I've not ridden this route for over a year, so enjoyed revisiting, having forgotten parts of the route. Also, I've only ridden it this way round once before, having previously ridden it the opposite direction. Took our e-bikes today, to assist on the hills, since we are both cycling again tomorrow.
Route
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Almost opposite our start point, looking to Bradfield
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We parked in our usual spot in Dark Lane, Bradfield, and set off initially under the M4 bridge, followed by a climb, then left towards Upper Basildon, climbing for a couple of miles. This is rewarded with a right turn into Hook End Lane, a steep downhill then almost flat for approx 2 miles. Bliss.
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| At the bottom of Hook End Lane, we take this left fork ( no name) |
Then a left turn almost double back on ourselves, and a nice lane with only a gradual rise towards the Reading Road, on the edge of Aldworth.
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| Views on the road leading to Aldworth |
At the junction, we head slight right then left into Bell Lane, passing The Old Bell pub on our right. Quite a few cars parked up here today, no doubt walkers on The Ridgeway. (pub closed due to Covid)
Dropping down passed Aldworth church, we continue downhill joining the B4009 few a couple of hundred yards,
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| Aldworth Church |
Then a hard right, at a pub, climbing up again, and taking a left turn near the top, where it flattens out. (no road name). This quiet road continues on a flattish plane, where we stopped to see the views before the roads drops away towards Hampstead Norreys.
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Views before we drop down towards Hampstead Norreys. The rape crops now gone to seed but
still looking pretty with there golden colouring. |
There was a queue at the Village Store, so we decided not to wait for tea, since it was only takeaway anyway due to Covid restrictions. We continued through Hampstead Norreys, taking a right fork into Yattendon Road, where very soon we spotted some red poppy fields ahead. Several cars parked on the corner of the fields, where we were turning left into the continuation of Yattendon Road. We climbed a bit and took several photos looking back down the hill. It was beautiful!
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| Looking back downhill where we climbed coming out of Hampstead Norreys. |
Not long after this, we arrived into Yattendon, where The Pantry tea room was also open, but with a Q. We just had our water and snack in the village, where other cyclists were also hanging out.
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| Yattendon village centre. |
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| Yattendon Village centre. Socially distancing cyclists. |
Leaving Yattendon on Church Lane, we cross over the M4 towards Frilsham, and turn right up quite a steep hill (Coach Hill) through some lovely woods. We had stopped here last spring, but the freshness gone this time of year, so we pressed on. A left and right turn into a lane I remember nothing significant about, but at the end, a sharp left into Marlston Road, where dropping downhill, we pass this impressive School (Brockhurst Prep School).
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Brockhurst Prep School.
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Following the road, we eventually turn left and cross the ford, heading towards Bucklebury. The ford was pretty high, and kids were playing with a home made raft. We chatted to 3 cyclists, one of whom was considering buying the Orbea bikes we have.
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| Ford pretty high today near Bucklebury |
Following Bucklebury Road (quiet country lane), we come into Stanford Dingley, turning right and passing the church into the pretty village. Time for some power assistance as we climb a steep hill out of Stanford Dingley (Cock Lane), then left into Bishops Road and also Rotten Row Hill at Tutts Clump. (Fortunately the hill went down..... it was steep!) A right turn at the bottom of the hill, then another right into Back Lane which we follow all the way back to Bradfield, crossing at the junction into Dark Lane, where were parked.
Have I got this route in my head now? Ish!
