The Cycle Network; Mountain Bike event South Oxfordshire 16th July

This summer (16th July) in South Oxfordshire Rough Ride Guide will be running their first MTB event, but with a slightly different aim. Dubbed as the ‘cycle’ network the event aims to build on the fun and social side of riding. The routes will be signposted, use the best natural singletrack, and there will be a big emphasis on meeting new riders and social networking. “We want an event that enables people to ride new trails and challenge themselves, but also an event that encourages riders to stop and socialise at the end. Our aim is for people to come away having had a good ride and to have met new people to ride with in the future.” Having grown up in the Chilterns and written guidebooks for the area, Max Darkins of Rough Ride Guide has included some of his favourite trails and route options that should challenge all abilities. There will also be a few spot prizes, refreshments and hopefully a big screen showing cycling films, so for a small sign up fee of £10 we think it sounds like a great idea. See http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk for more details.

New Cycle Hire Facility at the Chilterns Gateway Centre

Cycle hire is now available at the Chilterns Gateway Centre at Dunstable Downs, weekends and bank holidays from Easter to October, from 9.30am to 5pm. Dunstable Downs cycle hire has 20 bikes in total including adults and childrens cycles, bikes with child seats and tag-alongs for youngsters. There are lots of off-road cycle routes on the doorsteps and some lovely countryside to explore. This summer the National Trust is hosting a cycle challenge at Dunstable Downs, the events are being held on June 19 and July 24 and will see a family ride of 25 miles through the countryside and 50 or 80 mile circuits for the more experienced cyclist.
Bike hire prices start at £5 for adults and £4 for children for one hour. To book email Dunstabledownscycle@hotmail.co.uk or just turn up

New camp site near Princes Risborough, ideal for walkers and cyclists

Brimmers Farm camp site located 1 mile from Princes Risborough provides a welcome new facility for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. There are very few campsites in the Chilterns, espcially in the Princes Risborough area, so this is good news for leisure visitors. Ready-pitched tents are available so walkers/cyclists don’t need to carry tents with them.

Brimmers Farm is set in spectacular countryside, it is on the Chilterns Cycleway route and a mile from the Ridgeway National Trail, with lots of walking, cycling and riding routes on the doorstep.

Facilities include boot and coat drying, safe storage for bikes, horse-stabling and paddock.

For further information visit www.brimmersfarm.co.uk or call 01844 346171 or Mob 07951 485436

My May-day ride on the Chilterns Cycleway

A cycle ride for May 1st – Barbara Wallis shares her story….

Last September I cycled part of the Chilterns Cycleway from Watlington to Henley, so I thought I would do the next bit – from Henley to West Wycombe.  However, there was a strong north easterly wind so I thought it better to go from West Wycombe to Henley.  The first problem was to get from Little Marlow to West Wycombe.  I went all the way up the Marlow Bottom valley then up Ragmans Lane (walk) to Oldhouse Farm, then across the field to the Holmers Farm underpass (under M40).  I walked most of the field path.  It was a good path, and would have been easy with a mountain bike, but I didn’t want to fall off or get a puncture near the beginning of my day.  From John Lewis I followed the signs for the cycle route to the town centre, and when this went east I just went down hill (steep) through Booker or Sands, ending on the Lane End Road near its junction with Chapel Lane.  There is a pleasant bridleway from Park Farm to the West Wycombe road including a bridge over the Wye, which was flowing well. Then I cycled along the pavement to West Wycombe. West Wycombe village was a nightmare of traffic and I had decided to stop for a coffee so tried the Kings Arms – they were not actually serving coffee, but gave me one ‘on the house’.  I must have looked hot & flustered, but I think it was left over from breakfast by the temperature! However it was welcome.  So I started my ride proper at 11.30am.

 The cycle path adjacent to the A40 turned out to be on the north side of the road & as I didn’t want to cross the road twice I braved the short distance to Bullocks Farm Lane ‘on road’.  I then found the reason for at least some of the traffic – there was a car boot sale or something similar in the field at the bottom of Bullocks Farm Lane.

