Hailey

[Folkie]

I'm planning a ride around the Chilterns to Hailey, Oxfordshire.

I don't know yet when I will be going on this ride.

Hailey is a hamlet near the village of Ipsden. Wallingford (Causton!) is about 3 miles away to the North West.

I'll be going via Milford, Farnham, and Taplins Farm Lane to Hartley Wintney, and then on to Reading, over the Thames, and into the Chilterns.



Here is the middle part of the ride, in the Chilterns, at a much larger scale. Once over the Thames, it'll be up the A4074 to Chazey Heath, then along minor roads and narrow lanes, through Woodcote to South Stoke, alongside the Thames (left edge of the map, just above the centre). Then North on the B4009 to North Stoke (top left on the map), and West along Whitehouse Road and Church Lane to Hailey (the red place marker, towards the top of the map):



I'm planning to have lunch at the King William IV pub in Hailey.

After lunch I'll go West on Well Place Road and up Berrins Hill to Ipsden Heath. After going pretty much all around Three Corner Common, I'll go West again on Garsons Lane to Ipsden, then just a ½ mile South on the A4074 before heading West (ish) again along Bottom Lane to Checkendon, then on to Splashall Bottom, and Neals Lane (partly unsurfaced) to Hinds Corner. From there it'll be back towards the Thames, along the B481 for about three miles, through Peppard Hill and Sonning Common. Then I'll branch off from the B481 on minor roads towards Sonning Eye, going through Littlestead Green (a short length of unsurfced road here).

I'll cross the Thames at Sonning Eye. I'll be riding right past George and Amal's house (I'll give 'em a wave as I ride past!), then over the Sonning bridges (three of 'em, one after the other) over the River. Then South, joining the Α327 at Arborfield Cross and down it to the A30, down Star Hill to Hartley Wintney, and back home by the same route.



About 140 miles round trip.

From Mile End Hill, looking West towards South Stoke:



The King William IV:







The view West from Garsons Farm:



On Garsons Lane; looking back (East) to Garsons Hill:





Newtown, Ipsden:





Ipsden Farm:



On Bottom Lane:

[sportsterpaul]

Nigel, I think I need to make arrangementsvto cross the pond and do some of these rides!

[sportsterdoc]

Originally Posted by sportsterpaul

Nigel, I think I need to make arrangements to cross the pond and do some of these rides!

I've had the same thoughts, but wonder how well I would do on the left side of the road. Certainly some beautiful countryside!

[Glamazon]

Hope you get better weather than Lancashire, rained every day since Tuesday. Looking forward to reading this Nigel

[DEEP DIVER]

Originally Posted by sportsterdoc

I've had the same thoughts, but wonder how well I would do on the left side of the road. Certainly some beautiful countryside!

Its easy after the first 10 mins. Best way is to ride with a UK friend.

Thing is if sportsterpaul comes we will have a hell of a job getting him out of the first pub we go in.

[sportsterpaul]

Only if they serve “Apple Pie shine”! And I have been known to ride a bit in the “other” lane,

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by sportsterdoc

I've had the same thoughts, but wonder how well I would do on the left side of the road.

Most of those lanes are so narrow, it doesn't really make much difference!

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by Glamazon

Hope you get better weather than Lancashire, rained every day since Tuesday.

Yep, it's the same down here. It's probably going to be a while before I get out again.

[ChinCactus]

Awesome ride report as always. I find myself amazed by the seasoned buildings that are still in use after hundreds of years.

Here in the states it isn't uncommon for 50 year old structures to be torn down, considered obsolete!