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Mid-March, and a quick trip to see the receding winter floods on the Somerset Levels, with "February Fill Dyke woz 'ere" still graffittied across the landscape.
South along Weston promenade and out through the Walborough reserve to pass Brent Knoll, continuing south from Mark before turning east across Tealham Moor where the evidence of a wet winter is still draining away, then back north up Jack Drove to find water still flowing off the Wedmore ridge. Through the outskirts of Wedmore and long the middle road to the Allertons and Weare descending Sparrow Hill to pass the church and older part of the village. Then a dog leg through Cross and up to the Strawberry Line for a smooth run back through Shute Shelve tunnel to Yatton station.
A short detour to the seats at Ashton windmill for a picnic sandwich with view. Inns and cafes also in Wedmore, Winscombe and other villages.
Generally quiet roads. Crossing the A38 south of Brent Knoll is easy with patience, this section is dual carriageway with a wide central reservation. (Crossing in the reverse direction requires walking, northbound is signed left turn only) The short section of A38 from Weare to the old carriage road to Cross can almost be done before distant traffic catches up, or just walk on the pavement. Climbing from Cross to above Axbridge can be quiet, but can have quarry lorries. I looked longingly at the possibility of walking up the A38 pavement to the Strawberry Line, but the pavement is narrow and on the downhill side. If a better access from the Strawberry Line to Cross can be devised it would be welcome.
This outing is based on the Avonmouth to Weston train service which currently runs hourly during the day.
Water ebbing down the beach - neap tide at Weston-super-Mare:
A dry place - Mark church tower, a village on a little bump above the levels:
Water in the fields - Tealham Moor - Flooded fields with the end of the Wedmore ridge in the background:
Waters of Avalon - Jack's Drove with North Drain overflowing - Glastonbury Tor in the background:
Water still draining from the hills - Jack's Drove at Heath House:
Water seeping through the ground - Shute Shelve tunnel - a 150 year old concretion and underground rain:
Water back in its place - finally, north of the Mendips, the Congresbury Yeo:
A modest, generally level ride for a short but sunny winter day enjoying the clarity of winter light on the plains. Ride along the river front to New Passage, cross the marshlands to Olveston and climb over Old Down to descend the steep Kyneton Hill from Mumbleys. To the Oldbury-on-Severn Community Cafe for morning coffee and cake, then north by Shepperdine and Nupdown followed by a circuit of the hill that gives its name to the hamlet of Hill, starting the return at the equally tersely named hamlet of Ham and crossing the low watershed between the Thornbury and Berkeley Vales. Back through Kington and over the gently graded Stock Hill with its views back across the vale to return along the river front by mid afternoon as the light fades, surmounting the midget bump of Ingst Hill before the final marshland stretch.
Community Cafe and shop at Oldbury-on-Severn, inns in Oldbury, Littleton & Olveston, baker, cafes and inn in Severn Beach.
Generally quiet roads, only the B4461 has fast but sparse traffic. Access to the marshlands is along the NCN4/41 cycle path beside the motorway from New Passage. Arrive at Severn Beach station at 0925 returning for the 1501. Train times as of winter 2024. Generally an hourly service operates to Severn Beach during the day.
Calm winter morning at New Passage - the new bridge.
About to descend Kyneton Hill.
Near Shepperdine, the twentieth century looming over the nineteenth. Disused Oldbury nuclear power station and Knights Farm.
Behind the hill at Hill: New Park Farm perched above the flatlands.
Bilsham Lane: the last of the marshlands - well drained.
Late afternoon winter light over the Severn.
Late spring and the marshes are golden with buttercups, the rhines with yellow flag iris and the pastures are lush. Down the Strawberry Line from Yatton station, tunneling through the Mendips to Axbridge, then on through Cheddar using the lane along the lower slopes of the Mendips to turn south near Draycott and start across the pastures round Nyland Hill, one of several bumps dotting the levels, rising slightly to the Isle of Wedmore. Descend from the Wedmore ridge into the marshlands of the Somerset Levels, turning west across Tadham Moor and then north again through Mark, with its church a landmark in the wide plain. Cross the A38 and then on past Brent Knoll, another bump in the plain, to enter Weston-super-Mare through the Walbarrow reserve under St Nicholas, Uphill, perched above the quarry cliff. Along the front and past the park to WSM station.
