A Monday ride. Dave not free today. The 4 of us drove to the Cotswold to Burford, to do a ride John had done a couple of years ago, whilst I was in Suffolk. With just a couple of tweaks. What to wear? Cool, windy, but forecast above 10 degrees. But the wind was gusting at over 30mph!!
Route link (screenshot at end)
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| Burford Car Park, with views to the church. |
We left the pretty town of Burford, crossing over the main street (which is on a steep hill!). But by doglegging over it, we staying fairly flat for the first bit or ride, which soon followed the path of the Windrush River.
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| Views as we leave Burford, with our first glimpse of the Windrush River. |
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| A right turn here in Little Barrington. |
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| Little Barrington. |
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| Windrush Church |
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| Windrush |
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| Shortly before arriving in Sherbourne. Why are the cows sitting down!!! A worrying sign. |
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| Looking back on our route into Sherbourne. |
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| 5 miles in, and time for a teastop. At Sherbourne village shop. |
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| Got chatting with these fellow riders once we sat down. |
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| A local delicacy. Sherbourne cake. A bit like Bread and Butter pudding made with Croissants. |
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| What a loveley tea stop. Shame it wasn't a bit warmer. |
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| Chatting with this lady and her Poodle and Bedlington dog. |
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| Centaurea Montana in flower at the village shop. |
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| Just leaving Sherbourne, this little waterfall. No longer the Windrush but the Sherbourne Brook. |
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| Lots of blossom on our route today. This was just before our ONLY catagorised climb today (14%) Although we had a few more similar, but not catagorised. |
It was quite a tough hill as we climbed to Farmington, and we passed the 3 men we had chatted to at the shop who left at least 15 mins before us. 😅
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| photo by John who was first up, and I passed before he got his phone ready. Linda next, Daphne walking, and the 3 men walking behind. |
John was riding his road bike today, and said he didnt find it difficult at all. He cerainly shot passed us no problem on the hills. (Note to self.... do I need another bike? 😉)
Farmington was another pretty village, with a lot of work going on at a big house opposite the church. I
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| Farmington Church |
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| A little further in Farmington. |
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| We soon crossed straight over the A40, and continued in to Northleach. |
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| Northleach Church, which we then went to investigate. |
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| 12.25 at the church |
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| Linda had waited outside, chatting to this lady, with mad hair! |
We left Northleach on "All Alone Road", which was a triangle to cross the A429, and then cross it again towards Calcot. The wind here was really blowing!!! The wall alongside All Alone was only about 1mtre high and a strong cross wind.
The next few miles were very pretty with huge rape crop fields,all fairly flat following the River Coln.
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| Rape crop as far as the eye could see. |
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| And they're off. |
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| Left here to loop around the village. Forgot to stop at the church! This Parish is one of only 6 in the country whose men who went to war, all returned home. A "Grateful Parish" as advised by the man at the teashop. |
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| An elderly lady (on the left) was pruning whilst hanging on to her walking stick!! This is the River Coln. |
We soon arrived into Bibury, passing the trout fisherie son our left, and a busy place, with Japanese tourists.
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| Lunch stop in Bibury. |
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| Bibury on the river Coln. |
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| Fishcakes for Daphne, and Trout 3 ways for me and John. |
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| Hot soup for Linda who was feeling chilly. |
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| Bibury. |
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| Bibury |
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| A steep climb out of Bibury, with views looking back. |
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| Climbing out of Bibury. Photo by John. |
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| Catching them up after I stopped for a photo. Photo by John. |
We rode on the Salt Way to bring us into Coln St Andwyns, where these cattle with calves were in the village.
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| Coln St Andwyns |
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| Coln St Andwyns. Buttercups in abundance. |
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| Coln St Andwyns |
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| Coln St Andwyns |
Next, we passed through Hatherop, and onto Eastleach.
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| Interesting building in Eastleach. Almshouses? |
The next few miles were fairly easy going and one final stop for a group selfie next to the church in Westwell.
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| Team selfie thanks to a gate in Westwell. |
We finished on a nice downhill into Burford arriving in the main street, and found a nice tearoom for a cuppa.
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| Other were jealous of my Victoria Sponge. It was very moist. |
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| Sorry! Not in focus. |
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| Burford |
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| Burford |
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| Burford |
A great day out, apart from a pesky wind. Linda got a new Garmin award for highest climbs. 😊 We got back to Wokingham just before 6pm.
