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Date Posted: Jun 13, 2010

Launch of the Chiltern Cycleway - Friday 18th June 11am.

Chilterns Cycleway Launch Relay Rides, Friday 18^th June 2010

To celebrate the launch of the Chilterns Cycleway the Chiltern Society has organsied a series of relay rides at different points around the Cycleway route. The rides will be led by local cycling clubs and are open to members of the public.

Start Time: The rides start at 11am (with the exception of sections 7 and 8, see below) which is when Formula One racing driver Mark Webber, a keen cyclists and local resident will be officially launching the route at the Ashridge Estate. Please be at the meeting points at least 15 minutes before the ride.

Distance: The distances shown are one-way. Cyclists can either go back the same route (following the Chiterns Cycleway signs) or follow a different route back to make a loop. Route maps will be distributed on the day,

Booking: There is no need to book a place on these rides, just turn up on the day. There is no charge.

Suitability of route: The Chilterns are by definition hilly!! Some sections of the route have some steep climbs and descents in places. Cyclists will need a reasonable level of fitness and experience of cycling on roads with traffic. The Cycleway is on-road with the exception of a few off-road stretches as indicated in the route description below.

Further Information: If you would like any further information please call Annette Venters at the Chilterns Conservation Board tel 01844 355508.

Stretch of Chilterns Cycleway Route covered	Approx. Distance	Starting Point	Grid reference of start point	Ride Leaders name	Brief description of route
1) Henley to Sonning Common	8 miles	Outside the River and Rowing Museum (RG9 1BF), Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames. Parking at Mill Meadows.	SU768820	Brian Maunder (Chiltern Society Cycling Group)	The leafy residential streets of Henley soon give way to open countryside, passing through attractive villages with country pubs.One moderate climb out of Harpsden, otherwise gently undulating.
2) Sonning Common to Ipsden	8 miles	Kennylands Road (near junction with Kidmore Lane) on outskirts of Sonning Common	SU710793	Iain Wallace (Chiltern Society Cycling Group)	This stretch will take you through typical Chilterns scenery dominated by beech woodlands and narrow sunken lanes with high-sided banks. Some steep sections on narrow lanes.
3) Ipsden to Cookley Green	8 miles	Village Store/Post office in Ipsden. Informal parking in the village.	SU636853	Jim Havard	This section provides wonderful views over the Thames floodplain. The picturesque village of Ewelme is a real gem. Mainly quiet rural lanes. The final stage to Cookley Green involves a long climb up and over the downs and past Swyncombe House.
4) Cookley Green to Stokenchurch	8 miles	Starting near the war memorial in Cookley Green. Informal parking on minor road off the village green.	SP696902	Bob Cheesewright	This section follows the top of the Chilterns escarpment through beech woodlands and some spectacular stretches of chalk downland with far-reaching views. The A40 through Stockenchurch is not too busy outside rush hours and is wide with clear views.
5) Stokenchurch to Princes Risborough	8½ miles	Car park at Longburrow Hall in Park Lane, Stokenchurch	SU760964	John Capell (Cyclists Touring Club)	This section through the tucked-away Radnage valley is challenging with some very steep hills and narrow twisty lanes. You will be rewarded with fantastic scenery and picturesque villages.
6) Princes Risborough to Wendover	9½ miles	M&S car park, Horns Lane (HP27 0AN), near fire station	SP810035	Mike Pullen	There is extensive woodland on this part of the ride until the rider drops down into the Misbourne valley again. Some very steep hills. The roads near Chequers can be busy with fast-moving traffic but visibility is good.
7) Wendover to theAshridge Estate	8½ miles	Outside Budgens (HP22 6EA) on the High Street.	SP867078	Laura Ferguson (Get Wendover Cycling)	Please note start time is 9am to tie in with the formal launch at the Ashridge Estate!! This section will take you out of the busy, small market town of Wendover, through wooded rolling countryside to the Ashridge Estate, to tie in with the formal launch of the Cycleway. There are some steep hills.
8) Aldbury to Studham	10 miles	Outside the Greyhound Inn, Stocks Road HP23 5RT There is a car park (signposted) on Stocks Road.	SP965125	Peter Hawkes	Please note start time is 10am to tie in with the formal launch at the Ashridge Estate! This section leads up through the extensive woodland of the Ashridge Estate and out over the chalk uplands of Ivinghoe Beacon. The Ashridge Estate’s ‘Duncombe Terrace Route’ (about 2 ½ miles) between the Bridgewater Monument and a car park near Ivinghoe Hills has mixed surfaces, generally good quality but with a section of farm track. There are some steep hills.