Refreshments at the Pumpkin Cafe & Delicatessen in the attractive little town of Wedmore, and other cafes and inns in the town and on the route.
The last mile of B road into Wedmore can carry fast traffic but the 30 mph limit is soon reached. With a slight detour it is possible to turn north at Cocklake and then west to join the quieter middle road on the Wedmore ridge.
It is not possible to cycle north across the A38 dual carriageway just south of Brent Knoll, the crossroads allows right turns for traffic from the south only. Dismount and walk across each side separately, usually eased by southbound traffic jams and relatively sparse north bound traffic. Traffic on Accommodation Road beside the railway is fairly light sometimes fast. To avoid this it is also possible to join the rougher southern part of NCN33 by turning west to the holiday camp. Through the Walbarrow Reserve, NCN33 is tarmaced.
During the day an hourly train service links Weston, Yatton Temple Meads and the Severn Beach line.
Beyond the Mendips - Cheddar reservoir seen from the Strawberry Line
Axbridge - King John's hunting lodge
St Andrew's church, Cheddar
Looking back across buttercups on Nayland Moor to the Mendips
The low ridge of the Isle of Wedmore seen looking back across buttercups on Tealham Moor 
Yellow flag iris in Jack Drove rhine on Aller Moor
Crossing Tadham Moor - swans on the North Drain as it passes through the buttercups
Mark church seen from the seats beside Mark Rhine with buttercups in the village pasture
NCN33 in Walbarrow - with St Nicholas Uphill above the buttercups 
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.
A good ride for a grey February day with a chilly north-easterly: let the wind blow you to Weston, then take the train back. Not quite the most direct route, but a simple flight across the marshlands, down the Strawberry Line and along below the south side of the Mendips to enter Weston from the South.
As always when taking the most direct route south west from north west Bristol we start north, following the Avon along Sea Mills Reach, turning west after Horseshoe Bend to run south west down the Gordano Valley and across the north Somerset levels to Yatton. Picking up a pasty from Pullin's the baker provides a picnic on Biddletown Moor on the Strawberry Line (NCN 26). Then southward, tunnelling through the Mendips at Shute Shelve, turning west above Cross and taking the road below the south scarp of the Mendips through Rackley and Bleadon to enter Weston from the south along NCN 33, passing across Walbarrow Common under the ruin of St Nicholas at Uphill and so to the golden sands and silver seas of Weston-super-Mare, a resort for all seasons.
The loop along Barberry Farm Road on entering Yatton gets you to Pullin's bakery and then to the Strawberry Line with minimal use of the busy B road through Yatton. The more conventional right turn straight onto the Strawberry Line takes you past the station cafe. There are also two inns near the station.
When turning onto the A371 at Axbridge use the short section of pavement cycle track at the bottom of the hill to take you left to the dual carriageway section where the sight lines to the right are much better. The A371 carries quarry lorries towards Cheddar, coming from the right. This apart, the section on the A371 is short and the traffic light. At Cross, use the pedestrian island to the right to ease crossing the A38.
After the strange NCN trimming by Sustrans the departed parts of NCN26 near Yatton and Portishead are joined by the back road along the Gordano Valley, which has now resumed its original marking as 'Avon Cycleway' and is just as quiet as it always was.
February on Sea Mills Reach from above Horseshoe Bend.
Winter picnic on Biddletown Moor, crossed by the Strawberry Line.
Brent Knoll on the Somerset Levels seen from above Rackley, below Crook Peak.
Ruined St Nicholas above Uphill, flying the English and Ukrainian flags in late winter 2023.
The Golden Sands of Weston in February.
Brean Down with winter afternoon sunshine silvering the Severn Sea.
Made in the Cotswolds. Published by Éditions Système D Ltd.
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