I drove to Stoke Poges to meet with Alan and Sandra. With the three bikes loaded onto the back of the car we headed off to Sherfield on Loddon to start a ride to Calleva Atrebatum (Roman Silchester) and the Kennet Valley. On arriving at Sherfield we unloaded the bikes and set off along Bramley Road to Mill Lane. Cycling up 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. Having had a quick nose around the amphitheatre we headed back towards the church turning onto a bridleway that leads across the centre of Calleva. Near the end of the bridleway we had hoped to take the path to the car park but were stopped by workmen preparing to carry out maintenance so had to turn back.
We headed back to Wall Lane and up through Mortimer 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 headed to The Little Roses Tea Room at Elm Park Garden Centre on the main road for tea.
After tea we had a look round Dolly Daydreams an emporium stuffed full of dolls, bears, doll houses, and lots more.
We returned to Sherfield and the car via Bramley and with the bikes loaded we made our way home.