A chance to ride with Carole R today, whom I have not seen since a summer ride. It was a chilly start of about 3 degrees... bit of a shock to the system, but with our "slippers" on we were prepared 😄.
Carole suggested a ride to incorporate Cutbush Lane, through Lower Earley, since she had not used it before. I have done a couple of different routes recently using Cutbush either on the outward or return journey, and it makes a change from my usual routes, so I very happy to lead on this one. We were aiming for Silchester direction.
Route
We met at Morrisons, and headed for Saddlers End through to Bearwood Road, where we joined the new cycle path to Lower Earley. Here we joined Kilnsea Drive, which eventually becomes Cutbush Lane. Very quiet this morning, pretty much having these lanes to ourselves. We crossed using the motorway pedestrian bridge, then continued all the way to Shinfield and enjoyed the downhill of Brookers Hill and Church Lane into Three Mile Cross.
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Cutbush Lane, Lower Earley
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We did a slight detour in Three Mile Cross to investigate whether we could in future cut through next to Silchester Place ( the new development) avoiding the junction with the main road, but we only saw some path signs which were blacked out, which should be an access path. Hopefully a future plan?
Now safely across the A33 using the pedestrian lights, we turned left then right, then left again into the pretty Kybes Lane. At the end, a right turn under the railway arch, and continued passing the Classic Car sales place. Left again on a road I dont think I have cycled before. (passing AWE boundary). It was quiet and a good surface, and got us off of the main Goring road for a stretch. Next, and again to get us off the Goring Road, another loop this time into Burghfield Common. A gradual climb up James Lane, a steepish bit of Reading Road, before a lovely downhill on Man's Hill. Wheeee.
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| View to our left at the bottom of Man's Hill |
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Bottoms of Man's Hill, and now straight over
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Now we are heading in the direction of Stratfield Mortimer, but turn into Nightingale Lane, where at the top of a climb we stop for a breather and the next photo.
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| Views from Nightingale Lane, Nr Stratfield Mortimer |
We decide to bypass the takeaway teastop in Mortimer Common, and continue on the undulating next sections to take us past the Red Lion Pub and up the hill to Silchester, turing into Wall Lane.
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Views from Silchester, where we now turn left
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Hoping that Park Lane is not flooded (it wasn't, but a bit messy) we climb now to the corner which is the junction with The Devils Highway, where Carole recalls a very muddy ride! We stop not far from that bend, and enjoy the views to our left from Mortimer Lane.
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Views from Mortimer Lane
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waiting for the photographer. A downhill ahead!
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Now we skirt the edges of Stratfield Saye and I suggest a stop at 25 mile point,at a convenient log to have our snack on Barge Lane.
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Snack stop as we join Bull Lane from Barge Lane
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Mostly easy now, apart from climbing Beech Hill, as we approach from Swallowfield, then we cut through Hogwood Industrial Park to Nine Mile Ride. Carole peels off to climb White Horse Lane, and I cut through California Park. Since it's such a glorious day, I did a loop of the lake, for some photos.
