Summary
Where
Bristol Temple Meads
Station Approach
Bristol, BS1 6QF
Who
Organiser: Will Pomeroy
What
Series: Great Western Randonnées
Brief
Steaming On! 600 is an excursion into the West Country and back to the heart of GWR’s Engine Yard including the chance to say hi to Isambard Kingdom Brunel himself, may be more than once!
Event Info
£0.00
Audax Awards
600
609 km
15-30 kph
40h00
Gold Grimpeur
7559m
Facilities
Hover for brief, click for full overview.
Overview
Steaming On! 600 is reworked for 2025 to benefit from the Tarka Trail in daylight. Still including a few brush ins with Isambard Kingdom Brunel himself...
Description
Depart from Brunel's original station before over The Mendips to cross the Somerset Levels towards Taunton. You then traverse west to Barnstable below Exmoor. Follow the Tarka Trail to Okehampton then the Granite Way to Lydford. Cross the Tamar at Horsebridge into Cornwall. Then from Luckett take on the full Kit Hill climb to its summit for some cracking views before back down heading to Saltash; under the bridges before crossing the Tamar once more with views of The Royal Albert Bridge. Then up and over Dartmoor towards Exeter for the sleep stop.
Steaming on into day 2 and cross the Blackdown Hills back into Somerset and to Wells. Climb back onto The Mendips for a gradual descent to Mells. Then east into the Vale of Pewsey tracking the route of the GWR Cornish Riviera Express. Cross the North Wilts NL passing Avebury to Swindon and the old Engine Yard's of the Great Western Railway for the final control at Steam. Finish off with a gentle climb to the Cotswolds escarpment before the Bristol & Bath Railway Path back to the Arrivee; finishing off in Brunel's original station.
Reviews
What others think.
Steaming on 2025
An absolutely fabulous route, clearly a fairly testing day out, but rewarded with some stunning sections of cycling terrain. Sadly for myself, due to an OFF bike mishap, totally my own fault, I only managed half of this ride, but I cannot wait to come back next time to finish off this unfinished business.
Brilliant weekends riding
Excellent routing across varied terrain, and as always some history to explore along the way. A shame it was dark on the leg from Barnstaple to Lydford as I reckon it’s gorgeous in daylight, motivation for next time to ride faster! The sleep control was just the ticket, and felt very thoughtfully laid out. My mattress deflated during my nap but I swapped it for a spare.
Beautiful, with challenging climbing
Another fabulous 600 from master-organiser Will. Beautiful, varied route across at least five counties, railway infrastructure galore (including a slightly-creepy Brunel statue perfect for selfies), and a very welcome sleep control with spot-on food, comfortable LEL-sourced beds and fairy lights to guide the way! Be warned – this has some very challenging climbing (and descending), particularly on the second day – I was not hanging around at the controls and had just 90 minutes in hand at the end. A shame that the wonderful Tarka trail was (for me) during the night section, however with such a good route there will always be good stuff hidden in the dark!
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