Nottingham to Bath route.....any ideas?

[beest-on-rider]

Not sure if this is the correct section on the forum for this, apologies if not.

I'm planning on cycling from Nottingham to my in laws in Bath, has anyone done this? Or got any advice on route choices.

Many thanks

Ian

[Wowbagger]

Kajsa Tylen did this, or something like it, many times during her Year in the Saddle. There's a route out to Hilton for the tea room, which is south of Derby. IIRC that was Kajsa's favourite tea room, because of the scones.

[Paul H]

 ???Nottingham to Bath?  Where does Derby come into it?
Derby to Bath is pretty straightforward though I've usually been heading for Gloucester or the Severn Bridge.  You'll need to decide how much of the Cotswolds you want to cross.  I'd go Derby>Bosworth>Meriden>Stratford> Moreton-in-Marsh> Wotton-on-Edge...
Put that into any route planner and it won't need much manipulation.
I did it a fair bit faster on the Fosse Way once, but even on a Sunday the traffic was heavier than I prefer.
Either way it's a little long for a DIY 200 but need a fair loop to get it to 300

[beest-on-rider]

Not sure why Derby got in there. Thanks for the advice that route looks great .

Thanks

[αdαmsκι]

From Nottingham I would be tempted to head towards Kirkby Mallory, tho which route you take will partly depend on whereabouts in Nottingham you're starting.

Once at Kirkby Mallory I'd then follow the Heart of England route via Daventry to Cirencester area and then figure out a way to go from there southwards to Bath. The section between Daventry and Blenheim Palace is really lovely cycling.

[whosatthewheel]

Whatever you do, avoid the A 429... it is not a road suited to cycling. A crossing through the Cotswolds is definitively a must... I'd say from Ilmington to Cirencester you can pretty much avoid all traffic at the expense of elevation gain.

The way out of this route is a good one

https://www.strava.com/activities/963064227

[Fractal]

After Tetbury get onto the Fosseway it is an excellent cycle route with very little traffic. It will drop you into Bathampton then along the A4 for a short while; which is busy, but has bus lane/ cycle lane for much of the time into Bath. The A46 approach to Bath is very busy with few opportunities for cars to overtake, I would avoid it like the plague!

[Wowbagger]

Don't know how I read Derby into that. Probably need more sleep.

[3peaker]

Extract from Perm SP41: Cotswolds & Mendips Grimpeur 200
For Cirencester-Tetbury follow main road A433
Tetbury - Bath 39.85km (asc 416m)
From Tetbury follow A433 $ Bath__________5.06km
TL opp Arboretum $ Westonbirt Village_____3.47km
SO @ X $ Hullavington _________________1.56km
TL @ T Hullavington ___________________1.09km
TR $ GRITTLETON(Fosse Way (3.54km)___5.05km
TR @ X $ Castle Combe________________2.36km
TL @ X B4039 $ CASTLE COMBE________1.61km
TR $ Castle Combe______________________210m
TR @ T $ CASTLE COMBE (Control)______ 540m
TL by Cross___________________________3.7km
TR @ T (A420) in FORD__________________200m
TL $ COLERNE  Desc Bannerdown Rd_____10.1km
SO @ mRBT___________________________500m
TR @ T $ Bath (Toilets on L) ____________1.73km
SO @ RBT A4 $ BATH_________________~2.9km
BATH (Control 76km)

Several Fosse Way sections further N are fairly light for traffic

[Cudzoziemiec]

After Tetbury get onto the Fosseway it is an excellent cycle route with very little traffic. It will drop you into Bathampton then along the A4 for a short while; which is busy, but has bus lane/ cycle lane for much of the time into Bath. The A46 approach to Bath is very busy with few opportunities for cars to overtake, I would avoid it like the plague!

This sounds like good advice to me, with the caveat that a few sections of the Fosse are gravel. The descent of Bannerdown in Bathampton / Batheason is glorious! And I'd second the advice to avoid the A429 too, though the A433 is fine as is the A46 – but only north of the motorway junction, so not much use to you.