10 riders started from the Square on a beautiful morning, on what would turn out to be one of the hottest day of the year so far, destination Cinderford which is a bit difficult to get to within the A category…
Well-used routes were taken to Tibberton via Over Farm Shop and Highnam with its gratuitous hill, then a left turn to take the narrow lane to Huntley. We pulled over to let a tractor and a large trailor pass us; we weren’t going that slowly (honest) but it was a shiny new powerful JCB tractor…
Through Huntley and briefly onto the main road to Mitcheldean, turning off to pass through Blaisdon and the Flaxley valley. Gardens blooming in colour on a perfectly clear summer morning, blue sky and no wind.
From Green Bottom the road to Mitcheldean was climbed, at which point Malcolm T had to turn for home, and then the more difficult climb up Stenders was tackled, which took only 5-6 minutes of climbing. At the top a gravel option was available but more than half of the group decided to stick to the road and get their orders in at the café early. The four adventurers found the track wasn’t too rough and presented us with great views over Drybrook and a pleasant descent (mostly well surfaced) of Harrow Hill, where we joined the main road at Nailbridge then left at the lights for Steam Mills. This time the main road was avoided and the quiet road through the industrial estate was taken, then more gravel/dirt along the old railway line to beyond the old Bilson Station, then left and back onto the road for the climb up Station Road to the centre of the town, arriving at the café at 2 minutes past 11.
The post-coffee riders split into 3 groups: some directly home; two for forest tracks and four keeping to the black stuff.
The tarmac crew took in Speech House, then the climb and descent to the Wye valley at Lydbrook; from here it was up the valley, then the Walford valley to Mitcheldean, and finally the little lane back to Blaisdon and the Red Hart, arriving 5 minutes ahead of the trackers.
Meanwhile the tracker pair re-joined and ambled along the old railway, crossing the main road just after the black-stuff boys had passed. Then onto an ever-rising track heading east and a wee bit south. Not being familiar with these tracks, it was a matter of heading in roughly the same direction – a road would eventually be reached! And so it did – top of the Blackpool Bridge climb, at Bradley Hill junction – exactly as planned! Planning went somewhat astray after this success. Wondering where the Bradley Hill would take us, we took it: the tarmac ended in a forest opening with a number of fine residences. A promising left fork ended in a narrow and unpassable footpath – too many brambles! Reversing out was a challenge. So back to the clearing and up to the top – views now over the Severn estuary were tantalising. The track now headed south, not ideal, but we were curious. It ended in someone’s garden, so a little back-tracing was required, followed by an unnecessary descent to pop out on the Blackpool Bridge road again, but half way down the climb. Hey ho: back up, down to Soudley and over to the top of the ponds for a final gravel track to Blaize Bailey viewpoint – eventually reached with only one minor excursion in the ‘wrong’ direction.
Having marvelled at the view, and secured an abandoned geranium, it was time to set off to Blaisdon. We missed the ridge track and ended back down at the ponds – meaning an avoidable climb was not avoided. No matter, on to Littledean, Pope’s Hill, The white House and Blaisdon.
Refreshments taken (and paid for) the full ‘all day’ set set off for home in ever-increasing temperatures. With the hills behind us it was plain sailing to Northwood Green and a minor detour, deliberate, to take in a lane not often used. The Social Sec. broke a spoke here – our only mechanical of the day. No further issues aside from the temperature were encountered.
Variable mileages; the tracks duo managed 61 miles.