Winchcombe Touring Ride 3rd June 2007

What a superb day we had.

Nine of us set off from the car park at Winchcombe with Kevin Payton having ridden the 47 miles from Kingswinford!  Within 1.1/2 miles we were climbing out of Winchcombe up Belas Knapp.  Here we left our bikes to walk 1/4 hour to see the ancient burial mound built 2,500 BC where, following excavations 38 human skeletons had been discovered.

The weather was idyllic as we rode on through Brockhampton, Compton Abdale towards Chedworth Roman Villa on roller-coaster roads that needed wide ratio gears, often demanding bottom gear for the inclines and a sleek riding position to take advantage of the superb descents.  Lunch beckoned at Northleach so we left visiting the Roman Villa for another occasion and pedalled on through picturesque Yanworth to The Wheathseaf Inn at Northleach where we enjoyed good food and fine Hook Norton ales in their beer garden. 

At this point Charlie Newman joined us, having taken the train to Cheltenham and riding to meet us at the lunch stop.

Soon we were climbing again, this time through Farmington with its unusual bandstand/market shelter by a huge oak tree.  The ensuing descent took us to Bourton-on-the-water, which we rode straight through and, after a short section on a busy main road, turned off onto quieter lanes to Lower Slaughter.  An ice-cream stop took place near the old water mill before another climb out of Upper Slaughter and on to Naunton where we crossed the bridge over the young River Windrush.  The roller-coaster terrain continued with a climb and a descent to Guiting Power where liquid refreshments were taken at the inviting 'Hollow Bottom' pub. 

The consensus of the group was to cut the route short as we were behind schedule so we rode along a lane that deteriorated into a track through the delightful Guiting Woods - which turned out to be on part of the Audax route for an autumn event.  One more hill and then a final descent into Winchcombe down Sudely Hill and we had covered approximately 37 miles.

Maggie Thompson