Been at home last week with work to do and builders here, so made the most of the sunny forecast to get out. John has done this route several time, but some was new to me. Really nice ride. A few hills, but only got off once.... to let a car passed. Just so happened it was at the steepest point.
The route
We parked in Bradfield and headed initially towards Stanford Dingley, then straight on over again towards Buckleberry. There we did a little loop, crossing the ford.
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| Buckleberry Church |
Still flat for a short distance then after this lovely barn, our first climb of the day. But a lovely down at the end, with The Pot Kiln at Yattendon in the distance.
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| Pot Kiln at Yattendon straight ahead |
Then we crossed over the M4, turned right into Church lane as we arrived in Yattendon, and right again at the roundabout, heading towards Hampton Norreys
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| Between Yattendon and Hampton Norreys |
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| Tea stop at Hampton Norreys community shop. |
Continuing on through Hamton Norrey we branched right (Compton direction), but after a short stretch on the main road took a right into a narrow lane, with this field of crops on the left. There is a lot of agriculture in these parts, mostly growing this same crop at this time of year. We would head over an old railway bridge, past the farm in the distance and then the climb to the top of the ridge.
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| John waiting for me to take photos, on the old rail bridge |
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| A view looking back from the climb. |
A the top, a right turn then a left to Aldworth, passing the church and The Bell Pub
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| The Bell at Aldworth |
We continue now with some easy lanes towards Lower Basildon
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| Between Aldworth and Lower Basildon |
The bad news is the we now head for Upper Basildon, with a bit of a slog involved. At the 18 mile marker, a short detour to the right,then left to try to avoid the steepest part of the climb. Good plan! Made it in one go.
Next a short detour left off the main road through Upper Basildon before crossing straight over the main road. Finally at 21 miles, we turn right into Dark Lane, where jsut one mile to go back to the start.
