Coast, modest hills and moors, wind, water - and a leaning church tower.

With bright skies and a brisk spring southwesterly, take the train to Weston and let the wind blow you back to Bristol. Start with morning coffee and cake at The Bay cafe on the promenade, with outside tables sheltered in the lee of the art deco Tropicana building. Take the road through Uphill and directly over Bleadon Hill, down through the village and on to Loxton, turning north there through Christon to climb over the east end of Banwell Hill and then straight and level beside the Banwell river and across the moor to Puxton, admiring the ancient church with its leaning tower. From there the stoney track of Dolemoor Lane takes you across the moor to join the Strawberry Line near the bridge over the Congresbury Yeo. So back to Bristol through West Town, Backwell and Long Ashton.

After The Bay cafe there are inns in Bleadon, a community cafe in Loxton, inns and the station cafe in Yatton and with a slight deviation from the route, in Congresbury. Opening times from the web.

Crosses straight over the A370 on the way to Bleadon. Briefly uses another much busier short stretch of the A370 at the Congresbury end of Dolemoor Lane. Wait as long as necessary for a gap in the traffic both ways to cross here and then walk the hundred yards along the pavement past the petrol station if necessary. There is a short, quieter stretch of the A370 within the 30 mph limit in West Town, Backwell.

The route passes both Yatton and Nailsea & Backwell stations providing an alternative for those too familiar with the Bristol penumbra.

A brisk southwesterly and surf's up in Weston-super-Mare

'The Bay' cafe: Coffee and cake in the lee of the art-deco Tropicana

The turrets of Banwell Castle

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Leaving Banwell

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Banwell River.

The leaning tower of St Saviour's, Puxton 

Dolemoor Lane much wetter than usual - usually rideable throughout.

Back on the Strawberry Line - New Rhine bridge.