Here are some great places for children to learn to ride a bike in and around Bath. They’re also good for scooters, skating and other wheels. I’ve added map locations to each place and parking if I know of any. My daughter’s 3 and been scooting for a couple of years and loves her balance bike so the next stage is a bike. We’ve tried and tested most of the places below, others are recommendations on our list to try out.
PARKS AND ENCLOSED AREAS
Alice Park has a smooth tarmac path that goes all the way round the park and there’s a dedicated children’s bike track with road markings which is brilliant for bike and scooter practice. Free parking on site or on the road plus a cafe & loos.
Box Park is a large grassy field which has a slight gradient which is ideal for the young ones or learning to ride a bike. It also has a BMX pump track which is perfect for advancing bike skills. Free parking at the park.
Fairy Wood to Rainbow Wood has a great flat section that slopes gently, great for learners. It has a fair bit of stones/gravel in places but otherwise great for scooting. Free parking on Claverton Down Road.
Henrietta Park has a lovely flat path around the perimeter which is brilliant and is a tranquil space for it’s city centre location. Free parking on Sutton Street and around the perimeter of Sydney Gardens (check signs for time restrictions).
Landsdown Woods is great for bikes including learners but not for scooting. The terrain is woodland floor with mud paths. For confident riders there’s bombholes in Further Slate (the woods on the right). Free parking in the car park or on the road.
Newton St Loe has a smooth, flat path that goes from the village towards the university. Park on the road or at Newton St. Loe Farm Shop.
Odd Down Cycle Circuit at Odd Down playing fields is a 1.5km closed road for biking. It’s a great place to bike or to learn how to ride a bike. Bath & West Wheels for All hire out bikes and trikes onsite as well as organised lessons.
Sydney Gardens We love the mix of hills and flat scooting around Sydney Gardens. There’s a few circuits the little ones can do and for the more confident head up towards the entrance of the canal for steeper paths. Free parking on Sutton Street and around Sydney Gardens (check signs for time restrictions). The Holburne Museum has metered parking (coins only) starting with £3.50 for 3 hours.
Victoria Park & Botanical Gardens My 3 year old enjoys scooting around the botanical gardens and the flat paths at the top of Victoria Park. It gets fairly steep as it slopes and can get bumpy in places as you head down to the playground. Metered parking around the park, first hour’s free (but you still need to get a ticket), £1 for 2 hours. Free parking on Weston Road.
Westonbirt Aroboretum has a huge network or paved paths around the site and one of our favourites. Bikes and scooters are allowed in the arboretum if they are under 70cm from floor to handlebars and it’s a great way for the little ones to gain confidence and get around if you want to go any distance. Free parking onsite.
CYCLE PATHS & THE CANAL
The following routes are very popular and can get busy, so perhaps more for confident riders rather than learners.
Bath to Bristol Cycle Path is 13 miles of flat, traffic free path with plenty of access points. In Bath there’s an access point on Brassmill Lane in Bath or by the Locksbrook Inn, also free parking.
Bath Two Tunnels Circuit is a 13 mile paved cycling route. Although the tunnels are well lit, make sure you have lights front and back so you can be seen by others. Recommended places to join include The Hope and Anchor in Midford (free parking); the section from Bloomfield Park to Midford is good (not sure about parking); from Sandpits (free parking) it’s about 15 minutes to the tunnels. We haven’t tried this path yet so any recommendations are welcome, especially if you know where you can park.
Kennet & Avon Canal The section of canal from Sydney Gardens all the way to The George is well paved and flat. After The George the path also becomes stony and muddy. Anything before Sydney Gardens is not as smooth and bumpy or muddy in places. The path also descends with the 7 locks and has stairs at one point. Both still good for confident riders. Also it obviously runs alongside water and it can get busy with walkers and bikes.
HAPPY BIKING AND SCOOTING
