I’m having a craze on the Belair Lynton Bike Path at the moment. With gradients of up to 20%, it’s definitely a downhill ride as far as I’m concerned!
It’s your choice whether you take a fast roll or slow down and enjoy the views. Either way, make sure your brakes are in good condition!
Officially known as the Lynton Belair Urban Trail, the Belair Lynton Bike Path is only 1.6 kilometres long. By combining it with mostly quiet suburban backroads, you can do a ride of 15 kilometres from Belair to Mile End.
How to get to the Belair Lynton Bike Path
To get to the start point, catch the train to historic Belair Station.
Once in Belair, why not take a quick coffee stop at the Sheoak Cafe, only 500 metres from Belair Station?
From there, ride 2.7 kilometres along Sheaok Road, Gloucester Avenue and Caroline Avenue to the start of the trail off High Street.
After a relatively flat start, the Belair Lynton Bike Path takes a sharp turn to the west. Descents of up to 17.5% gradient provide beautiful views towards Glenelg.
As the gradient increases to 20%, the Belair Lynton Bike Path turns towards the north. Soon you can see lovely views towards the city.
Before long, the bike path spills out at Lynton Railway Station.
If you are crazy enough to want to do the steep bit over and over again, the train comes every 30 minutes, even on the weekend. You could go up and down several times in one afternoon.
Better still, if you’re fit enough, just ride up again and you won’t have to worry about the train timetable!
Weekend Option: Belair to Mile End 15 km
In the weekend only, there is car parking available near Mile End Railway Station (off James Congdon Drive, entrance opposite Goodenough Street). Park there and take the train up to Belair.
Riding Lynton to Mile End
After you exit the Belair Lynton Bike Path at Lynton Railway Station, it’s easy to follow the back streets that run alongside the railway. Tricky points are crossing Springbank Road and just after Millsbrook Station where it’s very easy to miss Sasmee Lane, opposite Ravensthorpe Avenue.
Once you get to Goodwood, just ride along the bike path next to the railway, past the Adelaide Showground Station and through the West Terrace Cemetery to where your car is parked at Mile End.
Mountain biking
When you catch the weekend train up to Belair in the late morning or early afternoon, you will see quite a few downhill mountain bikers in full gear alighting at Glenalta and Pinera. If this is your thing, here is some information about MTB trails at Lynton.
However, if you are happy with a more sedate kind of downhill, I recommend that you catch one of the early morning trains, so that there will be plenty of room for you and your bike.
Belair Railway Station
Belair station has a lot of historical interest. It’s also the walking entrance to Belair National Park.
Mitcham Railway Station
If you are riding down to Mile End or further, take the time to have a look at historic Mitcham Railway Station.
Lastly, I’d like to finish with this amusing 2 minute video by RideAdelaide of what it’s like to go UP the Belair Lynton Bike Path:
A more achievable hill climb in Adelaide is the Crafers Bikeway.
