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Thursday 14thAugust 2008
Chepstow to Swanage
We decided to start today’s ride from the outskirts of Bristol, thereby avoiding the hills at Chepstow and at Almondsbury and saving 15 miles. Unfortunately this also meant that we missed the experience of cycling across the Severn Bridge but there would be plenty of miles to cover later on in the day. Malcolm dropped us off in Mangotsfield near the Bristol Bath cycle path. This track uses the old LMS railway line between the two cities and being tarmac’d along it’s full length is a joy to cycle. There were many others out with us also enjoying the summer sun that morning. With a slight wind behind us we soon covered the distance into the outskirts of Bath and began to search for the next section of the route. The sustrans map showed a dotted line following the Somerset and Dorset railway line so we were not sure whether it was useable. To begin with we used the back roads to cut off the corner as this old railway line (also known as the Slow and Dirty) followed a very circuitous route in order to gain enough height to pass through the Coombe Down tunnel on its way to Radstock and onto Bournemouth. Having talked to a couple out for a walk to ask about the viability of cycling on the track it soon became obvious that the tunnel was still closed and we would only be able to cycle a short distance – the track gradient was 1 in 50 – how the trains managed it was hard to imagine.
Taking to the main road it was time to check the map for the first time. Oh dear – no map – TW had left it in the car! So rather than risk getting lost in the back lanes on our way to Radstock we decided to keep to the main road. We arrived before midday and bought sandwiches for lunch which we ate under the old mining winding wheel in the centre of the town. (Coal mining in this area has long ceased.) From here we joined the old GWR branch line that runs to Frome – a cycle path now known as the Colliers Way and from Frome the 
short distance to Nunney. It is here that the Paulet family had a castle, owned originally by the De la Mere family but passed down through the female line when William Paulet married Eleanor de la Mere in the late 1300’s. There are effigies in the church to Sir John de la Mere who died in 1383 (although some think the effigy is of his son Philip, Eleanor’s father). There are also effigies of Sir John Paulet who died in 1437 and his wife Constance (nee Poynings). This John was the son of William and Eleanor above. All of these are in my direct line and I was interested to see them for the first time.
Tea again after a quick visit to Nunney castle – still resplendent with its moat – and then on again in the rain towards Stourhead where we had agreed to meet up with Malcolm. It was becoming obvious that we were still a long way off from our next port of call at Wareham and the next Priory associated with Lyre. Could TW possibly have made a mistake in adding up the miles?. The computers showed 43 miles at Stourhead and it was mid to late afternoon and there was another 40 miles to go. The only option was to load the bikes onto the car and motor on to Wareham which we reached about 6.30. The priory here is now a hotel,
with much of the original stonework still to be seen, nestling between the Church and the River Frome. When we arrived the church was locked but fortunately there was a rehearsal about to take place and by the time we were due to leave it had opened and we were able to have a look inside. Just 10 more miles to go now to reach our destination at the Youth Hostel in Swanage and a much needed rest and evening meal.
The mileage at the end of the day was 42.7 miles.