Ballarat to Skipton

This rail trail starts on the west side of Ballarat, and runs along the old Skipton railway line, for a distance of 57 kilometers. The rail trail goes through Haddon, Smythesdale and Pittong. Smythesdale is a historic gold mining town, so anyone interested in the history of Victoria, would find a stop there, to be worthwhile. Boards showing the history of the area are placed along the rail trail.

In 2008 the local, state and federal governments contributed a total of $700,000 to the upgrade and resurfacing of the rail trail. The surface is now compacted granite sand, giving it quite a hard surface for riding on.

Nimmon’s Bridge, a historic timber bridge is a landmark of the rail trail. Cyclists can ride over the bridge, or onto a trail which allows access beneath the bridge, for a closer look at the structure of the bridge.

 

Distances on the rail trail:

•  Ballarat to Smythesdale – 20k
• Smythesdale to Linton – 17k
• Linton to Skipton – 20k

This is a moderate grade ride, with a few gradual climbs and descents. A brochure with further details of the rail trail is available for download here