Sapperton, Cotswold mountain bike route
No tunnel on this one
The Sapperton Canal Tunnel the Thames and Severn Canal was the longest canal tunnel, and the longest tunnel of any kind, in England from 1789 to 1811 at 3,817 yards long. Sadly this ride doesn’t include a visit to see the tunnel, however a detour could be made.
Another of the Wednesday night rides, the ride is mostly a classic cross country ride in rolling Cotswold countryside. That said there are a couple of nice little rocky descents to spice things up along with the open field descent. The grassy descent around halfway round the ride, from the top looks innocent but within it’s grass are some hidden drops which can catch you out. A few people have had interesting moments on this descent having misjudged the field.
The rocky descents are fun although only short, the second of which tends to be wet throughout the year. In winter this particular descent can be quite interesting, a couple of hundred meters of sheet ice on a descent isn’t so good for the nerves.
In good weather this ride is cracking, as we often ride this route in the evening it’s not unusual to come across deer on the ride. They will often bounce out of the hedges crossing your path just ahead of you, or even in between riders.
Sapperton Mountain Bike route
| Distance | 23km |
| Climbing | 580m |
| Time | 1.5-2.hrs |
| Starting location | The Daneway Inn / The Bell |
| Pubs, cafes | The Daneway Inn, The Bell |
| Parking | The Daneway Inn / The Bell |
| Route | View route on Strava View root on Komoot |