9) Studham to Kinsbourne Green	6½ miles	War memorial in centre of Studham. Car parking nearby just off the Common.	TL023158	Sue Rowe	This section crosses many of the north/south transport arteries, passing country villages along the River Lee valley. There is a ford which can be knee high at times and there is no raised footpath at the side (should be fine at this time of year!).
10) Kinsbourne Green to Breachwood Green	6 miles	Crossroads on the common at Kinsbourne Green	TL107159	Brian Bostock	Despite passing under the flight path to the south of Luton Airport, this section offers a pleasant ride, winding through villages in undulating countryside. Couple of long hills.
11) Breachwood Green to Lilley	5 miles	Red Lion pub, Breachwood Green (SG4 8NU)	TL151220	Roger Lerry	This section passes through picturesque villages to the east of Luton and climbs through valley and farmland towards the Bedfordshire countryside. One steep climb.
12) Lilley to Apsley End	14 miles	The green near the Lilley Arms pub (LU2 8LN)	TL118265	Jeremy Buckman	From Lilley the route descends to the open landscape of the Bedfordshire, rising again to go up and over the Sundon Hills. There is a very steep hill near Sundon Country Park, rest of the route is undulating.
13) Apsley End to Great Offley	5 miles	Outside the Musgrave Arms pub, Apsley End (SG5 3LX)	TL122327	Les Cullen	This section will take you from the flat Bedfordshire clay lands to the Pegsdon Downs chalk hills. From Pirton there is a 3.5 mile stretch of bridleway which is not surfaced and rutted in places (it is not suitable for road bikes with slick tyres).
14) Great Offley to Whitwell	5 miles	Outside the Green Man pub, Great Offley (SG5 3AR)	TL143271	Geoffrey Lloyd	This section is on lanes which pass through farmland then down from Kings Walden to the river at Whitwell.
15) Whitwell to Harpenden	8½ miles	The Water Tower at the junction of Horn Hill B651 and Long Lane (½ mile south west of Whitwell). Informal parking for a few cars.	TL178207	Chris Foote	This section includes both attractive and undulating farmland and woods and also urban views from the former railway line as it skirts Harpenden. There are hilly lanes and two reasonably flat greenways: the Nickey Line and the Lee Valley Walk. The surfaces of the paths are variable but generally good.
16) Harpenden to Great Gaddesden	9 miles	Corner of Park Hill and Roundwood Park, Harpenden	TL124148	Paul Greenough	With the exception of a long hill near the Gaddesden Place Estate, riders can enjoy a predominantly level route through farm land and on the Nickey Line.
17) Great Gaddesden to Berkhamsted	4 miles	Garden Centre just off the A4146, Great Gaddesden (use overflow car park at the Garden Centre).	TL031114	Peter Brown	This route is on country lanes, roads and the well-paved canal towpath between Berkhamsted and Dudswell. The route includes a number of steep hills, in particular on both sides of the valley at Berkhamsted.
18) Berkhamsted to Ley Hill	9 miles	Berkhamsted railway station forecourt	SP993082	Roger Bangs	This stretch takes you from the outskirts of Berkhamsted through gently undulating country lanes and lovely villages, to Ley Hill.
19) Ley Hill to Hyde Heath	8 miles	Cricket pavilion opposite the Crown pub at Ley Hill (HP5 1UY)	SP990020	Tom Eden	From Ley Hill you pass ancient villages overlooking the beautiful Chess valley. Some steep descents out of Ley Hill on quiet roads to Latimer and across the River Chess. From here the route follows some stretches of unsurfaced woodland tracks to Amersham.
20) Hyde Heath to Speen	9 miles	Drive next to the Hyde Heath Infants School, Weedon Hill, HP6 5RW	SP932003	John Wells	From Hyde Heath you pass the attractive village of Little Missenden and the River Misbourne. After climbing out of the valley the route passes through Holmer Green and Great Kingshill
21) Speen to West Wycombe	5 miles			David Troup	This section passes through the Bradenham Valley and into the West Wycombe Valley; it is both testing and exhilarating. There are steep valleys and long climbs generally on quiet roads with great views.
22) West Wycombe to Frieth	4 miles	West of West Wycombe village by the garden centre HP14 3AP (ample parking at the garden centre)	SU825947	Scott Paterson (High Wycombe Cycling Club)	This section takes you out of the Wye Valley and over the M40 through pristine Chilterns scenery passing some lovely villages and commons. There are some magnificent views along the way. There are several long steep hills.
23) Frieth to Henley on Thames	8 miles	Meet outside the church, next to village school RG9 6PR on the main road through Frieth.	SU797903	Leslie Plumb	From Frieth the route descends gently at first and then steeply through wooded areas with the occasional glimpse of farms and pastures. A steep climb takes you past the Chiltern Brewery and the delightful village of Fawley before descending into Henley. Some very steep hills.

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