as chepstow.
Google suggests the a48 which seems a bad idea! Is the road through St Briavels and Bream a nice ride or too busy?
Cheers
Pete
Last time I did this exact route, I went past the racecourse, past tintern, basically following the river. Once you cross the river immediately turn right up Stowe Road (nice climb) to clearwell. The past clearwell caves and puzzlewood, into Coleford and then along speech house road and left at the cross roads and your there.
On the way back went via the other side of the valley via Sling and St Briavels.
Long but very nice ride. Enjoy!
I like to go St Briavels way. Hardly any cars and generally more considerate than over this side of the bridge. It is a reasonable climb to start, but not steep, you can see the profile on the link below:
http://www.strava.com/activities/65324424
Are you on a road bike or mtb? The route you suggest via St.Briavels to Bream then Parkend - Cannop - Pedalabikeaway is probably the best route, it's generally not too busy and the direct road from St.Briavels to Bream is fairly quiet.
The A48 to Lydney then Whitecroft - Parkend - Cannop - PABA is probably the quickest by road bike but is on busier roads.
The Wye Valley then up Stowe Hill is nice but not so easy to route-find if you don't know the area too well (for example, thehillsofsomerset has uneccesarily added about two miles and two noticeable hill climbs between the top of Stowe Hill and PABA 😉 )
Wye valley is relatively busy. Not A48 busy but there are much more pleasant ways. That leaves the top road to St Briavels and then left at St B X roads to Bream. If on MTB or wanting mild off road find Bream Tufts and go from there down through the woods to the Bream Clements End road, cross it at the wiggly bends and along the track to the Four Mill, an ex collery that now houses a steam train mender and an oil bottling plant. Straight on to tarmac, wave at me in the old house up the road and straight over, through the gate and woods to Parkend and the family trail.On the road only you get here as well.
Diversions off the main road after Chepstow are possible but pointless as you soon return to it.
Better to turn RIGHT at St B X roads if you want to get to Bream, Matt... 🙄 8) 😆
Hi guys
Sorry, late reply. Appreciate all the advice.
Just plotting a loop and aiming for about 60 miles on my road bike. Think I'll try going up the wye valley and then back down to chepstow a different route through St briavels
Hope the weather holds!
Just be aware, judging by the number of green arrow signs that have appeared here today you may be sharing the roads with a sportive tomorrow!
If you're going up the Wye Valley and turning right just after Bigsweir Bridge up Stowe Hill, when you get to the top go straight over the (staggered) crossroads, turn left at the end and then take the first right through Sling. Follow that road to its end and turn right towards Parkend. It's pretty much all downhill/level from Sling to PABA 😀
Enjoy your ride.