Bradfield (South End) to Hampstead Norreys 26 miles 1700 feet

Daphne is off frolicking on holiday (again), as is Dave. So today John, Linda and I teamed up to start our ride from Dark Lane, Bradfield. Except that access to Dark Lane from Bradfield X Roads was closed... so we continued to park in the village hall car park in Bradfield South End. Which was fine, since we would start by soon dropping into Stanford Dingley. But would of course need to END with a climb! It was only 3 degrees and we needed to warm up, so starting on a downhill was not the best. 

Route link (photo  of route at end)

Joining our planned route, we were back on course, to drop into Stanford Dingley.

I stopped on the way downhill to capture the view

We pulled in at the farm on Bucklebury Road allowing a car to pass.
There were a few more than normal today, because of the diversion no doubt. 

And the view opposite the farm on Bucklebury Lane.

We passed the Ford keeping it our left, and  continued round the bend.

After Bucklebury Ford, we took the next left into an  unnamed road, which 
continues to Marlston Hermitage village. ( I am always surprised by that as
we climb to pass the fancy school. I know I pass it if I cross the ford! 😂)

A little further passed the school, a sharp right into Wellhouse Lane. All downhill with open view to our right. 

Views as we drop down Wellhouse Lane.

At the Tjunction, we turned left, and then soon right at St Frideswide Church, to climb to Frilsham.  (An alternative route is to go straight over from Wellhouse Lane. Both involve a 10% climb.)  As we approached Frilsham nearing the top, on a bend, a lady walking her very well trained Collie sheep dog, had it lying on the ground, ears twitching as we slowly passed. 😊

Through Frilsham village then also through the lovely old Woodland, where the foliage was still very green, but is stunning when it turns autumnal here. We emerge on a downhill, to join the road over the M4, passing re renamed West Berkshire Brewery (now Renegade) and into Church Lane Yattendon. 

Left at the junction at Yattendon Church, passing The Pantry on our left. Then downhill
on Yattendon Road for long stretch, eventually coming into Hampstead Norreys. 

An old barn getting a new roof next to the village store car park in Hampstead Norreys

Warm enough now in the sun to sit outside.... with jackets on. 

John in his ballet tights and shorts today.  He is also wearing MY new cycling
glasses, which started off clear this morning and are now dark.
(must be reactolight.. I hadn't realised. They are good.)

Leaving Hampstead Norreys is always uphill,  in any direction. Today we left via Water Street after a short delay with a large lorry blocking the road. Once out of the village, a right turn into the lane with no name, passing the "Falconer" cottage. (I've yet to meet him)  John spotted a bee on my jacket and we pulled over to remove it. Linda carried on uphill. 

Linda carries on. It's a long slow burner of a cllimb, but never too steep. 

View to the left on the lane where we stopped for  the bee removal.

Then John sets off, to catch up with Linda.

One more photo, to the right of where we stopped looking back to Hampstead Norreys.
And now I need to catch them both up.

After about 1.5 miles, we emerge through a wooded area, with this house opposite.
And now a steep downhill to the B4009, for a very sharp left turn to climb back up.... into Aldeworth.

Once through Aldeworth, we cross into Reading Road, which is a very
minor road, but through a beautiful wooded area. We take the first left turn into
an unnamed road signposted for South Ridge (?)

It's an easy lane, all nice and flat, on a ridge. We can hear shooting from the Royal Berkshire Shooting School, which is somewhere hidden on our right. Then we pass this impressive property.

On the unnamed Lane near Aldeworth. 

Views opposite the house. The shooting school is in the woods somewhere. 

Knowing a steep drop is coming, I get ahead.  This lovely view, and the other two appear not far behind me. 

The lane with no name is about to get steeper. 

At the bottom, if kicks up a little and joins a strange junction. Then we peddle through a beautiful valley road (no name). Eventually we emerge at a Tjunction, at Hook End Lane, opposite these gates. (left here would soon join the A329 between Lower Basildon and Streetly) We turn right, since we are heading to Upper Basildon .... ie uphill!

It's a slog, and previously I had turned at a right fork near the end, to do 2 sides of a triangle. Not quite so steep. John poo poos that idea and we go straight on uphill. It's 11% and quite cheeky. Well done Linda! From Upper Basildon it's pretty much downhill on Gardeners Lane then under the M4 on Dark Lane... which is where we should have parked. But now instead. we need to climb and opt to do this via

Mariners Lane. I was dreading this! I've have climbed to Tutts Clump on my ebike and almost got off.

View at corner of Mariners Lane. 

The first few hundred yards is easy, crossing a narrow stretch of the River Pang, but then it ramps up. Previously, on ebikes,  we had turned right into Rotten Row to climb a ridiculously steep hill, (have also come down this way) but unbeknownst to me, we can carry straight on all the way to South End Road. Still challenging, but doable. What a relief!

Then less than half a mile and we are back to the start.  I think Linda was relieved. This ride was shorter than some we have done, but certainly had plenty of climbs, which on a cold day, was what we needed. No one removed a layer other than a snood. We finished in 10 degrees.