Bradfield to Winterbourne - 25 miles

Whilst I was in Devon for a few days, John rode from Bradfield, and near Chievley found a new farm shop, which is also a cafe. I had messaged "The Potting Shed" a few months ago, via Facebook, about the cafe and they had decided not to open one. Seems that they changed their mind. And the good news, said John, is that they are open EVERY day!  So, it's Sunday, and we are off there for our teastop.

Our journey there was a bit long winded, since the M4 was shut, westbound at J11. So, a countryside route to Theale and we got to Bradfield eventually. I was familiar with much of the route, as we headed to Bucklebury Ford , then Hermitage. 

Route

The dried up ford at Bucklebury. We didn't cross it today, but
continued passed the pigs to then turn left into Wellhouse Lane.

Corduroy field with tiny shoots of green in Wellhouse Lane.

This house as we approached the junction of Wellhouse Lane, to start of climb to Hermitage.

Through Hermitage, straight over a roundabout, then next  right turn into Curridge Road. This road bends a bit, and eventually over the A34.

Curridge Road views.

A dog leg right/left now, into Arlington Lane  and quite a steep climb, as we pass a school or community hall. A few cars around, so it was tricky to keep going on the very narrow hill. 

Eye level view of the forest floor on the hill in Arlingotn

John had stopped further back for the traffic.
He has ridden this road mid week quite often with NO traffic. 

At the top, we joined the busy B4494 where we sometimes park at Snelsmore Common. Just a short stretch, then  right turn to pass through the lovely old woodland to drop down to Winterbourne. 

Dropping down to Winterbourne on the unnamed steep hill

Winterbourne church on the hill ahead, 

We turned right at the bottom of this hill. My geography not quite there yet, but then knew where we were as we climbed out of Winterbourne. (Bagnor with the clipped hedge the opposite direction).

Under the M4, then a right turn to where the farm shop is.   The gates were closed, and no mention of a Sunday opening. Hmmmm.  Saturday, yes, Sunday no. 

We continued up to School Road where we often park on the bend in the car park, and made our way into Chievely. Plan B was Hampstead Norreys shop, but I couldn't imagine how we would get there.  But guessed we would pass through Worlds End?  

Views from School Road, Chievley

Left turn in Chievley, followed the road for a while, then right into Downend Lane. This joins the Oxford Road, a fast road, and comes into...... Worlds End! Yeah! 😂 A sign for Beedon, just as we turn right heading to Bothampstead. (We normally approached Worlds End from the other direction via Beedon)

I had no recollection of the next stretch, apart from recognising a very obvious tree, which John has photographed before. It's like a cloud pruned conifer, so knew I must have passed it before. This road now drops downhill for ages, arriving into  Hampstead Norreys. We did take a left then a right turn part way downhill. We dropped into Hampstead Norreys on the B4009, with the cafe entrance on our right. It was busy today.

Hampstead Norreys shop.

A table become free just after we ordered. 

We had done almost 20 miles, so were happy to head the shortest route back now, which was up the hill to Yattendon. Very easy with power on. 😉 Passing the tearoom on our right, we continued straight eventually taking the right turn into Scratchface Lane, taking us over the M4, and dropping down to Back Lane, Bradfield. 

Scratchface Lane. 

The M4 Eastbound was open, but as we came off at J11, it was chaos at the roundabout, with lanes blocked. We eventually got through, but the Q in the other direction stretched all the way back via Lower Earley. And all we saw on the motorway was one lorry, and workers sitting in a van having a break. 😡

(I had a missed call from my cousin, with a message to call him later, which I did. Very sad to learn that he has Leukemia. Hoping that chemotherapy will do it's magic for him. )