It was a relief to get away from it and walk up with woods on the left & the view of the West Wycombe–Radnage valley on the right.  On I went with the wind behind me through Wheeler End then to Lane End where I stopped to photograph Black Well that Christopher repaired in 1986 (see photo).

 From Lane End to Frieth and thus to Parmoor. It was then 12.30 & I decided to press on to Luxters for lunch.  Turned right at Pheasants and cycled carefully down the steep Colstrope Lane.  No bluebells in these woods. There was no water in the Hambleden stream. A short section of mainer road then the steep up to Luxters Farm (walked). I had intended to sit in the courtyard to eat my sandwiches, so called at the shop to purchase a drink to go with them. (I chose Rose Lemonade which I thought sounded nice, but in fact was like drinking fizzy rose water). Peter Willis-Fleming, a Chiltern Society Plannning Field Officer was working in the shop.  I didn’t eat at Luxters as they were preparing for a wedding, but cycled further along into the wood & sat in the sun with my back to a tree.  Near where I stopped there was a saw pit. No bluebells though.

The ride from Luxters to Henley through Fawley was uneventful and I really enjoyed cycling along the Fairmile with the wind behind me. Henley was busy as usual on a fine summer Sunday.  I treated myself to a cream tea at the Chantry House before catching a train home via Twyford & Maidenhead.

 The total cycle ride and walk was about 17 miles, but very hilly.  It is the part of the Chilterns Cycleway that I know best, but the signing was good and I am sure if I had been new to the area I should have known where to go.

Barbara Wallis, 2nd May 2011

Cycling the Chilterns Cycleway- tell us your story!

If you have cycled some or all of the Chilterns Cycleway we are keen to hear about your trip, the route (the hills!), favourite spots along the route, the highlights and the lowlights! Do share your feedback, it could help us improve the route and help others plan their trip, especially feedback on cycle-friendly B&Bs and pubs.

Over the Easter break, Evelyn Kerrigan and 17 year old daughter Grace cycled the whole Chilterns Cycleway to raise funds for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Here is their story:

Over the Easter bank holiday weekend I set off with my daughter to cycle the whole of the Chilterns Cycleway.

The aim was to undertake a sponsored bike ride to raise money for Didcot and District Citizens Advice Bureau and given that the Cycleway was on our doorstep, what better challenge!

We planned to take 4.5 days, booked our accommodation through the Chilterns Cycleway web site and armed with our Cycleway booklet set off from Wallingford taking the anti- clockwise route .

The weather was perfect and the countryside never looked more lovely. Through bluebell woods, along country lanes decked with cow parsley, historic  market towns and villages the route took us into the beautiful and ever changing landscape of the Chilterns.

The first day we cycled through Henley spending the night in a B&B near Amersham . The section beyond Henleywas the most challenging but the views were more than compensation (and gave us the perfect excuse for stopping and admiring!).

Day 2 and we cycled past Berkhamsted, including a stretch along the Grand Union Canal. Later we joined the Sustrans route (the Nickey Line) to Harpenden ending up near Pirton.

Day 3 we looped around the north of the Cycleway. The countryside was new territory for us and we were pleasantly surprised by the rolling farmland. Cycling under the flight path at Luton airport was a stark reminder of how far we had come. Aldbury was one of the many attractive villages we came through with its duck pond and ancient stocks.

Day 4 .We took in the sights, stopping at Coombe Hill to admire the views. It was sobering to find out that the tranquil countryside we looked down on was the proposed route for the high speed rail link to Birmingham. Do we really need to get to Birmingham a few minutes faster?

Later we took a small detour to Bledlow to visit the Lyde water gardens (definitely worth the  extra mile).

Our final night was spent enjoying the hospitality at the Crown at Radnage and the next day it was all downhill back to Wallingford.

