Winchcombe Wanderer Recce

This ride was originally planned months ago around Christmas and New Year. It’s a collab between myself and Simon, a local rider who sent me a route which between us we’ve adapted but neither of us have had chance to ride it yet due to the bad weather we’ve had. I then planned it for Easter Sunday but the wind was high so I knocked it back to yesterday. I also have to say that I was on the clock hence the early start and lack of ride photos. For me, it was a quick in and out also missing off a 12km loop around Stanway too which I knew anyway as some it features in The Broadway Grinder. This is just some extended feedback about the route and what to expect. I’ll thrown in some streetviews where I can.

My alarm was set for 6.30am but I was awake early. The sky was a beautiful red at sunrise and was a good omen for the rest of the day. Breakfast done I would have been out at 7am as planned but I’d forgot to download the maps to my GPS which took a few mins to sort out. 7.10am and I was away for the 45 min drive to Winchcombe on a lovely quiet M5.

I parked at Back Lane Car Park which I’ve recommened for the ride. £1.40 all day, absolute bargain. Public toilets too! From here its a 2 min ride to the start at the war memorial. I didn’t hang around and set off up the first climb which, to be honest, is a bit of an unrelenting beast and set the tone for the day. As the road reared up in front of me, I uncharacteristically struggled to breath. A combination of not warmed up and the cold air on my lungs meant I had to back off a touch. The route then takes you off on a meandering route across the hillside through an Estate past plenty of sheep and lambs and then kicks up again for the final assault. I was definitely warmed up by now.

Over the top and the first offroad sector is a singletrack bridleway that tracks a field edge. Its quite short but you cross the road to the next one which is a wide gravel track that drops down an automated gate. The area is clearly dripping in £££. This is where I missed out the 12km loop to Stanway and turned right and followed a single track lane that becomes a long track that gradually climbs up towards Kineton. A short road sector gives way to another nice wide gravel road that drops down behind some farm buildings past a stream and pops you out in Guiting Power.

At Barton its a bumpy, steep climb on quite a long byway which opens up into a fast downhill piece of Strade Bianche past a cotswold stone quarry. Left at the end of the track, another quiet lane then right into another posh estate. This one is Eyford Park where I saw a deer stop in front of me before hopping away.

The thing to say here is this part of the Cotswolds is very, very quiet. I hardly saw anyone and it feels very remote. No shops, just the odd pub in a village. You need to be self-sufficient.

The next sector was a punt and worked out well. A really good bridleway but watch out for the big loose dog at Cress Cottage that chased me. I don’t think he was going to bite. He just enjoyed the chase but I did have to shout at him. Upper Slaughter is really nice. The quintessential Cotswold village but I didn’t have time to stop and take it all in.

It’s a bit of a slog from here then a drop down a bridleway to Aston Farm and then another climb to cross the A436 where I saw most of the cars for the day. From Cold Aston came some tasty byways. The first one to Turkdean was long and felt pretty remote then a few metres of road and I was on the next one dropping fast into a valley fast before climbing up to Hazleton village.

A bit of road again and then a couple of transitional sectors to Hampen and Shipton Oliffe which was a good one. From here it was back over the A436 and then another long unrestricted byway at Syreford which seemed to climb and climb but the views were awesome.

I was in Brockhampton now and I began the slow climb to Cleeve common, initially in the lanes, then a traffic free-lane then up the edge of a field before I reached the common itself. Cyclists are permitted on here if you stick to the path, which I did, but I’m sure if you popped over to the edge for the view it would be fine.

The next part of the route I pieced together as I wanted riders to have the opportunity to ride the common. The route tracks the edge of the golf course and then drops down steeply to a series of gates, 3 of which I walked between they are that close. The bridleway does officially go through a farmyard which was gated off but the farmer does offer an alternative around via an adjacent field, just more gates. Then another steep drop to a stream (gates) and then a super-steep hike a bike section for about 30m which I think I could ride with a lower gear.

From here its another singletrack lane to the last offroad descent then back into the lanes past Sudeley Castle and you’e done.

It’s a superb route with a few caveats and I’m pleased it’s on the calendar. All that effort away from cars and people makes it worth it.

• Low gears are essential. 1400m of elevation in 65km gives you a flavour but what a challenge!
• Take your time, soak up the views rather than burn your matches
• I’d recommend wider tyres. Cotswold byways are quite rocky in places
• If it’s really, really wet, I’d reconsider. Cotswold mud is very claggy