Beyond the Ridgeway
by Malcolm Lomas
After a very enjoyable Autumn Meet at the Ridgeway Hostel, a few of us decided to stay on. Sunday evening we moved on to the Youth Hostel at Streatley to explore the Thames Valley.
Monday morning we crossed the Thames in to Goring, visited the Tourist Information Centre then picked up the Thames Path. Keeping close to the river, a final very steep climb took us above Coombe Park, crossing the Thames on the toll bridge and in to Pangbourne to a very friendly cafe.
Back over the river, quiet lanes took us in to Mapledurham where we turned north away from the river. Excellent map reading by John and Eddie took us through beech woods on bridleways and quiet lanes to Stoke Row. The village shop provided us with a hot drink and we ate our sandwiches in the park by the Maharajah’s Well. Following the cycle route for a short distance, more bridleways through more woodland and than across farmland back in to Goring and the Youth Hostel at Streatley.
Next morning up early for a short drive to the Youth Hostel at Jordans for another day of exploring. The hostel, a single storey wooden building is on a wooded hillside, which makes for a lovely setting. Back to the A40 a steep bridleway leaves the roadside and climbs steeply uphill, lifting our bikes over fallen trees before levelling out it becomes a mossy track passing by Stampwell Farm.
A minor road takes us back to the A40 where we cross over and enter Bulstrode Park with its magnificent Mansion House. We lift our bikes over a locked gate and follow a green track downhill. A minor road south of Gerrards Cross takes us over the M40 via Hedgerley and then by of all places, Egypt, to lunch at the Visitor Centre at Burnham Beeches. Quiet tracks take us out of the woods and more lanes to Dipple Wood. High locked iron gates bar our way so more quiet lanes take us back over the M40 and into bustling Beaconsfield. At a busy junction we stop off at a Costa Coffee pavement cafe and watch the world go by in their expensive motor cars. Riding out of town we find more quiet leafy lanes which take us back to Jordans Youth Hostel.
That evening we go to Seer Green for a very reasonably priced meal in the local pub. Back at the hostel we sit outside in the moonlight and over a beer or two reflect on a great few days riding. Tomorrow it’s back up the motorway and home. OS map sheet 175 (Reading and Windsor). Observe the amount of woodland and bridleways that there is available and I am sure we will be back down here in the future to do some more exploring.
Malcolm Lomas
(Cleckheaton, Yorkshire)