Lynne planned today's route as 3 of us met with Gill at Lower Earley. Her first time with us for a couple of weeks, and Jeanette STILL on holiday! Alright for some 😄
The route was mostly lanes, but a few tracks too including a detour via Wokefield Park (more later)
Route
A familiar route through Cutbush Lane and through the new estate off Hyde End Road to link to Spencers Wood and Beech Hill Road. Nice dropping down on the fast section over the A33 today before our right turn into the pretty Cross Lane.
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| Views on our left nearing the end of Cross Lane |
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| Barn at the end of Cross Lane |
Turning left and soon right, we pass the entrance to Wokefield Park, on Goodboys Lane. Lynne mentioned that she was looking to see if a route would take us through, but decided not, since it looks Private. We continue on the gently undulating Goodboys Lane, to the end joining Goring Lane at Grazeley Green.
Soon, a left turn into New Road, going around the perimeter of Wokefield Park. At a point just opposite a right hand turn, there is an iron gate on our left, with just enough room to nip through the side. (looks like it is often used as a footpath entrance ) and joins a concrete road. We decide to investigate, and soon have clear views of Wokefield House, and the BMW "training academy" and the golf course.
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| Wokefield House |
As the others go on ahead, a golf buggy approaches and I wave it down. A member of staff was very happy that we cycle through, and yes its also ok to ride all the way through the the main entrance, so will do that another time. Today, we turned around to continue our route to Mortimer.
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| Golf course |
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| Wokefield Golf Course |
As we retrace our steps and sneak through the gap once more, I suggest a very short diversion at the next right to show them this pretty house, called Wokefield Cottage.
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| Wokefield Cottage, Lockram Lane |
We continue all the way into Mortimer, arriving in the main street, facing the church. Turning right, we climb a little, before a left turn into the undulating Pitfield Lane. (used to come this way a lot, but not been for a while).
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| Cows on Pitfield Lane |
Now left to cross the railway bridge. I got ahead just in time to get my camera out as the others arrive at the railway bridge, on Park Lane.
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| The rusty metal railway bridge on Park Lane |
At the top of the hill, decision time! Do we carry straight on, joining the bridal path, the Devils Highway? Or right and use the tarmaced Green Lane? I was a bit worried that after some decent rain 48 hours ago it could be messy, but we decided to go for it. It was mostly fine.
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| More cattle to our right along Devils Highway |
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| Devils Highway between Park Lane ... and Park Lane! |
We emerge on the bend of Park Lane (which we use to connect to Beech Hill sometimes), but today carry straight over and climb Chequers Lane to Welly Farm Shop.
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| Some bikes racks at last at the farm shop |
Still seems a bit chaotic, with but the services was ok today. Now down Bull Lane, under the A33, but once under the bridge we immediately turned right to investigate this lane (Sun Lane), and as we dropped down, this pretty thatch on our right. (There is a low point here, with plenty of mud on the road, so could be problematic in winter, but ok today)
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| Looking back to the cottage on Sun Lane |
At the end of this lane, we cross straight over the main road, into a track alongside a new housing estate, then straight over again at Risley Memorial Hall, to the right of the car park, into the next section of The Devils Highway.
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| Devils Highway part 2 (Risley) |
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| Devils Highway with lots of White Campion |
Keeping straight all the way to Ford Lane, we turn right, then soon left into Welhouse Lane, where at the end, we pick up Bramshill Forest Track, eventually emerging at Eversley Mill.
Once on Park Lane, we take one final off road route today, along the back of Nine Mile Ride, crossing White Horse Lane and continuing, then through California Park to head home.
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| Smart house on the track behind Nine Mile Ride |
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| Bluebell edges to the track |
Nice bit of variety today, thanks Lynne, and not too muddy after the rain.