How often do we comment that we never explore our own backyard? I certainly do and we are already planning a short break  in and around one of the Gateway towns along the Ccycleway.

 P.S. If  anyone wishes to support our cause just go tohttp://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EvelynKerrigan1.

Cycling past the bluebells

One of the seasonal highlights in the Chilterns is the spectacular display of bluebells in the beechwoods. This year the recent warm weather appears to have brought the bluebells forward by a few days, and it looks as though the bluebells woods will be looking good by the Easter weekend. The Chilterns Cycleway passes by some of the best bluebell woods in the Chilterns, including the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, Wendover Woods and Naphill Common in Buckinghamshire and Cowleaze Wood and Ipsden Heath in Oxfordshire. What better excuse do you need this Easter for getting on your bike!   

Visit the bluebell woods section of the AONB website to find out more about these sites. 

Bluebells in Cowleaze Wood, Oxfordshire

The Chilterns Conservation Board is organising a number of guided cycle rides in May, taking in sections of the Chilterns Cycleway which members of the public can join. For details of these rides and other information on the Cycleway visit www.chilternsaonb.org/cycleway or ring 01844 355500.

Rangers in place

There are now 11 volunteer rangers in place for the Chilterns Cycleway. They will each be carrying out regular checks on the signage along their part of the route, making sure signs remain in place and visible to cyclists. They will also be adding new signs where any are needed. The volunteers have mostly come from The Chiltern Society, with one from the Sustainable Wallingford group. Their help as the ‘eyes and ears on the ground’ will be invaluable in ensuring that the Cycleway remains enjoyable and easy to use for everyone. If you have any comments about the Cycleway including the signage please let us know.

Calling all mountain bikers

This is advanced warning of an event taking place on Sunday 19th June aimed at all levels of off road cyclists. Called The Summit 65, it is being organised by the Summit Mountain Bike Club. It is not a race, but will offer 3 different waymarked route options: 65 miles, 40 miles and 15 miles.  The starting point is Cressex School in High Wycombe and the routes all head off into the beautiful countryside of the southern Chilterns, using quiet lanes, bridleways and byways through woodland and farmland and attractive villages like Frieth and Turville. The 15 mile route is ideal for active fun and family riders, whereas the 65 mile route is a serious challenge for experienced off-roaders only – this long route will use part of the Ridgeway National Trail. The charge for entering is £16 per person or £25 for a family. There will be plenty of support including colour OS route maps, gpx files for your GPS and marshalls.

To find out more and book a place click here

Rangers to monitor Cycleway route signage

There are no less than 650 signs along the 173 mile Chilterns Cycleway and it is no mean feat maintaining these. To help us with this task the Chilterns Conservation Board and the Chiltern Society are developing a ranger scheme to inspect and report on signage along the route. The Cycleway has been divided into 11 areas and rangers will be appointed to cycle their ‘patch’ four times a year (twice in each direction as the signage has to work both ways!). Rangers will be able to carry out basic signage maintenance and to replace sticker signs, but replacement of finger signs has to be carried out by the Highways Authorities.

If you are interested in becoming a ranger or have any comments about the signage along the route please get in touch.

Launch of three short break itineraries

“I’ve only got a weekend, which stretch of the Chilterns Cycleway do you recommend I do?”. This is one of the most common questions we get asked, and in response to this we have developed 3 short break itineraries taking in the Southern, Central and Northern sections of the Chilterns Cycleway. Each itinerary has been designed to allow 2 days cycling at a leisurely pace, with time to explore sights and attractions along the route, including those all-important pub and tea-room stops.

All three itineraries start in market towns with excellent rail links, they are easily accessible from London and the Midlands, making them an ideal ‘get out of town’ break with little travelling involved.

The short break itineraries and route maps can be found on www.chilternsaonb.org/cycleway

If you have tried any of these itineraries and would like to comment, or if you  have ideas for other short breaks we would be pleased to hear from you.