Loaded the Fuji on the car and drove over to Lawrie’s. Having loaded Lawrie’s bike we headed of to Sherfield on Loddon to reconnoitre a route for a car assisted ride in North Hampshire.
Arriving in the free car park in Sherfield we unloaded the bikes and headed off towards Bramley. On the edge of the village after crossing Bow Brook and negotiating some roadworks we turned onto Mill Lane then Great Dover Street and Trowe’s Lane Past the back of the Statfield Saye Park to Park Lane.Park Lane, part of which is an unmetalled byway, is on the line of a Roman road from London to Calleva Atrebatum known as the Devil’s Highway. At the end of Park Lane a left turn took us down Clappers Farm Lane crossing Silchester Brook at a ford and on to Bramley Road and Church Lane. Ascending Church Lane the first glimpses of the Roman Town walls can be seen on the left. Progressing on we passed the church of St Mary the Virgin built just within the walls of the former Roman town. Continuing on into Wall Lane the remains of an amphitheatre, added about AD 70-80 and situated outside the city walls, may be seen on the right and the wall are visible on the left. We continued on along Wall Lane turning into Little London Road to find the Calleva Arms PH and a coffee break.
After coffee I set off down the road and about a mile later I realised that we were on the wrong road so we pedalled our way back up past the pub and headed back to Wall Lane and up through West End. We continued on past gravel workings and forestry to descend Ufton Lane down to the Kennet Valley and the Kennet and Avon Canal.
We headed along the canal along a good towpath towards Aldermaston and on to Midgham. Between Aldermaston and Midgham the navigation changes from canal to river and the course is winding and the towpath a little less smooth. Arriving at Midgham we retired to The Rowbarge PH for lunch.
After lunch we South along Station Road to Back Lane, through Brimptom Common and Baughurst to Pamber End where we found and sampled The Little Roses Tea Room at Elm Park Garden Centre on the main road.
After tea we returned to Sherfield and the car via Bramley and with the bikes loaded we made our way home. An excellent day and I think others would enjoy this
ride.