Goodrich and Forest of Dean
On a bright but chilly morning, 10 riders including two members on a tandem, set off on a tour of the Wye Valley with a warning from the ride leaders to expect some very steep climbs. Starting from Bracelands Drive in Christchurch, we followed steep forest tracks downhill to the River Wye where we joined the Peregrine path and after cycling past the canoe slalom course, we continued to Symonds Yat East and on to Huntsham Bridge where we crossed the Wye and climbed to the village of Goodrich and our coffee break in the Goodrich castle café. After enjoying coffee and the popular warm apple shortbread, we descended past the impressive Flainsford Priory to Kerne Bridge where we re-crossed the Wye and tackled our first steep climb of the day. High up on the side of the valley, we stopped to admire fine views of the Malvern Hills before enjoying an exhilarating descent down Bulls Hill to Coughton on the Ross road. From there another hard climb took us up Howell Hill before descending once again to the Wye where a spell of flat riding along the Ross road brought us into lower Lydbrook for our lunch stop at the welcoming Café Vanille. Suitably refreshed from a good lunch stop, a long steady climb took us to Upper Lydbrook where we turned off up Hangerberry New Road into pleasant woodland. From the top of the hill we enjoyed yet another fine descent down a quiet lane passing Eastbach Court, a handsome grade II listed mansion. The house is the former residence of Edward Machen who held the post of deputy surveyor of the Forest of Dean for 46 years from 1808 until 1854. Yet another hard climb brought us to the village of English Bicknor where, after a short ride through the village, we turned off along Redhouse Lane which took us to Hillersland and back to our start point in Christchurch. Thank you Keith and Jane for researching and leading an interesting ride through great countryside with fine views. The hills tested the mechanicals to their absolute limits!
