Bristol & Bath Railway Path Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Bristol and Bath Railway Path (BBRP for short) was Sustrans’ very first shared path in the UK. It runs – unsurprisingly – between Bristol and Bath and is 16 miles long. Though most of it is entirely traffic-free, the route shown on the map below starts at Bristol Temple Meads station, and ends very close to Bath Spa station. This makes it very easy to get there by train, but do read my Bikes On Trains guide first.
This forms part of National Cycle Network Route 4 (NCN4).
Surface on the BBRP
The BBRP has a good surface and is tarred throughout.
Bikes
The route can by cycled with any kind of bike.
Toilets
There are toilets at Bristol Temple Meads station, at Bitton Station (heritage railway) and in Bath.
Ratings
Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hilliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Refreshment stops: ⭐⭐
Barriers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Surface: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Points of Interest
Bristol itself has a rich heritage, and many tourist attractions. Bath has the Roman Baths, and there is the heritage railway alongside part of the trail. Directly on the trail there is an outdoor art exhibition, plus various outdoor art installations dotted along the way.
Routes in Somerset
- Bridgwater and Taunton Canal traffic-free cycle route
- Bristol and Bath Railway Path
- Two Tunnels Greenway
- The Strawberry Line cycle route
Barriers
There are no barriers along the route, and it is useable by trikes and cargo bikes. Just be aware that the section of towpath in Bath can be on the narrow side.
Forecast for the Bristol & Bath Railway Path
What the Bristol & Bath Railway Path looks like
Interesting detours
Sometimes, it’s best to get a bit off the beaten path. If you’re already familiar with the BBRP, why not spice things up with these detours?
Interactive map for the BBRP
You can download the GPX file from the map below, simply by clicking the GPX button. Hovering over the elevation profile will show the elevation for that point along the route, in both metres and feet. It will also show the gradient.
And finally…
If this route guide was of use to you, it will be of use to others, too. Don’t keep it secret! Share it with everyone, on social media, in Facebook Groups, on chat forums, and elsewhere.
…hello…
…there are 2 gates that cyclists need to open to cross the heritage railway…second photo in the gallery on this page looks like it is retaken next to these gates..
…did this route with my wife + 6 + 10 year old kids in october and loved it…
…also did the 2 tunnels path whilst in the area which was also great…
…thanks for producing this wonderful cycling resource…really appreciate it…
…happy cycling…
…mike…