With just 4 of us free to ride today, I offered to take us all in the van to Silchester. We met at a handy pull in service road near Woodward Close so kind of equidistant for everyone. I dropped them here on the return too. A forecast of 17 degrees today, so cropped trousers and fingerless gloves. 😊
I think fair to say that Gill, Martina and Lynne had no idea where we were today. Gill's Garmin for some reason refused to load the route from her phone, but not a problem... other than once.
Route link screen shot at end.
Parking at Silchester Church car park, we rode around Wall Lane, then to Aldermaston Soke, and crossed the Reading Road onto Red Lane towards Aldermaston. You can continue straight on this road, but more traffic following to climb the hill, so we turned off into Raghill, and first left into Spring Lane. (John did a ride today with Dave to Silchester from Risley, and his route also came down Raghill approaching from Ufton Nervet and Padworth.) Not sure that I have done that?
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| I have only ridden on Spring Lane a handful of times and always admire this Cedar Tree. |
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| Spring Lane, off of Red Lane to avoid the traffic. A lovely gently undulating lane. |
We joined Red Lane for a short climb up to Aldermaston, and then a long downhill into the village. I've never stopped for photos in the village, but there are some very nice old properties. Martina and Lynne overtook as I stopped for the photo of the sign, and I shouted to them to turn right at the roundabout. A group of 3 male cyclists then passed as I got back on my bike. (We would see them later).
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| Lynne asked if this is where we went to a cafe on the canal once? No canal here, but of course there is at Aldermaston Wharf a few miles further on. |
An easy couple of flat miles between Aldersmaston on Wasing Lane, to the junction where there is the gatehouse of Wasing Park. We pulled over to allow some traffic past at a entrance called "East Gate", one of the private entrances to Wasing Park.
At the T Junction a left turn, to head slight uphill to Brimpton Common.
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| Top of climb on Back Lane, to Brimpton Common, looking back. |
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| All jackets now off by the time we reach Brimpton Common. Gill removing the sleeves to convert to a Gilet. |
Not long after jackets off, a gate called "West Gate" another private entrance to Wasing Park. It's huge! We also spotted some signs for Wasing Park Property on the opposite side of the road too.
We crossed into Inhurst Lane, and these carved Owls on our right at the entrance to a property called Haughurst House. I have seen this before, but couldn't remember where! Now I know!!
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| Haughurst House, Inhurst Lane |
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| Inhurst Lane. Very pretty. |
A wonderful long downhill run now on Wolverton Road into Axmansford. Wheeee.
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| Bottom of Wolverton Road as it levels out. Loved these daffodils naturalized in this field . |
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| Geese and daffs at the pond opposite Ham Farm. |
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| Ham Farmhouse, with its stable block. |
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| Selfie shot on Ham Lane. The pink blossom just appearing. |
Now on Stoney Heath Road to join Baughurst Road to Charter alley, but with a little loop via West Heath first to arrive at Charter Alley on Deans Lane. With 5 different ways into the tiny Charter Alley, I was chuffed that I knew where the shop would be😂.
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| We sat outside, since it was warm enough, but also the shop was busy with some "Yoga" ladies and some cyclists. |
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| Martina tucking into her Lamb Samosa. |
We saw no lambs today, other than Lamb Samosas 😆😅. Some ladies even had brownies too.
3 cyclists came out of the shop, and we chatted. It was the 3 men who had passed us through Aldermaston earlier. They came from Woodley, and Wokingham.
Leaving Charter Alley on Monk Sherborne Road, we crossed at the X Roads with Ramsdel Church on our right, and over into Ewehust Road. I've ridden this many times, but the other 3 not at all. So a bit of heads up as to the rise at the end, when we reach the T Junction, with the busy A339.
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| Pulling over for a van to pass along Ewehurst Road. The tractor out spreading muck on the fields. Could smell it! |
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| Off we go again, to dogleg across the A339 (Basingstoke to Newbury Road) Jackets back on as we left Chatter Alley..... |
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| With a steep climb just around the corner, jackets came back off here. The sun was just about breaking through, just before the climb! how annoying. |
I set off first, and on the steepest section (15%) a bloody great truck behind me. So I just kept going until the hill flatted a bit. What's he doing up this little lane?!!
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| Lynne up next Blue sky! |
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| Well done Martina |
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| Gill was a little behind.... got a missed phone call she said, and wanted to check it. (we believed her.) |
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| Our view from the top at Ibworth, with no blue sky looking this way. |
Having climbed, we can now enjoy a couple of miles all downhill on Rookery Farm Lane,into Wooton St Lawrence, then more flat lanes. We crossed back of the A339, and another enjoyable downhill run into Monk Sherborne, passing All Saints church.
All signs here say "Charter Alley 1.5miles". 😂 So, yes we could have just skipped the last 6 miles climbing up to come down again, but we would have missed the downhills!
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| Beautiful daffodil display. |
"Ah, I know where I am now" said Gill. A dogleg over the A340 and soon the climb up through Little London to Frog Lane and Ash Lane. I usually return from here, going down to Clappers Farm Ford, but then you have to climb all the up to Silchester, so today, opted to climb Church Lane to Silchester instead. I've come down it many times, but not up. It was a better option, not steep at all.
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| A glimpse of Silchester Church, over a handy dip in the ancient walls. Lynne and Martina. |
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| Gill. |
Everyone said how much they enjoyed the route today, and I did too. Not so familiar with some of it, but in different seasons all looks different anyway.
Well done ladies. Here is where you were today!
