11 Aug 2013: Wheathampstead to Steeple Morden

It was nice to welcome two new riders, as well as the more familiar members, when we all met up in Wheathampstead.  This isn't a start we use too often, but it puts you a bit further north than most we use and today our trip was out into Cambridgeshire.  Yes, we do put some thought into where we are going sometimes!

Steeple Morden Church

Relaxing in the pub

It was a fresh day with a brisk southerly wind, not a problem going out, but then you do have to come back, so even more thought was required as to the route I should take today.  Heading through the lanes, we were soon climbing to Preston, then down through Offleyholes to Hitchin.  Our first stop, Farrowby Farm, is smack next to the A1.  Although I know the route approaching from Baldock, for a change I fancied taking a more westerly route.  This involved finding that particular small side road out of a busy town that can be so tricky when navigating on an OS map.  However, after advice from a GPS user, we did find the right way out of Hitchin and then through the villages to the north and, dodging the traffic on the A1, crossed to the very pleasant cafe at Farrowby Farm.

After refreshments, our pub lunch stop wasn't very far as the crow flies, so a loop through the flat open country brought us through Potton, Gamlingay and Hatley, arriving at the obliging pub in Steeple Morden.  By now we'd turned quite a few miles, so a shorter route back home than originally planned really seemed like a good idea.  Through Ashwell, then stopping for a bargain cup of tea in Baldock (only 70p!) we were soon back in familiar country.  After Codicote we began to disperse to home.  A great day out, blessed with fine weather.

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Richard 11/08/2013