E-bike Sunday, and we fancied a ride near Hungerford, but the forecast was for rain in the morning, so we decided to wait and see. NO rain! So after a very early lunch, we drove to park at The Chase, Wash Common, by which time it was blue sky all the way.😀
Route
We left The Chase carpark and as usual, headed left to ride through Woolton Hill. This impressive Stud farm on the right. As I approached for a photo, the gates opened. Not exactly secure then!
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| Gates opened as I approached 😁 |
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| Enroute to Ashmansworth |
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| Faccombe here we come. That means a hill! |
We have not done this section before and its a lovely valley stretch, nice and gentle rise. We noticed this very unusual cloud formation.
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| Decided to sit in their courtyard garden today. |
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Japanese lantern works well with the white Japanese Anemones.
Guess who had the chocolate cake? |
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| Clean plates. |
A fairly easy section now as we head to Hungerford Park via the edge of Cold Harbour, and pass over the cattle grid.
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| Impressive Trees in Hungerford Park |
We drop and are aiming to cross the K&A, but a road block suggests otherwise. Anyway, we ignore it and manage to squeeze through.
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| Crossing the K&A as we leave Hungerford Park |
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| And a few yards further on. Eeeek. |
Now we climb to cross the A4 as we pass the beautiful Mill House on the Kennet River. A quick dash to dogleg over the A4, and the uphill continues. As we turn left on Denford Lane, big open views looking over Hungerford.
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| Views over vivid green grass to Hungerford from Denford Lane. |
Now another dash, this time across the A338 (the road from M4 into Hungerford). From here, we can just about see the highest point of our ride in the distance.
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| Way in the distance, the highest point at Coombe Gibbet |
We come into a village called Leverton, which meant nothing from memory, but as a test from John who annoyingly remembers everything, we continued just a few yards beyond our right turn. THEN I remember these buildings from a previous ride in the opposite direction.
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| Leverton Houses. Presumably Chilton estate workers cottages. |
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On our right turn out of Leverton. Oh dear! Someone got that wrong.
There were several windows on this building ALL skew whiff. |
The climb out of Leverton, passes through the Chilton estate for quite some time as we ride on Old Hayward Lane. A couple of turns, as cross back across the A338 onto Radley bottom.
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| Along the road called Radley Bottom |
At a sharp right hand bend, this house is called Winding Wood Cottage, at Clapton, and just opposite is Winding Wood House. (Google also shows a vineyard here, had we turned next right passed the main house.)
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| Right hand bend |
Carrying on straight, its a downhill run to cross over the A4 once more, which continues nice and easy into Kintbury. The railway crossing on Red.
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| Stopping for the railway crossing in Kintbury. |
We cross the railway, then take first left, a familiar route now, pretty gentle as we continue to Hamstead Marshall. With loads of battery left, we both decide to cruise all the way now..... and why not. It's almost 5pm as we pass through this woodland area and the low sun is just catching the bronzed ferns.
So, with the forecast delaying our start, we were late back, but enjoyed a beautiful afternoon. John now suggests we might start later more often, but with the shorter days and clocks changing in a months time, not much chance for much longer. Maybe next year.
