This post is specific to our trip to the smallest city in the Uk from 17th to 20th May, hopefully it should contain all the details you need ahead of the trip.
Wells is in the heart of Somerset and is slightly under 3 hours away by car. We have four days of cycling planned with some fantastic destinations including Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury, The Somerset Levels and on the longer options, Bath and Burnham on Sea.
The rides starting point is at the end of the high street in Wells, if you arrive early for rides you should be able to grab a coffee, Coffee #1 is open from 8am each day, Loaf bakehouse, Cafe Nero, Gregs and Long Story Bistro are all within a 2 minute walk of the starting point. There is also a bike shop called Bike City which opens 9-5 on Friday and Saturday.
During the evenings we will refresh, refuel and recover with a meal and some drinks. We have places booked at The Kings Head on Friday evening and Saturday evening and Ask italian on Sunday night. Riders can join these meals and/or meet up from drinks. If you want a place at the meals, please complete the “meals on Wells” spreadsheet. or pass on your choices to Dave, Fri & Sat (starter, main, pud) 7.30 dinner time at https://www.thekingsheadwells.co.uk/food Sunday we don’t need to prebook meals but just need an idea if you are eating with us at 7pm at Ask Italian https://www.askitalian.co.uk/menus/full-menu/bread-and-nibbles
Meals on Wells Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PgJaIPVe9HY9RP_84-NNL1vb4Sd-9XEOuNVE3mm_gYU/edit?usp=sharing
Other than the Kings Head, other notable pubs for beers include The City Arms, The Quarter Jack (Weatherspoons), The Rose and Crown and The Crown.
Our rides are planned to be ridden at a relaxed “tourist pace” being able to stop for occasional photos and all rides have a food stop. We may split into a couple of groups to avoid being a big group on the roads & then not arrive all at the food stops at the same time, day time food stops are not prebooked.
Day one, 1pm start to allow time to drive to Wells on Friday morning: Flat out to Burnham On Sea, 44 miles with an incredibly flat profile less than 800 feet of climbing over 44 miles!! coffee stop by the sea at the half way point. This route enjoys the best of the somerset levels, the lowest and flatest area of the whole country. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43744492
Day Two, 10am start, 100km in Somerset, riding through pretty villages and the ex-mining town of Radstock, through Coombe Down tunnel (1.6km the longest cycleable tunnel in Britain) on to the Bath to Bristol railway path with a lunch stop at the half way point, Bitton Station, then a gradual climb along the edge of the Mendips before a final descent into Wells.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45010868
Day Three, Classic Climbs: 10am start four big climbs in the Mendip Hills including the iconic Cheddar Gorge, 50 miles will be a tough day in the saddle after Saturdays miles in the legs. Lunch stop after 32 miles at Potager Cafe (Cleeve Nursery)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45011087
Day Four, Velos do Glastonbury, 10am start a 35 mile trip down to Castle Cary and on to Glastonbury for lunch, back in Wells for 2pm for the journey home.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45011211
SHORTER ROUTE OPTIONS AVAILABLE BELOW:
Thanks To Richard for producing these shorter fantastic route options:
Friday: The shorter option follows the same route as the longer ride out onto the Somerset Levels for the first 9 miles before taking a shortcut to pick up the route back into Wells. A later departure time could be agreed for this ride once we know arrival times in Wells. In total, 20 miles and 420 ft of climb: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45532471
Saturday: Again the start of the shorter option of 39 miles and 2,600 ft of climb mirrors the longer option, this time for the first 20 miles into Radstock. At this point the route turns south west through Midsomer Norton to the Holy Cow Cafe at 23 miles. After refreshments we head south over a couple of shorter climbs before a predominantly downhill last 10 miles through Shepton Mallet and then to Wells. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45534615
Sunday: The shorter option takes in just two of the four climbs on the longer route on a ride of 35 miles with 2,300 ft of climb. First we head out onto the Somerset Levels on predominantly different roads to those ridden on Friday to loop around to Cheddar. After climbing the gorge, the route again deviates from the longer route to drop down to Blagdon Lake before tackling a slightly ‘easier’ version of the final climb with less time on double digit pitches. For any legs that are crying enough at the top of Cheddar Gorge, or for those needing to head home, it is straightforward to miss out the final climb and shorten the route to 25 miles with 1,300 ft of climb. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45532690
Monday: For those who just want a short ride with a visit to Glastonbury Tor, there in also a 17 mile option: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45536187
Day four walk
If the legs just won’t do another day on the bike we can plan a circular walk up to Glastonbury Tor.
Riders can do as much or as little riding as they like, there are some lovely things to see in Wells, inluding the cathedral, The Bishop’s Palace and gardens and Vicar’s close, claimed to be the oldest residentail street in Europe.