The deserted country road near Bristol which is a paradise for cyclists and walkers

No cars, vans or motorbikes - a country lane on the outskirts of Bristol is proving a scenic paradise for cyclists and walkers after it was closed to normal traffic five months ago.

Queen Charlton Lane, linking Whitchurch and the beautiful village of Queen Charlton, is currently shut off to motorised vehicles thanks to trial blockade at either end of the mile-long road to close up a rat-run.

It means other road users - walkers, cyclists, runners and horse riders - have the full width of the highway without having to worry about traffic.

Today (April 23), we took the route as part of a bicycle ride from Keynsham to Stockwood - and it’s beautiful.

We joined the road from the busy Charlton Road near Keynsham and despite the first part up to Queen Charlton being open to all traffic, it was deserted - probably due to it now only being used by cars going to and from the tiny village.

The village, once the home of Dick King-Smith, sits on a curve in the road which goes around the charming medieval church of St Margaret. Opposite the church is a tidy village green with a stone war memorial at its centre.

After leaving the collection of cottages and farmhouses hugging the roadside you come to the road blockade, just after a junction with a track leading motorists back on to Charlton Road.

And it’s a thrill passing through the blockade to an open road which goes down a small hill before ascending up to a new housing development which is part of Whitchurch Village.

Before you get to the homes, you pass through the second blockade and see normal traffic again at a junction with joins on to Charlton Road, again. It’s here cyclists can then easily join on the cycle route from Bristol city centre to Chew Magna.

There are also nearby pubs in Pensford like the Travellers Rest and Rising Sun. Or you can see the mysterious stone circle at Stanton Drew.

The trial blockade was brought in following calls from residents in Whitchurch and Queen Charlton concerned about safety due to the level of traffic using the road. Now traffic free, cyclists and runners should take advantage of arguably one of the best cycle lanes/footpaths in the Bristol region.