Route Advice - Swindon & Oxford Area

Hi, would appreciate any local knowledge on this. Am planning a ride from Cardiff to Family in Aston Clinton, Bucks.

I know the Wales & Bristol bits well, and familiar from Around Aylesbury - once it gets towards Swindon/Cirencester to Oxford I'm less certain.

There seems to be two potential routes A northerly one that goes past Cirencester and North of Oxford - Main issue is an extended period on what looks to be a thin strip of (segregated) cycle path along the ring road around Oxford - otherwise seems fairly quiet roads.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15561433

Other Option is a Southern option, skirts north side of Swindon and comes up through Abingdon way - Seems more direct but more Small A roads.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15562659

Routes above are rough at the moment but I'm aiming for fairly fast route, so not adverse to the A roads, but would appreciate any local knowledge of the roads - any spots to avoid at all costs etc.

Thanks in advance.

I live in the Chilterns - I have cycled basically your route from Abingdon onwards. There should be no issues on that section, locals are reasonably used to cyclists as it's MAMIL central round here at the weekends.

I have no experience of the Oxford route, but given it's slightly less direct there's no way I would choose it over the southern route.

Thanks for that - I think the reason RWGPS planned it that way originally is because it is made up predominantly of identified cycle routes - although these are great the NCN routes tend to be indirect and the cycle paths along the A40 isn't exactly worth the trips for the views!

I would take a look at the routes of the Severn Across Audax and the London Oxford London Audax for ideas. Both are on RWGPS.

So long as you avoid the main Oxford road you'll be okay. Everything Ciren way is quite fine to cycle.

Thanks for all the advice - I think I'm likely to take the (slightly) shorter Southern Route. Also means I don't have to spend the time along the A40 around Oxford!