Alec, Andy, and I arrived at the car park in Sherfield on Loddon the sun was in the sky and it was almost full of fellow loiterers.
Having unloaded and readied the bikes sixteen riders set off along Bramley Road to the edge of the village where we crossed Bow Brook and turned into Mill Lane, a quiet single track lane. Further on we turned into Great Dover Street which traversed rolling farmlands, part of the Stratfield Saye Estate,home to the Dukes of Wellington since 1817.
Turning into Park Lane we found ourselves on the Devil’s Highway, the roman road from London to Calleva Atrebatum (Roman Silchester), part of which is an unmetalled byway. At the end of Park Lane we turned south along Clapper’s Farm Lane crossing ford by Clapper’s Farm, well some did and some took the footbridge. We continued along to the end of Clapper’s Farm Lane where the route took us along Bramley Road ( there are a few Bramley Roads in these parts) to Church Lane. Ascending Church Lane we glimpsed the first views of the walls of Calleva Atrebatum through the hedgerow and we stopped at a convenient spot to admire them and take photos. Moving on we passed the Church of St Mary the Virgin before stopping to investigate the amphitheatre located outside the town walls. Onward towards elevenses we proceeded west alongside the walls along the appropriately name Wall Lane to modern Silchester and the Calleva Arms.
After refreshments and a little indecision by the leader we headed up Pamber Road and Soke Lane skirting the edge of the Atomic Weapons Establishment and onto Raghill, the lane leading to Padworth. Turning into Padworth Lane it was all downhill into the Kennet Valley where we joined the Kennet Navigation.
We timed our arrival at the canal just as the swing bridge was being closed to allow traffic across. There are a number of swing or lifting bridges on this navigation. We followed the towpath, which has a good surface, to Aldermaston arriving just as the bridge was about to open to traffic but as this is an A road it took a while before everyone was across. We continued on past Aldermarston Lock with the towpath crossing sides at Frouds Lane with the surface becoming stoney and the course less straight as the cut enters the river. The towpath changed sides one more time over a fine bridge with well grade ramps and a short ride brought us to a road and The Rowbarge, our designated lunch stop where found Jim waiting for us having missed us at Sherfield.
After lunch we cycled south across the Kennet flood plain onto Back Lane and the climb out of the valley to Brimpton Common. We carried on along Inhurst and Violet Lanes around Baughurst. Turning into Church Lane, passing St Stephen’s Church, we carried on down to the village of Charter Alley. Pamber Road led us down to Pamber End where a short stretch of busy road took us to tea at The Little Roses Tea Room for more sustenance. The tea rooms are located at Elm Park Garden Centre and next door is Dolly Daydreams a fascinating emporium stuffed to the gunnels with anything to do with dolls and their houses as well as bears.
We left Pamber End back down the busy A road turning into Bramley Road (another one) and on through Bramley, stopping at the level crossing while a long goods train went by, to Sherfield and our cars. Bikes loaded and farewells said we made our ways home.