The Wormsley Estate, owned by the Getty family is only open once a year to the public, with limited ticket numbers. So the date had been in my diary. Since it was a Wednesday this year, I decided to set up a Breeze Ride a couple of weeks ago, to invite others to join me. Cathy was also free, so originally we were 8. A couple had to cancel, but Gill drove instead to meet us there. It was another scorching day today. Lovely to have Angela join us today, after several weeks away.
Route link (photo of route at end of blog)
We met at Mill Lane Henley, and cycled the riverside path into Henley initially.
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Lovely with the tree shade along the Thames in Henley, and a gentle breeze from the river.
Out on Henley on the path alongside The Fairmile, and into Stonor Valley.
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A quick drink stop in Stonor Valley, before we start our climb to North End.
( our only challenging climb today) |
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Some much appreciated shade at the top of our climb to North End.
(photo by Angela) |
From Northend, we continued a very gradual climb to Christmas Common where it levelled our as we continued over the M40 , to join the A40 for a short stretch to. Stokenchurch. We rode the A40 in 2 groups, but there was not much traffic at all, and it was all pretty freewheeling to our turning into Ibstone Road, where the garden entrance was soon on our right.
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Entrance to the estate. The walled garden is 2 miles downhill from here, and not
one single pothole. Bliss! We were due to meet Gill at 11.15... it was now 11.45. |
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| A beautiful ride all downhill through the estate. |
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There was a two way system today, so we were following this
convertible for the last stretch to the walled garden.
We had to stop from time to time for cars coming out. |
(The reason there was a two way traffic system, with passing places, unlike the first time I came two years ago, was that they were not using the back exit today which drop you further downhill to just outside Turville. WOT!!! They were sending everyone back uphill, the way they came in...WOT!!! That was not our plan at all. )
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First priority drink/cake in the shade.
Me, Cathy, Gill, Linda, Angela, Amy and Louise. |
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These 4 ladies look so pretty as they walked towards the cafe area in their colourful dresses.
I asked if they would mind a photo? Then I took one on their phone too. |
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| Gill and Cathy ahead as we enter the walled garden. |
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| Angela taking photos too. |
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| Gill and Louise at the central are where there were a few craft stalls/ |
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This was the main entrance to the walled garden, but we came in
another way. No one ever asked if we had tickets. 😂Which we of course had prepaid. |
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White Kiftsgate Rambling Rose on Pergola
with plenty of colourful Roses in the rosebeds. |
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| I loved this White Peony at the entrance to the Rose Garden. |
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Hundred of Allium finished flowering probably 2 weeks ago but very
graphic seed heads still looking great. |
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| Linda enjoyed the Red Poppies. |
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Heading to a shady spot for a short break. This path lined with
ferns and White Foxglove. Very "cooling" look. |
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| We discussed this ladies white wide leg trousers. Very cool look. |
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| Photos by Cathy. I had swapped my rain jacket in my bag for my sunhat today! |
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| We didn't take it too seriously. 😅 |
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| The Rose Pergola (by Angela) |
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| The Rose Garden (by Angela) |
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| The Yew Buttress walkway (by Angela) |
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| Enjoying the shade (by Angela) |
It was 1oclock, and we had discussed the idea of having a pub lunch somewhere in the Hambleden Valley rather than head straight home. Everyone was keen to do that. They only issue was getting out the "back gate" to Turville. A few conversations followed with various staff, and finally they agreed that we "should" be able to get out. but no cars were going that way today. Which was GREAT for us as we had the final mile or so to get out, all downhill to ourselves. BUT Gill had to go via Stokenchurch.
We got too the pub before Gill. 😄 We met at the Chequers at Fingest. The pub garden was busy, with all the tables taken. Very accommodating staff set up the shade brollies for us.
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Very nice lunch, even if they had run out of a few items on the menu.
They even had a handy holder for my cycle helmet.😎 (aka an bucket holder) |
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| Group selfie by Angela |
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| Back entrance, The Cheques, Fingest. |
Time to head for home, and Cathy led us through the Hambleden Valley and over the weir.
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| Angela's first time crossing the weir. She said WOW! |
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| Great reflections from the Millhouse today. |
Back to Henley via Remenham Lane and the riverside pathway again, which was much busier than this morning, but avoided the Q to the traffic lights.
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| Almost back! (photo by Angela) |
Home at 4.20. A fabulous day out. Thanks to all who joined me.
Today's route via Stonor to Turville Heath, Chritmas Common and Stokenchurch. Everything from Stokenchurch to Turville was inside the massive Getty Estate.
