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Past Ride

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Sun Feb 12th 2012

Snowdrops at Welford Park	2*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: The plan is to cycle over to Welford Park via Lambourn to see the snowdrops . Entry fee is £5 for adults in aid of a local charity. We'll have lunch either at the tea room there or at a local pub. Please bring your camera, an extra warm layer and you may want a change of shoes - takes about 45 minutes to walk around the snowdrop route, which can get muddy if it's been wet. Please see the link below for further details. We'll return via Boxford, Chaddleworth and Brightwalton. Around 30 miles total at a relaxed pace. Note the slightly later than usual start time. Snowdrops at Welford Park
Riders: David Smith David Wynn (deceased) Steve Swanton Ursula Hallam Riders = 4 Report: For the second year running this didn't work out quite as planned. After snow on the preceding Thursday and subsequent low temperatures a number were evidently put off by the threat of icy roads, although David W had said he was coming and Dave S had emailed to say he and Ursula would see us there. On arrival in Wantage only David had come and after waiting a few extra minutes (just in case) we headed off through the Letcombes. Fortunately the roads were largely clear and damp rather than frosty. However, we could see snow ahead of us on the downs as we approached Letcombe Bassett. The junction at the bottom of Hackpen Hill wass our decision point, whether to proceed to Lambourneor stick in the Vale. Unsure of what conditions would be like higher up we decided to play safe and chose the latter. We managed to contact Dave and Ursulla, who were on the road near Kintbury to give our apologies (did you make it to Welford?) and then dropped down through Childrey and on to Sparsholt where there is a good if much smaller display of snowdrops opposite the church. We continued on to Kingston Lisle, dropped down to uffington and on to Frenham, where we decided to stop and warm up over a coffee at the Woodman. We returned via Shellingford, Gainfield and Charney, Dave splitting off to hanney and Steventon before Denchworth. Thanks Dave for your convivial company on a winter's ride. Steve
Distance: 40.23 km (25.00 mi)
Comment on this ride

Written by : Ursula

Posted on : March 18, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Hi there, yes we made it - courtesy of our fat tyres, the towpath out of Newbury was quite snowy - shame we couldn't meet up. Plenty of snowdrops, nestling in the snow, at Welford plus good tea and cake! A new place for us even though local. Journey back to Newbury via Brightwalton. Thanks also to Dave for convivial company :)

Ride Filter

Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information