How disappointing that I decided at 8am to change our planned route today which was to be from Silchester to Hannington. I was looking forward to that one. The forecast was iffy and definitely cloudy all day, even if not actually raining. Further West from Wokingham was looking worse than locally, where I do think we would have got wet. So, that's for another day.
Instead Rose, Louise and Kim met me at Cantley, where Sue was about to set off for her Henley loop. Sue did invite me to join her, but with just 4 including me today I thought a good opportunity to try the recently taken over Hurley shop, which a friend told me now does coffee etc. (And I do the Henley loop quite regularly, unlike Sue.) Such a shame that Hurley lock cafe closed. If anyone every hears of it reopening... please spread the word.
Route link (screen shot at end)
Once over Carters Hill, we headed over the motorway into Shurlock Row, then back over the motorway to join the last section of Howe Lane. Then over the motorway for a third time, to drop down past White Waltham Church. So a few ups and downs! A gradual uphill followed as we went through White Waltham to cross the A4, and cut through a residential area to emerge at Pinkneys Green.
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| Emerging onto Pinkneys Green Road |
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| Just a few yards of "off road", to get back onto tarmac. |
Next along the quiet Lee Lane, to soon turn into a pretty messy Dungrove Hill Lane. Its a pretty steep descent down here, and on a better day great views.
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| Dungrove Hill Lane. Views very grey today! At the bottom of Dungrove Hill Lane, and just before the A404, a cheeky cut through on this lane to go UNDER the A404.  |
After half a mile or so on a track behind hedge along side this A404 we join the one way system back on tarmac, to drop down to Temple.
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Through Temple and under the very DARK tunnel to use the gravel path all the way to Hurley, emerging on Mill Lane. The shop almost opposite in the High Street. There has been a shop here for years, but it only offered tea/coffee from machine. New owners have set it up as a proper cafe within the shop. Seating in a small garden too, but seats were wet today, so we sat inside.
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| Its a lot bigger than I thought it was in here. The seating is behind the bottles on the left. About 4 tables of 4. |
Service was a little slow, which is why I think not suitable for a big group turning up here, as customers also use it as a shop. But nice drink, cake and warm quiche.
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| Shurlock Row pond. Someone let the plug out! |
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| Our final push along the Straight Mile, where the sun was trying to break through. |
