The Chase to Combe Gibbet & Inkpen

A little bit of variation to a route with many familiar lanes, so as to pass the cafe at Malverleys , nr East Woodhay. Only problem is its only 5 miles from the start.😅

We have only been aware of Malveleys recently, since the owner of the Vicarage Garden at Inkpen told us about the garden there. (needs to be booked on specific NGS open days). We also met up with friends for lunch there in the summer, and it is a lovely cafe/restaurant.

Route link screeshot at end.

It was only 6degrees when we set off from The Chase carpark, dressed for winter, but with sunshine forecast, we fully expected to be removing a layer and changing gloves before long. But the sun never did make an appearance, so the photos today are gloom, gloom, gloom.

As we left Wooton Hill, we normally turn left, but today a right turn, and soon left into Fullers Lane. This is why we had never known about Malverlys, since we have never ridden on this particular lane before.

Fuller Lane, nr East Woodhay. We suspect Malverleys House ahead.

A closer look

These trees are what first caught our attention. They will be stunning
when they mature.

Fuller Lane,waiting for me.

Fullers Lane comes to a junction called E End, and the cafe of Malverys is opposite the big house entrance.

Malverleys cafe

We weren't very hungry yet, so shared a small
very tasty almond sponge.

There was a noise in the background, and John went off to investigate the source....it was a Thermomix machine in the open kitchen!

Malverleys sheeps

We would return to this junction on our way back too.
It s a bit confusing!

We soon joined a road, Hollington Lane, which we are familiar with .... a steep climb up to Ashmansworth. Gradual at first, then after this gate view, peaks at about 12%.

Views to Highclere, part way up the hill to Ashmansworth

A closer look, but out of focus beyond the fence!

We took a right fork in the centre of Ashmansworth village, signposted to Faccombe. oh, oh. Thats on a hill, but first we went downhill.

Between Ashmansworth and Faccombe. A few signs of autumnal
colours, but the light is so flat.

The deer at Faccombe.

Just as we arrived, the Stag bellowed, and started chasing the herd around, so I missed the chance to photograph the white deer close up.

Having slogged up the hill to Faccombe, my battery power had lost it's first lot of power and gone to green already. Eeek! That's not good. We passed the Jack Russell pub, then braked hard all the way downhill to Nethereton. It's seriously steep and my brakes didn't fill me with confidence today having almost run into John when he braked hard for a car earlier.

The pretty, flattish valley road between Netherton
and Combe, before a long, steep climb to Combe Gibbet.

Made it. Such a shame about the flat light.

At the signpost , we turned right, where the climb continuesa little more, before a steep descent, and a right turn at a X Roads. I couldnt think what I would recognise after this point, so photogaphed this house which I have photographed before, (but not necessarily dropping from Coombe Gibbet). I did know that it means Inkpen is not far away. 😇😂

The house on our left, just before we turn right and a
little climb in to Inkpen.

Our right turn, and climb, is just around this bend.

At the Honesty Cafe, just one girl serving, so a bit slow today. We shared a sausage roll a shared Earl Grey Tea cake. There had been some clutter on one of the tables, including some boxes of mince pies. Very intriguing. A man came to remove it all whilst we were there. As we left, another man sitting outside with the same boxes. We got chatting

Long story short, they are making a Christmas film, for the Honesty Website and social media. They have been here for 3 days and won't finish until 10 tonight, and it's a one minute film! Our conversation developed about us cycling to several of the Honesty group cafes, and the film director Cameron Place, suddenly asked if I could give him my details? Why? I had sparked off a new idea for a film next year of cyclists heading to the Honesty cafes. 😅 Watch this space. He is also going to look up my youtube channel for my documentary about the canal film I made.

From the cafe, we normally head towards the village pond and down to St Michael Church (blue dotted line). But John planned in a different loop today, so I was a bit lost until we joined our normal route.

Different route around Inkpen.
(that left fork is Post Office Road)

So now we rode on Inkpen Road. The Garmin route was continuing straight on, but realising it was wrong, John said he had mean to take a right turn into Inglewood Road, so we did that. I thought that name was familiar... then as we passed a stud farm, I got it. This is the road with the metal arch over the road, as we pass a very posh Retirement Village, eventually emerging at High Street, Kintbury..

Through Kintbury, staying high, we climb a bit more to join Irish Hill Road which we have ridden many times. Continuing on several quiet lanes, many with tree tunnels, we join Holtwood Road, and pass East Woodhay church.