The Routes - 2023
The Peaky Blinder - Road
John's words inserted here
The Cheeky Grinder - Gravel / mixed surfaces
Loop 1:
leaves Portishead and heads around Portbury dock compounds before heading for the first climb of the day up to Sandy lane and East Tanpit wood and abbots pool and back onto tarmac before descending though Ashton hill plantation. A short stretch on the jubilee line cycle path takes us to Bourbon Combe climb and past the airport to the feed station.
From here there is an expert loop taking in an off-road ascent and descent of Dundry (not for the faint hearted) - before crossing the a38 and past Stancombe quarry for the second time descending down to the A370. From here it’s a drove or two to the climb past Tickenham golf course and up to Cadbury camp briefly before a rocky descent to Clapton in Gordano and back to the start
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Loop 2:
From the feed station for those looking to explore further afield.
After crossing Felton common, we descend to blagdon lake via a couple of bridleway which will test your off-road handling. We then head straight up Rhodyate hill past Yeo valley hq and almost crest the hill before turning off-road to cross over to black rock and velvet bottom. Some challenging off-road sections follow with at least one gate where it a lift over and we are briefly back on tarmac to get to the top of the gorge. We then reverse part of the gbduro route to descend off-road into cheddar village.
Another climb awaits (off-road this time) which brings us back up to Tynings Farm and a brief descent before a lovely climb through Rowberrow fire track up to beacon batch at the top of the Mendips. After a photo at the trig point it’s time to descend back through Burrington village and onto Wrington before climbing back towards the airport and crossing back over Felton common for a well deserved pit stop.
Expert loop through clever bottom, descent to cheddar and climb back up, shorter route would be from Black Rock along Ivy Lane straight to Tynings Farm