The Severn Way past Severn Beach, returning along Sustrans routes 4 and 41 to Avonmouth
We have been exploring the idea of using my daughter Alice's work base to safely leave our vehicles while going for rides on trikes and bikes. She works for Bucher and while usually out on the road, her branch is based in Avonmouth, near Bristol, South West England.
You can watch the long version of the ride on Video, or read the brief highlights with images below.
This trip was an afternoon exploratory ride to see if we could access the severn way and ride past Severn Beach, passing under the M4 severn Crossing, and maybe getting as far as the M48 first Severn Bridge.
The first couple of miles followed the main A403 trunk road that links the large trading estates and business hubs of Avonmouth and the surrounding area with motorways in all directions. Not the sort of road that makes riding a trike enjoyable. While I have much respect for the driving skills of the 44 Tonne Artic drivers, sharing a narrow road with them does not fill me with confidence.
While the path is marked as a cycle path, it has not been cleared for ages and is barely wide enough for a trike to ride.
But it got better when it diverted away from the A403 into a unexpected wilderness in the urban jungle. Very pleasant with rabbits and windmills.
Sustrans Route 42 runs straight through the middle of it. Just a shame about the fly tipping that partially blocked part of an otherwise really nice section of the route.
There was some confusion about getting to the Severn Way, while it is clearly visible as the prom that passes Severn Beach, closer to Avonmouth it seems to fade away. So we followed the only visible access we could see. Unfortunately this led straight to the first block of the day. While crossing a railway can be done safely, the "kissing" gates on either side are not designed to allow trikes through.
While here it could be argued that it is a pedestrian crossing, further on in the route a wide path listed as accessible to cycles was obviously not disability friendly for Trike riders.
A short distance on from the crossing we found what looked like the groundwork for a roadway. With curbs and foundations, that looked like a project had run out of money.
From here it was a short distance to the sea, where I found a lovely view of the local sewage outlet.
With the M4 Severn crossing to the right.
https://what3words.com/chop.crusaders.lunged
I took a ride to look at the view as Jayne was fixing her 1st puncture of the day.
She was starting to regret buying the cheap gravel tyres as they were proving their limitations, especially puncture resistance, but also bulging side walls.
From here we started following the Severn Way East.
It was not long before we were stopped again, when Jayne decided to have a lay down.
It should be noted at this point that the reason Jayne and I are not wearing helmets
is because Alice and Cerri forgot theirs,
so Jayne suggested that they borrow ours as we were less likely to come off the trikes!
The ride along the prom just got easier as we got closer to Severn Beach.
Changing from gravel to concrete. With a lovely view across the Severn Estuary towards Wales.
We are heading towards Aust, that's to the right of this image.
You can see Avonmouth in the distance, to the left.
A short ride on and we get to the M48 crossing.
I am sure there are building engineers who can explain how the Severn Bridge supports are built.
I assume on huge pillars sunk deep into the estuary bed, least that's what I remember from watching a documentary on the building of it.
But the gap under the concrete feet is an interesting sight.
We know of other places, such as the route between Weston and Brean down, where the gates have been fitted with Radar keys to enable disability access, such a shame this is not universal.
For this we would take the more conventional cycling Sustrans routes, 4 and 41 that pass close to this point.
Just down the road we re-joined the "Route 4" cycle path that runs alongside the A403 and followed this for a mile or so, before turning into a side round and then pleasantly through some countryside, waving our way along quiet roads and cycle tracks.
We found ourselves riding alongside or over both the M4 and M48 motorways.
Only stopping to fix another puncture in the same tyre on Jaynes trike.
Returning again to our starting point of the quest for the Severn Way.
We then retraced our tracks past the fly-tipped rubbish and said hello to the rabbits,
obviously not expect us to come cycling through their field.
We ended up with the third and final puncture of the day, again in the same defective tyre.
Fortunately, we were carrying three 20 inch innertubes.
While how could I miss this photo op -
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