Riseley to Englefield Gardens - 30miles with Rose & Sue

on

Daphne and Linda both on holiday today and I fancied a revisit to Englefield Gardens, only open on Mondays. I think this is the best time of year to go.  I invited the group of Cycling "friends" but loads of them are busy on Mondays, or else on holiday today. But Linda, Sue and Rose were free to join me. Unfortunately Linda had to cancel at the last minute since her Mum is unwell. I gave Sue a lift and we met Rose at Riseley. Its school holiday time, and we both arrived early, with very little traffic to hold us up! So we got off a few minutes earlier than plan.  It was only 6 degrees! Brrrr. A very chilly whizz down  Chequers Lane. (It was forecast to warm to mid teens later).

Route link

To Mortimer, and up Barking Dog Hill, so they both knew where I meant. (its official name if Nightingale Lane).

The Barking dogs didn't disappoint! lol

View from Barking Dog hill

Nightingale Lane has been tarmacked! What a difference to be able to whizz down (to climb up again), without the need to slow right down for the shocking pot holes and gravel that have been there for ages. 

The next down and up now on the wider road called Brewery Common, down to cross Lockham Brook over a bridge and climb up to Wokefield Common. 

Flat now to Wokefield Common, then through Burfield.

Climbing up to a X Roads, a right turn now and first glimpse of
Sulhamstead Church, at Sulhampstead Abbots. 

Rose and Sue already in the church when I caught then up
after stopping for the photo.

The archway is off-centre, so we wondered if the front part was
a later extension?


On the key stones of the church is a "shell" symbol
indicating this was part of the pilgrims route. 

We're at the high point here, so we enjoy a downhill on Folly Lane, turning left into Jaques's Lane, only to climb up again to pass the entrance to the Police College. Then all flat as we pass through Sheffield Bottom, across the K&A Canal, and into Theale

The gate into Englefield is closed apart from Mondays when
the garden is open, so we arrived in style today, along the impressive driveway. 

Rose at the gate getting a closer look at the deer herd.


Sue waiting  for us. 

First priority, the tea shop!

Very pleasant sheltered from the wind.

Sue and Rose set off to climb the 10% gradient hill to the house,
whilst I take another look at the deer. 

Stag Party😅


A nice show of daffs still opposite the church.

This part of the driveway is normally classed as private
apart from Mondays. 

And the view from the back of the house. 


We spent half an hour or so, taking a look around the garden. A few people here today, but not busy. I had my RHS card for free entry and Rose and Sue put their £5 in the honesty box.

Blue Brunnera flowers. And the Acer in the background
one of many with fresh leaves, some dark red. 


Never been done before! 😂
Lovely white blossoms behind. 

Red Acer

Camelia

Shuttlecock Ferns emerging. 

Dead tree!.......

.... its been killed by Mistletoe

We left Englefield passing the shop and through the charming village, then straight over into North Street lanes. Back over the canal in Theale, and then we joined Bottom Lane, all nice and flat, but of course we had to climb out of here!  Up Sulhamstead Hill, and left into Kingston Lane (which is the quieter open). Apart from one car which followed into the lane, no more cars. infact all the roads seemed really quiet today. 

A few undulations followed to get us back up the level of Sulhampstead Church, and this time we turned away from it, heading to Mortimer West End. A steep  drop down to cross over West End Brook with the climb we all love, up to Wall Lane, Silchester. 😉

Loads and loads of frothy headed around atm.
This one at Silchester. 

And now our usual route back to Strafield Saye, with just one more stop for a "picnic" .

Chilling on Green Lane, Stratfield Saye. 

Green Lane, The Oak tree foliage has appeared
in the last 48 hours with all the sunshine we are having.

Thanks for joining me ladies. Sue missed out on a U3A ride today, but enjoyed a change of scenery, and Rose changed her plans too, missing out on a trip with Mike to see some old helicopters in a shed. 😅😅😅. 

As it turns out, I will see them both again in a few hours, as we are attending a bike maintenance workshop with Ferdi at The Stables in Arborfield at 6pm.