I want to do a day ride, next month, around the Chilterns, taking in some of the best bits. Has anyone got any suggestions for routes around 40 miles or so, please?
I was thinking of starting close to Ivinghoe Beacon - is this a good place to start from?
http://www.bucksmtb.co.uk/trailguides.htm
some good stuff there
only word of warning is that the chilterns is still bone dry and super fast - its not like that when it gets soggy.
Not many bridleways from Ivinghoe Beacon itself, best Chilterns stuff is between Reading & Wendover IMO
For south of the M40 that page has some good inspiration but I dont think any of the routes link up the best bit.
I could work out a route including the best bits south of the M40 but sounds like your interested in the north.
I've done a couple of routes out of the v-graphics book this summer (as I don't know my way around) & found them to be pretty decent.
Very nice area to ride (from Watlington), but reckon it could be a slippy nightmare when that chalk gets wet.
[url=] http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/ [/url]
Could try the above. Singletracksurfer off here runs it. He had a good 100k loop/event in July presumably using his published guides
What Dickyboy said about best bits but i'm biased living in Reading and know the southern bits best. I think a few mags have published routes. Lots of bridleways etc in the general area=some huge possible loops (when its dry)
From rough guide you can download the GPX files for £1.99 which is good.
Ive done this the only problem is as its official they have to stick to the bridleways.
To be fair alot of the best decents in the (south) chilterns are on bridleways ie hanger wood.
But there is some good stuff on footpaths and your unlikely to meet ramblers and it to be a problem in my opinion. (or even meet them at all is the weather is average)
I would start at Watlington there are some awesome 40-60 mile routes around there, one we call the jalopy. I can probably get Pedalhead to e-mail you some fancy GPS/sat nav type data if you want/need it. If interested drop me an e-mail (addy in profile). Oh and it's all bridleway and legal.
I was thinking of starting close to Ivinghoe Beacon - is this a good place to start from?
I often start from Great Marsworth resovoir - along the canal to Tring station and the up to Ivanhoe using a mix of bway and cheekiness.
Back along Ashridge then towards Wendover and then to Great Kimble/Princes Risborough. and back to Marsworth usually using canal from Wendover. if you do it when it's quiet and are a friendly soul then most walkers are ok when they see you.There's loads of variations in routes available - I've been shown bits but everytime I ride solo I find new bits i.e. Grimms dyke s/e of wendover 😉 - get the O.s. map out.
Do it sooner rather than later, the trails are in best-ever Autumn condition at the moment.. Loads of good stuff from Ivinghoe / Ashridge, head out towards Wendover via Tring park, on to Princes Risborough and Chinnor and back, that'd make a good / longer day loop. There was a good base for a ride in the June or July ST mag.
Thanks for everyone's input!
Coincidence, i popped over to Watlington and did this loop yesterday, brilliant ride. Was our first time in the Chilterns and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Here is the route........
Take bigblokes suggestion above and link it with the roughrideguide routes out of Wallingford & Woodcote and you'll have cracking day out (provided it stays dry . . . .)
If you are in the north, there are plenty of trails for a 40 mile loop from the Beacon as Senor J says (evening J), and there are cafe's on Ashridge and in Wendover Woods.
When you know your day, eip.
what mtb (out this week) has 3 great routes for the chilterns - I know 'cos I did them 😉
also mbuk also has a great route that can be started right by the M40