Road · United Kingdom
Corston – Biddestone
A hilly 56 km road cycling loop from Corston, England through Newbridge, Beechen Cliff and Eastrip, with 545 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 56 km
- Elevation gain
- 545 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Corston
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 545 m
- 56 km
Route description
- Corston
- Newbridge
- Beechen Cliff
- Eastrip
- Upper Castle Combe
- Neston
- Ashley
- Lambridge
- Weston Park
- Corston
Starting from Corston near Bath, the route heads through Newbridge, South and East Twerton, Weston and Bear Flat before crossing Bath at 5 km. Early climbs include a 1.5 km ascent gaining 50 m at 3.3% average, starting shortly after Bath around 5.3 km, followed by a steeper 2.9 km climb gaining 149 m at 5.2% average starting near 9.4 km. The route then runs past Elmhurst Estate and on to Colerne by 16.3 km. After Colerne, more gentle climbs appear near 20.5 km and 23.3 km, each about 1.5 km long with gradients around 3%. Through Castle Combe, Yatton Keynell and Biddestone at 30.2 km, the road includes 33.8 km on minor roads and 7.7 km on quiet streets, with some paths and 5.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes.
Highlights
- Biddestone at 30 km
- Bath city centre at 5 km
- Castle Combe at 23.8 km
- Peak near Truckle Hill at 22.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 5.3 km | 1.5 km · 50 m · 3.3 % · max 5.3 % | 76 m |
| Unnamed climb | 9.4 km | 2.9 km · 149 m · 5.2 % · max 9.9 % | 185 m |
| Unnamed climb | 20.5 km | 1.5 km · 45 m · 3 % · max 6.5 % | 114 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.3 km | 1.4 km · 40 m · 2.9 % · max 6.1 % | 132 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.9 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 61% minor road · 14% quiet street · 9% path · 7% main road · 9% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 11.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 2.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Bannerdown Road (3 km), Cross Keys Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 93% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 24% descending · 53% flat
- Steep sections
- 3 km over 5% · 0.8 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.5% at 11.4 km
- Longest descent
- 2.9 km from 43 km, dropping 134 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 429 cafés and restaurants, 43 shops, 5 water points, 2 petrol stations, 21 public toilets and 11 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 2.6 kmM&S Foodhall · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 4.5 kmGreen Park Bike Station · bike shop · 100 m off route
- 4.8 kmNo. 11 Espresso Bar · café · on the route
- 5.7 kmPulteney Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 6.1 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 10 kmPremier · convenience store · on the route
- 10 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 16.1 kmThe Fox And Hounds · pub · 280 m off route
- 23.8 kmThe Old Rectory Tea Room · café · 50 m off route
- 25.8 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 33.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 33.7 kmShaunaks · pharmacy · 320 m off route
- 38.7 kmForage · café · 150 m off route
- 44.6 kmBathford Village Shop & Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 48.9 kmWalcot Service Station · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 50.8 kmCharlotte Street Car Park · toilets · 150 m off route
- 51.3 kmThe Den · café · 60 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 3.2 km — Oldfield Park (station), 500 m off route
Worth a stop
- 5.2 km — East Gate (attraction)
- 19.9 km — earthworks (archaeological site)
- 34 km — Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses and Schoolroom (attraction)
- 45 km — Roman Villa (archaeological site)
- 49.9 km — The Assembly Rooms (attraction)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- The Brook Bar & Bistro (240 m), The Lounge (850 m), The Centurion (830 m)
- Shops
- Twerton Local (510 m)
Know before you go
- 6.1 km without café, shop or water between 10 km and 16.1 km
- 5.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 11.5 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 0.8 km with gradient over 8%, steepest 9.5% at 11.4 km