7 Oct 2018: St Albans to Hedgerley

Although it was a fine autumn day there were only five of us at the start in St Albans for our  planned excursion south of the M40. It always feels a long way to go to Hedgerley but in fact it's quite a bit nearer than many of our other destinations.
It was good to see two new people joining for their second Sunday ride in recent weeks. We headed along the usual lanes via Bedmond, Abbots Langley and Chandlers Cross before skirting round the edge of Chorleywood to reach Chalfont St Peter and the popular Madeira cafe. While cycling down the hill through the private-housing estate we noticed a road  called "Winkers Close". Later Googling uncovered that there is a rural nightclub nearby called "Winkers" which repeats the same spelling mistake.

At the cafe the owner made an effort to welcome us and showed us into the garden to park our bikes safely. After coffee the others had to get home, so only Steve and I carried on along the planned route to Hedgerley via Burnham Beeches.  We made a circuit through the car-free roads in the wood and enjoyed the autumn sunshine.

Burnham Beeches

The White Horse pub in Hedgerley remains a totally unspoiled example of an old country pub. Simple food and gravity-fed beer. Two rather faded plaques on the front show the pub won the "Wethered's flower competition" in 1985 and 1988. The current owners have maintained the tradition as the photo below shows.

White Horse flowers

After leaving the pub we made a direct route back to St Albans by crossing to the Colne valley and following the Ebury Way back via Rickmansworth and Watford arriving home by 4.30 after about 55 miles.


Carol