Kintbury to Wilton

Having driven to see our friends in Marlborough last week, I said I fancied a ride around that area again soon. So, we drove today to start a ride from Kintbury accompanied by Dave and Daphne. It was only 8 degrees as we drove there, and Daphne had a blanket over her knees in the van. 😂 The forecast was for 19 degrees by the afternoon, so we were hopeful of a nice day. And it was.

Route

Since it was almost 10 o'clock when we reached Kintbury, we planned a stop at Inkpen a few miles in, for a coffee. Initially, we climbed away from the canal, and left along Irish Hill Road which I have ridden a few times now. Then a right turn into Old Lane which I think is where we met a lady "walking" her horse.

We stopped to allow her to pass, and I asked "why are you walking, not riding?" It was a ridiculous answer. The horse gets spooked by of a piece of farm equipment just over this gate! As soon as she has walked him passed, she got back on. How funny.

The very scary piece of farm equipment which spooks the horse!

And in the field.

I didn't recognise the next few miles, and checking my previous blogs, that's because I haven't ridden them before. But eventually, I spotted the familiar spire of West Woodhay church, so back onto a road which I know. We then did a sort of Ushape around West Woodhay, with the church on our right, where you can also go into a garden which has a memorial.

First glimpse of West Woodhay church.

inside the church garden. The Sedum very colourful.

Ornamental pear trees, I think. Pyrus Salicifolia Pendula

The curved wall has a curved door set into it.

Just a short distance further on, and somewhere I always photograph, is West Woodhay House. The trees looked amazing today.

Acers at West Woodhay House

A second row of Acers have yellow foliage.

peaking through between the fence, and the lake just about visible.

Lake reflections.

Not far to coffee!

WHAT! closed!!

This is the second time in a week that my "leader" has led me astray to closed coffee stops!! But its always open on a Monday he said. Hmmm. Plan B is to continue on our route, and get refreshsments at Shalbourne Post Office shop. (I went here a few years ago, when we missed the turn to Inkpen. 😏)

(btw Daphne, I was telling you about a Fritillaria field in Inkpen. Forget that ... it's Crocus! )

But Shalbourne is a few miles away, and first we ride through Inkpen, passing the Village Hall, where the Ramblers were meeting today and enjoyed the big downhill, with the pretty church on our left at the bottom, at Lower Green. (Didnt stop there today.) Left at the junction, and we rode on Spray Road into Ham.

Ham village green, where we turned right, but first Daphne dropped down
to check if the pub was open for coffee.. It wasn't. It's now 11.05.

Daphne called me downhill, and I thought, oh good! The pub is open.
But she wanted to show me the pretty house behind the pub.

The Thatch in Ham next door to the pub.

Next, the climb out of Ham, to drop down into Shalbourne. A group of 3 cyclists were about ready to leave, so we got a table for 4. The shop is small, no indoor seats, but good cakes, and coffee. Sorted. For future ref.... they also have a loo, although not public. but happy to allow cyclists to use it. 😉

shortbread with Cherry filling. Bakewell tart
and a sausage roll for Daphne.

This inscription on the hall opposite the post office. 1843
" A school for the purposes of a Bible Education for the poor.

Now we head to Gt Bedwin.... its uphill!

It's always a tough climb and it continues across the main road.
thankfully today, no traffic, so could keep the momentum.

Top of the climb out of Shalbourne to cross the A338

Views at the top of our climb.

And now a left turn, heading to Wilton, and some easier undulations as we pass the windmill, then drop down steeply into East Grafton.

Wilton Windmill.
The farmer has put a chain across the gap in the hedge, so just a glimpse today.

Bit of a zoom in shot to the trees on the hillside beyond the windmill.

Screeched to halt as we came into Wilton, where these
characters were in a field on the right.

Then just passed The Swan pub on the corner, this lovely thatch next to Wilton pond.

Wilton, just beyond The Swan pub.

A little rise to climb out of Wilton, and then after a couple of hundred yards on the B338, a sharp right turn into Dark Lane. And it was "dark" today, as we eventually dropped down to cross the K&A canal at Crofton.

Daphne and Dave on Dark Lane, nr Crofton.

Out of of the tree tunnel, and a few minutes rest at the K&A Canal

A spitfire? At the K&A.

And looking back over the K&A.

Crofton Beam Engine chimney, just visible.
We passed it a few minutes later on our way to Great Bedwyn.

In Great Bedwyn, a left turn and a short climb, to then turn right on Brown's Lane. I dont remember doing this before, and we soon passed this pretty cottage on our right. (But checking an old blog for many years ago... I have a photo of this cottage. 😆

Brown's Lane, Great Bedwyn.

Brown's Lane, Great Bedwyn.
Daphne waited with me, whilst John and Dave continued... a hill coming up!

I think coming this way before, we must have continued straight on to cross the A4 at Froxfield, but today our route turned left, and up quite a challenging hill toware Chisbury. (road unnamed).

Stopping for breather part way up the climb to Chisbury
next to the sunflower crop.

Dave continued, no doubt thinking the top is just round the corner.
Sadly it wasn't the top!

Finally at the top, this colorful beech hedge. The leaves are just starting to turn. Is it going to be a good autumn?

The others disappear on a big downhill to cross the A4.

Another slog of a climb, until it finally flattened out at these solar panels.
Road with no name, but heading to Ramsbury.

A steep descent... we saw a 10% sign .
Ramsbury in the distance.

Definitely not been here before. The River Kennet in Ramsbury.
The two ladies were having a picnic.

River Kennett. A white egret in the distance, but too far to see with my camera.

At the bottom.
The 10% has grown to 17%. We must NEVER reverse this route!

We turned right here, then backtracked to check out the village, where we had been told
of a tea shop. (useful for future).

Ramsbury.

The pub also has a tea shop, but not open Mondays!

We could have gone to the pub, but decided to peddle on into Hungerford, then it would only be a few miles after lunch, back to Kintbury.

At least the next few miles were flat, following the river into Hungerford. We used the B4192, which was a fast road, at took us into Chilton Foliat. ( Had we crossed the A4 as normal at Littecote, we could have crossed the bridge here into Chilton Foliat).