The Brunel Way
A 183 mile circular gravel cycling route inspired by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
183 miles of gravel cycling
A circular, predominantly traffic-free cycling route inspired by the achievements of the 19th century engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The Route
Bristol to Bristol circular route, through Bath, Devizes, Swindon, Cirencester, Stroud, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Chepstow.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
The route starts and ends at iconic Brunel-designed locations, with many others on or near the route.
Fully planned route
A fully recced route with a downloadable GPX file and a map of local amenities, so you can plan a successful journey.
Distance
183 miles (295 km) in total. Complete it in 2 or 3 days.
Ascent
8,300 feet (2,530 metres) of total ascent.
Gravel cycling
Ride dedicated cycleways, converted railway lines and canal paths to stay off the road as much as possible.
The Route
An anticlockwise route starting and ending in Bristol. As it passes near or through other major towns and cities, you can start and finish anywhere along the route.
- 183 miles / 295 km
- 8,300 ft / 2,530 m ascent
- 2–3 days
Why the route was created
Circular cycling routes are great! You can start anywhere along the route that is most convenient, and when you have finished you're back where you started – much easier to sort out transport home.
This route was designed to find the most gravel-cyclable terrain for a circular route in this area. An area famous for one of the 19th century's engineering giants, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. His projects changed the face of this landscape with groundbreaking designs and ingenious constructions. He built dockyards, steamships, and numerous important bridges and tunnels.
This route passes through many of these achievements, keeping off road as much as possible on cycleways along disused railway lines, through old railway tunnels, on canal paths, forest tracks and trails.
It has been designed with the off-road cyclist in mind. Please explore this site to find out more about The Brunel Way and plan your next journey.