Riding near Stratford-upon-Avon?

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Riding near Stratford-upon-Avon?

18 posts & 8 voices | Started 1 year ago by nbt | Latest reply from nbt

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nbt - Member

We're down in the bard's country for a wedding in a couple of weeks (the venue is in Ettington, actually) and are considering putting the bikes in the car to grab a ride on the way home on Sunday (4th july). Any decent riding to be had, or better still offers of guiding? We're from the peaks so used to rocks and hills whatnot, quite fancy trying some woodsy singletrack as there was plenty of that when I managed to grab a night ride round Oxford earlier this year. Nothing too fast, we're more pootlers than racers

Cheers in advance

Posted 1 year ago #
rOcKeTdOg - Member

not really there's cannock on the way home

ettington park wedding?

Posted 1 year ago #
nbt - Member

Wedding's in Brum, reception @ Ettington. Not ridden Cannock, so it's an option. Happy to go a little way off route - Sheldon said his neck of the woods is reasonably close, so that's another option

Posted 1 year ago #
rOcKeTdOg - Member

Cotswolds is the opposite direction though, but worth it (unless this rain keeps up)

ettington park is a stunning building and setting

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveGr - Member

Any decent riding to be had ..... We're from the peaks so used to rocks and hills what not, quite fancy trying some woodsy singletrack

Just picking myself up off the floor after falling off my chair laughing .... at least I didn't spill my wine.

Sheldon's "play area" / The Cotswolds can be fun in the dry if you know where to go - did 41 miles and 1800m of climbing at the weekend but the Peaks it is not.

RD - might not be "Ettington Park" which is in fact outside Newbold on Stour but could be "Ettington Chase" which is outside Ettington.

Ettington Park has a bridleway running behind it and you could have a quick blast in between courses - plenty of deer to see as well.

Posted 1 year ago #
rOcKeTdOg - Member

this is the one i meant

chase doesn't really compare

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveGr - Member

True, not been to Ettington Park for years as I'm not posh enough - saw some bands there in my youth and did get up on the roof once but that was a long time ago......

Posted 1 year ago #
fell - Member

If your heading back up north from there, then Cannock has a lot to offer, a great 15mile single track loop, even the climbs are fun

Park at Birches Valley for tea and ice creams.

Posted 1 year ago #
mikertroid - Member

I used to enjoy oversley wood near alcester years back; might be worth a look....

Posted 1 year ago #
nbt - Member

I'm not bothered about riding from the venue - was more looking for a suggestion of somewhere to call in on the way home. If Cannock is the only suggestion that is sensible, then so be it...

Posted 1 year ago #
rOcKeTdOg - Member

i'd measure your bar width before tackling cannock though

seriously if you are used to the peaks you are going to be very disappointed, if howver you are bored of long descents and gnarly trails and fancy the tranquillity and relaxing nature of pootling along canals, across flat fields and the occasional bit of singletrack that lasts....oh i dunno...20 seconds? with lots of back lanes in between them then yes there is lots of scope!

Posted 1 year ago #
bobbyspangles - Member

chuck it around welcombe hills in stratford, there are some cheeky trails in there, or edgehill is quite woodsy and techy.

Posted 1 year ago #
crash_gav - Member

Cannock chase is ok, especially after a night out beforehand. I was round it on Sunday for the first time and the red run is definitely ok although busy. You could easily spend a couple of hours blowing away the cobwebs but as said beforehand it is not really challenging therefore big bikes are a bit wasted. I had a rented shot fork HT which was more than capable for the terrain. Enjoy your party

Posted 1 year ago #
nbt - Member

If it's cannock, it'll be inbred for Mrs NBT and SS for me

Posted 1 year ago #
rig - Member

One of my favourite rides starts near Stratford.

Ilmington - over Ilmington Downs to Chipping Campden - Cotswold Way to Dovers Hill - along hill & down to Mickleton - up past Kiftsgate Court & Hidcote - over Downs & back down to Ilmington.

Not quite the Peaks, but x3 climbs up the Cotswold escarpment certainly gets my pipes fully open! The views from Dovers Hill can be stunning.

Posted 1 year ago #
nbt - Member

rig, sounds interesting, it's even pretty close to the venue. Got a route map please?

Posted 1 year ago #
rig - Member

Hi nbt - I'm afraid that I'm a bit challenged by maps but have tried my best at http://veloroutes.org/s/53321

Find Red Lion pub , Front Street, in Ilmington.
From pub, climb hill, up Front Street, turning L up steep Foxcote Hill. Take 2nd bridleway on R, passing Foxcote Hall & continue on bway to Ebrington. Follow road to Chipping Campden centre. Follow Cotswold Way out of Chipping Campden NW up to Dovers Hill. From top take bridleway along escarpment & down to B4035. Turn L on to B4035 & then R on to B4081. Take 1st left tarmac road (looks private as someone has removed bway sign). Pass houses on L & go up bank into trees on R - follow bway to B4632 past farm. Turn L for Mickleton, under railway & R into village. By church, take bridleway L for Hidcote. Climb past Kiftsgate Court, across road & straight through National Trust car park for Hidcote Gardens. Follow bridlway over top of hill & all the way down, crossing Foxcote Hill road you cycled up earlier. Turn L back into Ilmington when you reach road (with no bway to continue on opposite).

Posted 1 year ago #
nbt - Member

Rig, cheers for that, will study the route and see if we're brave enough to give it a go!

Posted 1 year ago #