Foxglove Cycle Trail

Taunton is a town of attractive green spaces and watercourses, some off the beaten track. The TACC has designed an 11 mile mainly flat cycle trail which enables you to discover parts of Taunton you didn’t know. It’s called the Foxglove Cycle Trail.

Foxglove Trail

The Foxglove Cycle Trail follows some of the town’s traffic free paths and mainly quiet roads. It is suitable for all ages, particularly families. You can join it at any point along the Foxglove Cycle Trail, to come back to the same point.

There are attractive green areas to pause in and sections along some of Taunton’s many streams and the Taunton-Bridgwater Canal and River Tone. There are wildlife havens along the Foxglove Cycle Trail.

We have composed a leaflet with the route and information on places of interest and refreshment stops.
Download the Foxglove Cycle Trail (pdf, 8Mb)

 

Directions from Vivary Park bandstand going anti-clockwise

If you don’t want to download the leaflet we describe the route starting from Viavary Park.

 

Vivary Park bandstand

Head to park exit at the bottom left of the park (South East).

L out of park, then R and R again to follow cyclepath alongside stream.

After Richard Huish College, L out of path to traffic lights, R onto South Road (moderate traffic).

After 400m immediately after zebra crossing L into cyclepath. After 50 m path goes L and then R. Follow alongside stream. After playing fields L along cyclepath then R.\

 

Fields End

In Fields End L, then R into ‘The Square’. Follow road along and join cyclepath of R side of road.

Across signalled crossing, downhill cycle path, then low traffic road, SA.

At splitter island to Roundabout CARE, cross over in 2 stages to cyclepath, turn L. Follow cyclepath north past Blackbrook Leisure Centre to signalised crossing, cross road.

 

Blackbrook

Follow cyclepath alongside stream for 600 m, passing two bridges on R.

Blackbrook

At cyclepath junction (River Tone info board) sharp R, cross minor road Severn Drive. Follow cycle path R then L. Path swings R, cross 2 minor roads to enter Hamilton Park.

With skate park on your R, turn L into park, after 400 m R. L after play area to signalised crossing. Go across through paved area past red brick church, then L into Lambrook Road.
Follow to end, road swings R. Immediately after L into cyclepath ’Priorswood’ sign.

After 2 short tunnels and R Tone bridge, at the canal bridge turn R onto canal towpath’ Maidenbrook’. Slow down under bridges.

 

Bathpool

After 1600 m go over the small bridge (Bathpool) and then L, follow road alongside canal. Leads into cyclepath for 300 m. At barriers into Waterleaze ‘Maidenbrook’, L after 50 m.

Follow Waterleaze estate road (small blue cycle signs). After road swings L then R, turn R to cyclepath on R (on approach to roundabout). At signalised crossing go across, then L to 2nd crossing go across.

Turn R, follow cyclepath 500 m (care side road junctions). After Warres Road, take cyclepath turn off the cyclepath you are on. After 200 m cycleroute cross roads, R slightly uphill to Bossington Drive. L here (moderate traffic).

Going downhill after 400 m R into Feversham Way, then L into Grafton Close. After 100 m at edge of green space, R into path. End of path, L onto Lyngford Lane.

 

Priorswood

End of Lane, L (CARE). Then almost immediately L onto cyclepath, swing L to signalised crossing. Cross to park, following cyclepath to bottom.

R for 400m then L into cyclepath to crossing.

Cross, turn R, then swing left into Obridge at T-junction L, under railway bridge.

Take 2nd path of R after bridge, to follow River Tone towards town. At lock, L for 400 m then cross river bridge. Turn R past Viridor building, follow path alongside the river along back of Cricket Club.

 

Town Centre-route changes due to closure of Goodlands Bridge and Coal Orchard development, April 2023

After the Brewhouse, turn L along new path through the Coal Orchard development. At St James Street turn R.

At the crossing on North Street there are two options to get to Longrun Meadow, both waymarked.

Blue sign with arrow and logo of Foxglove trail showing alternative route.

1. At the crossing St James St to Goodlands Gardens turn R to the traffic lights. Then L to Tangier Way and at the crossing, go left and right, to join the old route alongside the River. This is the more direct route.
After 400 m reach Clarence road (no dropped kerb), turn L (CARE) then L onto path towards French Weir.
2. Go through Goodlands, passing the old bridge and first R. Follow the signs over several crossings and at Hickleys go down the ramp towards the weir. Then L and R following the signs, see photo. This is the longer route but is traffic free. It brings you to the south side of the path passing the barn. You turn L here passing the college. Pick up the directions from the second line below.

 

Longrun Meadow

At Weir R to river bridge at Coach, cross bridge. Cross the open space with open structure to the right.

SA onto cyclepath alongside the College, follow path to A38 crossing. After crossing L along shared footway, first R Henley Road.

Over at cross roads, to T-junction Parkfield Drive near hospital entrance. R and then L into cycle path alongside hospital. At Hoverland Cres L, then L onto Galmington Road – CARE.

After 200 m L into Parkfield Rd. After 400 m R into Manor Drive (there is a turning just before this).

Climb up Manor Drive, sudden drop to Trull Road. Fast traffic – CARE. Turn R and immediately L into Mount Nebo.

At cross road L into Broadlands Road to Middleway, L than R just before Vivary Arms to Fons George.

After the church and allotments L into Vivary Park car park. Take path alongside the climbing centre to the main part of the park/bandstand.