Two Tunnels Greenway 20km Bike Ride

Distance 20km, 12.4miles mostly flat, circular bike ride, 2.5-3.5hrs

The Two Tunnels Greenway is one of Bath’s iconic cycling routes which follows the disused railway trackbed of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. It’s predominantly traffic free and packed with plenty to see including architectural gems, wild water swimming spots, cafes and pubs and, of course, Bath’s incredible countryside views.

It’s been on my wish list since moving to Bath but I was a bit daunted by the 20km. So on a sunny day in August hired an e-bike from Bath Ebike Hire. I was pleased to discover it’s mostly flat and although busy on sections of the canal, it was a really peaceful ride chatting to a few cyclists en-route. I took my time and really enjoyed the route and the tunnels are quite a sensory experience.

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MAP & DIRECTIONS

Map & Directions – Here’s a map of the route I took. I mapped it on Plotaroute, a fully interactive map with directions, elevation & distances. Download the Plotaroute app to follow the route on your phone with a few simple steps.

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THE ROUTE

Terrain. The route follows a paved, dedicated cycling route almost the entire way. It also follows a short road section through the city and another quiet country road, as well as the canal towpath which is potholed and gravelly.

Difficulty. It’s mostly flat or undulating with one short, steep climb, then downhill. It’s 20km so will take up to 3 hours. I was on an e-bike so it felt flat and very easy of course. It’s a popular route so expect to see other cyclists, especially on the narrow sections of the canal.

Parking. There’s restricted 4hrs free parking around Sydney Road by the Holburne Museum or metered parking at Brassknocker Basin by the Dundas Aqueduct.

E-bike. Faced with 20km of riding was a bit daunting so I hired an e-bike from Bath Ebike Hire. It was £25 for a half a day and the bikes have a range 30-50 miles so plenty of juice to get me round. The bike was a Rad Power e-bike, sturdy with big chunky wheels which made the ride smooth, particularly along the bumpy canal. They’re very heavy though so I was advised to avoid the section of the canal with steps. Mark was brilliant and took me through the how to use the bike, which was straight forward, he also gave me helpful tips on the route. The only thing that would have been helpful was somewhere to put your phone for map reading.

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Route.

• I cycled the route in a clockwise direction, starting on the river, near Bath Spa train station. I passed Pulteney Weir and rode along Great Pulteney Street and past the Holburne Museum.
• The route picks up the Kennet & Avon canal towpath, avoiding the steps I didn’t want to carry the e-bike up.
• Warleigh Weir is a beautiful and a very popular wild swimming spot. It’s accessible by bike from the canal towpath but quite hidden so look out for the bridge. There’s a large grassy field to hang out in beside the river and there’s toilet and a few food vans are hosted on site (seasonal).
• Check out Claverton Pumping station as you cross the train line.
• The path takes you past the Dundas Aqueduct so you can’t miss it. It’s an architectural gem and steeped in history.
• From the aqueduct you pick up the National Cycle Network Route 24 through Monkton Combe – the steep hill through the school.
• Follow the very quiet country road then pick up the Two Tunnels route at Midford.
• You then pass over Tucking Mill Viaduct, another spectacular feat of engineering and architecture, well worth a stop just before the first tunnel. There are access gates that take you down to reservoir level but you can’t take bikes.
• The first of the two tunnels is theVictorian Combe Down Tunnel, the UKs longest cycling tunnel just over a mile long, 1.6km and a sensory and fun experience. It’s really dark despite the lighting and I got pretty cold on a hot summers day. There’s an audio-visual installation but I couldn’t hear it over the hum of the e-bike.
• The second, Devonshire Tunnel is shorter at a quarter of a mile, 400m, and named after the road it lies beneath.
• The cycle path then follows Linear Park, a gently sloping, straight path that was once part of the railway line. It was planted with many indigenous plants and has now become a popular park.
• The end of the cycle path was the only section I found tricky as the cycle path ends abruptly. However a few checks of the map and I soon picked up the river footpath which joins back to the canal path where I began.

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