I fancied a change from our local Friday loops today, so I took 4 in our van, and Jeanette took Louise and their 2 bikes, on her rack. Gill was in Liverpool in the pretense of watching the golf... but no doubt the idea of a nice hotel for a couple of nights was enough of a pull for her. 😉
We parked at Riseley Village Hall. The route is a combination of bits of other rides, and one I had done a couple of years ago, so just converted it to a route. I realised in the early hours, that I hadn't included riding past our tea stop at Silchester Pop up cafe! Disaster!! 😂 Last time I did it, it was lockdown time, and no cafes open.
Route link photo of map at end of blog.
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| Jeanette's car still covered in decals for the recent road trip which Martin did, supporting a friend who rode to Edinburgh and back. Looks like Jeanette is a pro! |
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| Beech Hill views. |
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| Martina removing her Jacket. Lynne already in vest top. |
We turned into Cross Lane, at the junction with Beech Hill Church, and then apart from one dogleg across into Goodboys Lane, carried straight on until the busier Goring Lane in Grazley. We took the next left into New Road, basically going around Wokefield Park, rather than through it today. New Road eventually changes name to Mortimer Lane. We took a right turn into Nightingale Lane to climb to Mortimer Common, avoiding the main road climb.
At the V shaped junction in Mortimer, a left turn into West End Road, and soon a big whizz downhill, followed by the inevitable uphill, before a repeat soon after, as we dropped down Church Road, passing the Red Lion Pub, and climbing up to Wall Lane, Silchester. (a cheeky little climb). This is where normally at the top, I would turn left, to skirt the old Silchester site... missing the coffee shop! SO, straight on instead, then at the next V shaped junction, left into Little London Road, where we soon arrive with the Silchester sign and Village Hall on our left.
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| We are here. Left into the car park to the village hall Pop up Cafe. |
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| Opposite the Village Hall is the cricket pavillion, which used to house the cafe until fire damage, |
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| A great selection of cakes. I chose Pistacho, Rose Petal and Cardamon Cake. Martina kindly bought my cake today as a thank you for driving. Thank you. 😋 |
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| It was quite busy, with more tables behind us too. Only open Wed and Fridays. |
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| The adjoining allotments. |
We left continuing on the road which we arrived on, but immediately turned at another V shape junction into Holly Lane, which, on the first bend joins the Bramley Road. It's all downhill gradually from here. 😊 My knowledge of this area is a still a bit sketchy, but we turned left into Ash Lane, and passed the farm on our left, (where the highland cattle used to be) and with Frog Lane on our right, I knew that the pretty pink thatch cottage was going to be on our right. YES! 😂
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| I stopped on Ash Lane to photograph this house as an aid memoir. |
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| The window style is quite distinctive of a few houses around Bramley. A little online research. This is called BRAMLEY CORNER HOUSE A GRADE II LISTED BUILDING, BUILT 1870s |
A left onto Silchester Road next, following all the way into Bramley, passing Vyne Road on our right. We bypass the main Bramley town by skirting the east of the town to climb over the railbridge. To Fairoak 5 Ways x roads next (Active Tots), and a sharp right into Mill Lane, continuing straight for a long stretch on Great Dover Street. A lovely quiet flat lane!
A dash across the busy A33, and now a climb to pass Daneshill School. Well, it WAS Daneshill School, but now a sign for Wellesley Prep School, suggests a name change. (Duke of Wellington was Arthur Wellesley). Google maps now also changed the name, so it MUST be right!😂
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| Just passing Daneshill school, some seasonal haybales ( not the most photogenic) |
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| A bit more photogenic. But compositionally not great. |
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| Waiting for the photographer at Daneshill |
Keeping left, we finally emerge opposite the New Inn, Heckfield, where we dog leg into Laundry Lane. John has been here a few days ago, and complained about the amount of nettles along the roadside. I pre warned everyone, but there were none. They had been strimmed. 😂
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| Top of Laundry Lane. Here they come. |
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| He wants to reverse back into this driveway, and we just want to squeeze past. |
Nearly back, and just Part Lane to get us back to the start. A good speed today ladies. AVG 11.4 on my Garmin. We climbed just over 1000 feet, even it felt more at times. A few cheeky climbs, but some nice downhills too.
Schools break up today, so the next few weeks will be a bit hit and miss for Friday rides. Enjoy the summer with your families. There will no doubt be a few of us free over the coming weeks, so hope we have lots more summer outings.... to pastures new?
