31 Oct 2010: St Albans to Tring

Richard writes: It was Halloween - and the first ride of the autumn after the clocks had gone back, so there would be no tea stop on this trip.  The ride was not especially long overall, but the first leg to coffee was a bit over 20 miles, so a direct route was called for via Redbourn and Gaddesden Row.  Nine of us set off from St Albans heading for Dobbers cafe in Leighton Buzzard. 

Clements End Road, near Studham

Dobbers in 1930

At Whipsnade, we took the old road running beside the zoo enclosures (none of the fiercer types of animal were in evidence, though I spotted a surly wallaby), and then down Bison Hill and onto the Vale of Aylesbury. The sharp hill at Billington is a nasty shock - one of those sudden steep hills that are scattered over the otherwise flat countryside of the vale. When we got there, the light railway was doing extra business for Halloween and, judging by their appearance, the staff in Dobbers cafe seemed to be taking the date seriously - it must be the first time my food has been served up by someone with a green and blue face.

Pages Park Station

We were served by a giant green woman and a witch in Dobbers cafe.

Apart from that, a pleasant stop. Here some stoked up with a decent breakfast, probably their second breakfast of the day. We then skirted through the fringes of Leighton Buzzard, marred by recently extended industrial estates, but one must take the rough with the smooth.  Then we were out again on quiet lanes and on to Ledburn.  The pub here used to be a fairly regular venue but I think it went up market and unwelcoming.  Continuing to Mentmore cross roads, the rain, which had been threatening for a while, started up a bit more seriously and a stop for waterproofs was called for. Then left to Mentmore, another of those sudden steep hills, then Cheddington. We crossed over the Grand Union Canal at Cook's Wharf, passing the Duke of Wellington pub, also a former venue, but recently closed.

Bill in Mentmore

One of 12 support rollers for a 38 ton kiln operating at 1700 degrees C  and used at the cement works in Pitstone Green.

Turning left here, we continued past the Pitstone Green Museum and on to Tring itself. The lunch stop, the Kings Arms, was completely new to me, but came with a strong recommendation. It is well tucked away in the side streets of old Tring, but turned out to be an excellent stop, a CAMRA favourite and with good food too. I'd rate it one of the best pubs we have visited this year, certainly one to go on our next list.

A cold, wet sandwich outside...

...or a hot, wet sandwich inside.

Stylish headgear

After a hearty feed for most, it was time to ponder the trip back. My group went for the more vigorous ride across to Aldbury, Ashridge and Bridens Camp. The woods at Ashridge were looking at their autumn best, but by now it was raining and we didn't hang around. I had turned in 60 miles by the time I got back.   Others favoured an easier route down the valley. 

The Grand Union canal at Northchurch

Well surfaced towpath

Rod, pole or perch?

This was equally scenic, with autumnal views along the towpath and a pause to negotiate passage past fishermen, who were engrossed in a competition that appeared to be more about who had the longest carbon fibre pole.

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24 Oct 2010: Hatfield to Wareside

Tracey writes: At the start in Hatfield there was a great turn out, 14 of us!  It was a nippy but bright morning and we headed off briskly to Welwyn Garden City and on to Tewin Green then Bramfield.  From there we turned down to Waterford and up a very stoney lane to Stoney Hills.  Crossing the main road, we cut through the picturesque Sacombe Park and over to Whitehill golf course above Dane End.  There some of us tucked into a very large breakfast!

Sacombe Park

Golfer's Breakfast

Thus fortified, we cycled to Great Munden and turned right to Puckeridge, then on to Standon and Barwick Ford.  Graham, Michael and Judy enjoyed splashing through the water; the rest of us took the bridge. 

Barwick Ford

We then took the winding roads to Bakers End and Babbs Green then into Wareside to the Chequers Pub.  Here we took over the Snug room and were joined by Carol and Steve, making 16 of us!  We sampled some very good beers and baguettes in one of my favourite pubs.  As there were a large number of us (and I had already lost a few people on route earlier!), I explained to everyone the loop I had planned for our afternoon ride into Hertford, (just as well)!

From Wareside we cycled to Ware, at this point when I turned round I had managed to loose half the ride!  Quite an achievement even for me!  We decided to carry on to Stanstead Abbotts and then turned into St Margarets Road and up to Haileybury.  We carried on to Hoddesdon and up Lord Street towards Goose Green and on to Hertford.  There everyone else had already arrived at the Rose Café (not following the leader’s explanations, they had taken Holly Cross Road from Ware to St Margarets).  We timed this stop to perfection, as there was a 10-minute down pour of rain (the only rain of the day) while we had our tea!  On the way home we saw a rainbow.

Haileybury College

24/10/2010

17 Oct 2010: Hertford to Nuthampstead

Six of us set off from Hertford taking the back streets to join up with the Ware road.  We were held up in Ware at the level crossing and then had to look for a loo - which was locked!  We left Ware past Fanhams Hall to Bakers End where we turned north to Barwick Ford.  After crossing the river, we turned right in Barwick and followed the river northwards to Puckeridge where we crossed the A120.  Through Puckeridge, we then joined the old Cambridge road, continued through Braughing, Hay Street, and then arrived at Hare Street slightly early.

Tortoise Tea Rooms

17/10/2010

The Tortoise Tea Rooms was a new stop for us and we were provided with drinks and food at fairly reasonable prices. Fortunately, the service wasn't too tortoise-like and we got a slightly warmer welcome than was usual at the other Hare Street venue!  Steve & Carol joined us at elevenses and (due to the planned pub stop not providing sandwiches) it was decided to change the lunch stop.  Carol made a few phone calls and our new stop was to be The Woodman at Nuthampstead.  After recalibrating the GPS, I set off through Anstey.  Here Fred punctured and it was noted that his tyre had more than a passing resemblance to Kojak!

Cottage at Langley

Cambridgeshire vista

Puncture sorted, we carried on to Meesden and then Langley Lower Green. At Little Chishill the views opened out across Cambridgeshire and some deer were spotted in a distant field. At Shaftenhoe End we turned back south again to Nuthampstead.

Hill climb

Memorial at Nuthampstead

Next to the Woodman is an impressive memorial to the American airmen of 398th bomber group, who lost their lives in the bombing raids that left from the nearby airstrip.
A group of walkers were also at the pub and some were picnicking in a neighbouring field; those of us with our own sandwiches joined them.


After lunch I led Fred back home, while the others completed the ride via Much Hadham.