Why I like these rides - and you might too
The circular ride from Twyford (74 km or 77 km with the optional extension to coffee in Benson) takes riders into the heart of the Chilterns; the ascent of Holloway Lane from the picturesque village of Turville is rewarded by a long, largely downhill ride to the Village Store at Ewelme for tea or coffee and cake served on china plates. It’s then less than 20 km to the Stoke Row Store and Kitchen for more refreshments or a pause to admire the Maharajah’s Well. Busgrove Lane, one of my favourites, takes riders downhill through Kidmore End (another well) and back to Twyford.
Iver - Taplow - West Drayton, a shorter ride at 54 km, offers several possibilities for shortening the distance in case of mechanicals or tired legs. It takes in the sights of Windsor and Eton before venturing into the countryside. Taplow station is at 18 km, offering an early bailout. While the route turns north at 27.5 km skirting the M40 for a short distance, you may wish to continue forward, along Pumpkin Hill to find the Lord Mayor’s Drive through Burnham Beeches (refreshments towards the end). A left turn onto the A355 followed shortly by a right turn onto Templewood Lane takes riders back to the main route which then leads to the village of Fulmer, scene of a number of films. From here Alderbourne Lane provides a largely traffic free route to Pinewood Studios and the road through Iver to West Drayton for a train back towards London. The diversion through Burnham Beeches shortens the ride to 46 km.
Maidenhead - 27 km circular ride. This is a great ride for days when you are short on time but may be suffering from “cabin fever”, that feeling that you have to get out for the sake of your physical and mental health. It’s also a great ride to take if you are less confident or want to encourage less confident cyclists to enjoy the countryside on the doorstep. With trains every 15 minutes, it’s very easy to access.
Seven Chiltern Wells - this themed ride starts at Twyford station and takes in seven wells, all easy to find and all different from each other. It’s just over 50 km with a refreshment stop in Stoke Row at just over half way.
Twyford Aston Hill Maidenhead - this ride of 84 km, starting at Twyford station, includes three recommended refreshment stops. After the first of these, at Stoke Row, it climbs to the village of Nuffield before an exhilirating descent to Ewelme for the second stop. From Ewelme all routes back are uphill. This route takes the long but relatively gentle Aston Hill on the old A40 to Stokenchurch for a return via the picturesque village of Hambleden (third refreshment opportunity) and the dramatic weir at Mill End.
Shenfield - an easy half day ride of just over 60 km from Shenfield at the eastern end of the Elizabeth Line. Good quality, quiet roads with no hills and two recommended refreshments stops at Matching Tye and Norton Heath.
Never Far from Maidenhead - with four services per hour, it’s easy to reach Maidenhead. This 58 km ride makes the most of loops around Maidenhead with refreshments stops at 20 km and 44 km. With so many changes of direction it’s a great ride for a breezy day as you are never left “slogging it out” into a headwind for long.
Taplow Boveney Eton Windsor - this is an easy, circular ride of 30 km starting and finishing at Taplow station which is served by the half hourly Reading service. The first 13 km are on quiet roads or well surfaced off road cycleways. There’s an option to finish at Windsor and take the two car diesel service from Windsor and Eton Central station to Slough to join the Elizabeth Line services.
