This is a reletivly flat route with nice quiet lanes and roads. The route takes us out through Langham, then accross to Maningtree, Bradfield then Weeley. This is a reverse of the old VCR regular Saturday route. The “Coffee and Cake” stop is at The Barn, Aingers Green. Then its a gentle ride back to Colchester. This is a great route for those new to group rides. The lanes are quiet with plenty of visiblity and not too many twists and turns.
Routes
This is our less usual route to the Oranges and Lemons Cafe, but a better route if the weather is poor as there are less minor lanes. Apart from the last climb to the cafe, there are few hills.
The route sets off via Birchwood Road and Lamb Corner to Ardleigh, crossing the railway, and heading along Frating Road to Great Bentley, before turning left at The Court House. Just before the roundabout on the A120, turn right onto to short bicycle path, and follow the minor road before turning into Rectory Road to Little Bentley. From there it heads across to Wix, before turning back to Bradfield. We then head along “The Walls” in Mistley, through the smallest town in England – Manningtree – under the railway and crossing the Stour on the White Bridge. We then turn uphill to East Bergholt for a well earned coffee. The return heads to Holton St Mary, then Higham, before returning via Dedham, with a couple of bumps as you come out of Dedham before heading back to the Stadium.
This is one of our more hilly rides, but passes through some of our most beautiful scenery. The route starts by heading northeast to Stratford St Mary, and passing down Gun Hill, one of John Constable’s favourite locations. We then climb up towards Stoke by Nayland, then drop rapidly back down to Nayland. From Nayland the route follows the Suffolk side of the Stour Valley to the village of Bures crossing back into Essex.
From Bures we head to Pebmarsh, then turn south to White Colne. After a short distance on the main road we turn left and climb again up past Chalkney Wood – the famous (?) ancient woodland. Passing through Great Tey, we drop down to Aldham, and the cafe is at the bottom of the hill immediately after crossing the river Colne. The Shoulder of Mutton is an old pub converted into a cafe, and antique shop, with gardens backing onto the river.
After the cafe there is another climb up to Fordham before dropping down to the river again and climbing up to Eight Ash Green.
From there the road drops again to the river (take care, and single out here as the road narrows, and is a fast car route). There is a T junction at the bottom. Turn left up into West Bergholt before returning to the football ground via Horkesley Heath.
Why 3 stopper? Because there were at least 3 cafés to stop at. There still are
Slightly longer and more rolling than some regular club rides, this is suited to Medium/Tempo groups or the longer days of summer.
The route goes out via Mistley along the rolling, and panoramic coastal road to Ramsey with delightful vistas across to the Shotley Peninsula and Felixstowe’s gargantuan docks. Turning inland we follow the “high” ground overlooking Hamford Water Nature reserve, before heading back to Tendring at Beaumont-cum-Moze. The route follows familiar roads back to Little Bromley and on to Ardleigh. Suitable cafes include The Haywain, Cafe Rio, Skylark Social in Ardleigh, and when running Ardleigh Church.
VCR 6 heads out North from Colchester in an anticlockwise direction. Usual route to Higham, and down Sandy Lane to Holton St Mary before turning left to Raydon and onwards to Hadleigh passing along the High Street which is as historic as more well known Lavenham. From Hadleigh it is a steep climb up Whatfield Rd towards Nedging Tye. From there on to Bildeston, and Hitcham before turning towards Brent Eleigh, only a couple of bumps away to a well deserved stop at the renowned cyclist friendly Cafe Como, which has a lovely garden for a warm day.
As so often there is a steady climb from the Cafe to get the blood flowing again, before a nice steady descent into Boxford. At the church turn left up the dead-end lane to the cut through at the end crossing the main road to Stone Street. The road here is pretty narrow with quite a lot of cars so take care on the climb. Pass the apple orchards and turn left to Stoke by Nayland. In the centre turn right and sharply downhill past the impressive church perched on the hill. The road goes through Nayland before turning up towards Boxted, and up the oddly named Burnt Dick Hill – a sharp climb so late in the ride.
From here it is a tootle through the lanes back to the start.
to be completed
A relitivly flat route. The lanes take us out through Gt Bently to Weeley then to Little Bromley for a stop at the Haywain for a coffe stop. After that it’s only a short ride back into Colchester.
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