Waltham St Lawrence to Cookham 25 miles

on

Daphne is on holiday (still).  Linda had ridden 3ccc yesterday, so I offered a gentle ride to Cookham, but not starting from home. Linda rode to our house, and with John we drove to park next to the The Bell in WSL. (This would knock off at least 10 miles, from an otherwise round trip from home, and get the boring repetitive bit out of the way). 

Route (photo of map at end of blog)

WSL start

Too tempting! 

We used the lane around the back of The Old Bell, passing Shottesbrooke House, and continued on the main road all the way to White Waltham, turning right in to the farm tracks of Heywood Farm Barns. Once through, we turned right  on Woodlands Park Road, and just short of the roundabout, turned into a  cycle track onto Ockwells Road. Oooh this is exciting announced John, who had not been here before. Nor had Linda. Its a useful narrow quiet road with barely any cars, and leads to a pedestrian bridge over the A404.
I got off to walk, but John held back to ride over. Linda ahead. Once on the flat section, we
all rode the second part downhill into Kimbers Lane, another very quiet lane. 

At the T Junction on Kimbers Lane, all downhill on Harvest Hill Road with a left turn into Walker Road to reach A308, Braywick Road. (A left turn here means a safe crossing at traffic lights into Braywick Leisure Centre. ) I got a bit lost once across and ended up weaving through the cemetry but soon we rejoined the pathway of the National cycle route through Braywick.

Braywick cycle path.

We followed the cyclepath as far as the Desborugh Bowling Club then left to folllow the river into Maidenhead.
Another bridge over The Strand River, through Maidenhead

A very short section of road to cross the A4 roundabout and we continued on riverside pathway once more. 

Some dog walkers and runner got in our way here, so walked to cross the road. 

No hill here as we rode on the Cookham  Greenway from Maidenhead

Crop fields not particularly inspiring this year, but still a pleasant off road ride. 

Jackets still on! A cool morning, and the sun never did come out.

Delicious treats at Flat Harrys Cafe.

After coffee stop, we rode on the cyclepath alongside the Switchback Road, before turning right to join Malders Lane. (Runs parallel to long lane, but traffic free.... with potholes)

Malders Lane, heading to Winter Hill Road

Malders Lane

Malders Lane

Malders Lane, where after a gradual climb it now heads downhill to join Winterhill Road

Next on Golden Ball Lane to connect to Lee Lane, and right into Dungrove Hill Lane. No sign of the wind sock today, but we did stop to chat to a dog walker who appeared from a woodland path. He said normally there are model aircraft flying every day, but I have yet to see any! (3rd time Ive used this lane in both directions).

The wind sock usually flies in this field. 

After a long downhill, we turn right here to take us under the A404 underpass.

A good pathway alongside the A404 behind the hedge and a drop down into Temple, through the dark tunnel and eventually to Hurley lanes.

Almost in Hurley, with a horrible surface to bump across. 

The Old Vicarage as we arrive in Hurley. Interesting architecture. 

Our usual route now to Crazies Hill via Rose Lane, and since the van was parked in WSL, we opted to drop down to Warren Row, to cross the  A4 at Knowl Hill. Rather then turn left to cross the A4 into Bottle Lane, we used the Knowl Hill Bridal Path instead. I'd only ever done this in the opposite direction and couldn' t quite connect to where it was, but John led. 

Into this narrow path of the KHBCircuit, on the left bend where normally
I would turn right to ride to WSL.

It soon opens up to good wide path, and  of course emerges on Bottle Lane, near the continuation of the KHBC. John decided to ride home, and Linda and I returned to the van. Nice route, and very different to yesterday's 2400 feet of climbing in West Berkshire!