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
not really 🙁 there's cannock on the way home
ettington park wedding?
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
Cotswolds is the opposite direction though, but worth it (unless this rain keeps up)
ettington park is a stunning building and setting
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.
this is the one i meant
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chase doesn't really compare
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......
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.
I used to enjoy oversley wood near alcester years back; might be worth a look....
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...
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!
chuck it around welcombe hills in stratford, there are some cheeky trails in there, or edgehill is quite woodsy and techy.
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 8)
If it's cannock, it'll be inbred for Mrs NBT and SS for me 🙂
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.
[b]rig[/b], sounds interesting, it's even pretty close to the venue. Got a route map please?
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).
Rig, cheers for that, will study the route and see if we're brave enough to give it a go!