My furthest ride to date! 29.5 miles. (was tempted to go round the block and make it 30)
A new route today, a recce for a future official Breeze ride. Carole had done part of this ride recently and thankfully remembered the way as we disappear off road a few times.
Route here (takes a few seconds to open)
Carole and Chris drove to Dinton Pastures where I met them, and initially we took a familiar route through the Hurst Lanes, which are always lovely, bringing us out on Broadcommon Road, on the Straight Mile. Then up the other Straight Mile to Shurlock Row where were stopped for a few minutes at the lovely pond.
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| Chris beside the pond in Shurlock Row |
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| Carole making notes for her risk assessment form |
Next we took off down the road to the right of the above picture, (Hungerford Lane), following it for a mile or so and turning into Smewins Road, where this beautiful Smewins Barn is. It has a rather unusual weather vein which gave us a laugh!
We continued, branching right into Kiln Lane, where according to the next signpost we were mid way between Twyford and Maidenhead. (10 mile point on map). We turned right for a short stretch, passing The Beehive Pub, and then turned left into Butchers Lane.
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| This lovely house, a gatehouse at the edge of the Shottersbrooke Estate |
Next we continued over the railway bridge into Bottle Lane, where we took off along this Lane with wide open vistas, which is part of Knowl Hill Bridal circuit, and took us to Littlewick Green.
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| Little Wick Green where The Cricketers Pub is. |
Passing Littlewick Green, Village Green on our left, we came out at the A4. We crossed straight over once more into Green Lane. Soon we disappeared once more onto a track through some woods, before reappearing on Burchetts Green Road. Just beyond the 14 mile point, we took Henley Road into Stubbings, then right also on Henley Road to Stubbings Nursery for our coffee stop.
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| The nursery with Stubbing House in the background. No where to get a clearer view of the house. |
Refreshed, we crossed through a woodland path called The Thicket, which brought us out on the A4 once more opposite The Shire Horse Pub. Straight over, into a lovely quite lane called Cherry Garden Lane, continuing into Breadcroft Lane. Just before the 17 mile point, we appeared near White Waltham Airport. We stayed on this road for 3 miles, passing The Beehive pub once more, and took a short detour to Waltham St Lawrence since neither of my riding buddies has seen The Old Bell pub and lovely church before.
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| The lovely lynch gate |
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| Me and Chris |
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| Love the shadows from the ancient Yew Tree in the church yard. |
We returned via Shurlock Road into Shurlock Row, to the pond where we had stopped earlier, continuing to Dinton Pastures via Church Road Hurst and into Dinton at the Sandford Lane entrance.
Just before the next photo was taken, I braked hard to avoid Chris who had stopped in front of me and fell off ! Felt a bit foolish , but no damage done, or at least I thought not until I got home and realised I have a hole in my trousers and bloody knee.
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| Dinton Pastures Lake |
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| Swans at Dinton Lake |
An excellent ride on mostly very quiet lanes. I am sure it will repeated again soon. Thanks to Carole for organising todays ride.
