Garmin awarded me a new badge today for my biggest climb in one ride. It's a route we had done once before in September 2021. Definitely one for ebikes!
Route
We parked at The Chase, Washwater, where we have done several routes from. Today we set off in the direction of Woolton Hill. All very gradual for the first few miles, passing the Stud Farm, then soon a left fork into a narrow lane, Hollington Lane. Quite a lot of gravel on the narrow lanes today, and since so bright, we both had sunglasses on. John's first outing for his 😉. At a junction, a sharp right and we knew what was ahead.
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| Bottom of the climb as we head to Ashmansworth. |
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| Here we go. And I wont be stopping until the top since I cant get back on if I do! |
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| View at the top, as I wait for John who has stopped part way for the view. |
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In Ashmansworth I recognised this cottage. We have also approached from the opposite direction.
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| The house opposite the junction is called Flint Cottage. Roses looking lovely. |
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| So now we head to Faccombe..... which is up a steep hill whichever way you approach! |
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But first a steep downhill before this road continiues at 13% climb to Faccombe.
I used all my gears and power. 2 cyclists ahead of us did well on manual bikes. |
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| The white deer in Faccombe |
A massive dowhill now out of Faccombe dowards Netherton. My hands were actually aching with so much braking on that downhill. Its steep! But we have also come up that way before, and its a killer.
A pleasant few miles next of flat or gentle rises, and I noticed several Hawthorne were pink. John thought it was just our sunglasses, but Cow Parsley were still white, so they were actually pink. Can't say I've noticed any before. They were very pretty.
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| I asked these girls where are we? Combe. |
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| Through the Combe Valley next. |
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| Combe Valley. Not many red poppies around this year. |
Just after the poppy stop, Garmin came up with a "CLIMB" notification, which started with RED. Ok, power on max, and up we go arriving at a hairpin bend, where we had a breather.
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| The Hawthorne blossom is definitely pink. |
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At Leverton, we turned right opposite the terrace of Thatched cottages.
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| Just a little beyond our right turn, or we would miss them. |
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| Right here at this house with window sills at different angles to the bricks. |
A gentle climb on Old Heyward Lane, towards Hungerford Newtown, where we crossed straight over the A338. Our lane, called Radley Bottom towards Radley. A beautiful Valley which reminded me a bit of Yorkshire Wold valleys.
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| Pretty Valley near Radley. |
We dropped down to cross the A4 and straight over again, this time heading to Kintbury, arriving with the station on our left and over the K&A canal once more. Then a climb away from Kintbury on a familiar route, leaving via Irish Hill Road.
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| About to drop down steeply on Park Lane, nr Hamstead Marshall |
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| Same house. Nice roof tiles. |
My battery had been on Orange for some time now, so I was a bit worried about running out. But with just 3 miles left to go, it was reassuring. Our route brought us back to the Chase car park via Enborne Street, turning uphill slightly to the car park, the way we had driven in earlier.
A lovely route, but I would not want to attempt the big climbs of 13% on my normal bike. And friends wouldn't thank me for taking them this route!
