Monday ride today with Bloomers and Daphers. Linda R was unable to come at the last minute due to doggie commitments. Daphne suggested Marlow, where I haven't been for a while now, so I offered to take them on a different route which I did with Lynne. This took us via Pinkneys Green to Cookham Dean. The route is 36 miles for me, so Daphne drove here, but Linda of course had to use peddle power, so her round trip was 44 miles. Well done!
Route
The autumn colours are at their peak, but unfortunately it was very overcast this morning, so although the lanes were pretty, we didn't see them at their best. Annoyingly the sun broke through the moment I get home.
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We left Wokingham via Cantley direction and into Hurst Lanes.
This at the end of Broadcommon Lane |
Now through Shurlock Row to White Waltham, and into Butchers Lane. As we passed Shottlesbrook, a commotion of sheep noise. They were offloaded load of lambs, presumably for fattening up ready for market. At least they will spend their short lives in a very pretty location.
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| As we stopped in Butchers Lane. Phone shot.... it never focuses well! |
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| Now across Knowl Hill bridal path and through Breadcroft Lane. |
A left turn after Breadcroft Lane, to gradually climb to turn right at the A4 roundabout, and very soon left into the Private Newlands Drive. Part way along, we turned right through an alleyway and then got a little lost for a moment, before getting back on track to wiggle through the streets to Pinkneys Green Road. We arrive at the junction with the cricket field ahead of us.
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| Neither Daphne or Linda had been here before, and I had only been once. |
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| Pinkneys Green cricket pavillion |
Now we turned into Winter Hill Road, for the gradual climb towards Cookham Dean, passing some beautiful woodlands both sides of the road. As we turned a sharp right hand bend, we pulled over to enjoy the views to a pretty house.
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| Views over the hedge on Hocket Lane Cookham Dean. |
I had a quick look to try to find out what the massive house is, but couldnt find it. But there was a house on the same road for sale at over £4m!
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| Just a little further, and the turkey farm, also fattening up their produce for Christmas. |
At the road junction, with Cookham to the right, we turned left onto Quarry Wood Road, where the colours were stunning.
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| Linda at the top of Quarry Wood Road, just before we drop down the hairpin hill. |
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| Quarry Wood Road woodlands. |
A lovely ride down the massive hill into Marlow. As we looked back, most of the trees on the hillside, now lost their foliage.
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| Marlow Park |
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| The railing at the park were covered in these poppies all along the frontage. |
The cafe at the park is closed on Mondays, so we continued into town to use the pub we went to last time, when we approached from Frieth. We sat outside.
A bit chilly as we retraced our route over Marlow Bridge, through Bisham, to turn right into Temple. We all put our jackets on.
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| Passing through Temple, looking towards Crazies Hill |
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| Arriving in Hurley |
We opted to ride on Shepherds Way, Hurley, rather than the riverside pathway, to join the Marlow Road.
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| Linda and Daphne on Rose Lane, towards Crazies Hill |
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| The immaculate equestrian area on Rose Lane. |
At the top, we rode passed the pub, and then dropped down to Wargrave via Purfield Drive to Victoria Road, to eventually ride on Loddon Drive.
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| Loddon Drive, Wargrave. |
Back via Charvil to Sandford Lane and into Winnersh.
Well done ladies. Glad to show you an alternative route to Marlow, with hardly any hills . We climbed under 1000 feet, so not too challenging, but a nice dowhill to Marlow as a reward.
