Beautiful October day doing more cycle route research, this time round Shakespeare’s Stratford and the Cotswolds. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Obviously not, ‘cos it’s October.
Author: Rob Ainsley
Staffs 3: Mow Cop
More route research, this time up spectacular Mow Cop (rhymes with ‘Cow Mop’) south of Congleton. A mile of relentless uphill, average 12%, max 25%, with sweeping views from the folly at the top. Cycled up it, and I didn’t stop once. More like four times.
Staffs 2: Roaches and Flash photography
Another wonderful day researching routes round the hillier and fordier bits of the underrated Staffordshire Moorlands. The scenery in the evening sunshine round Hen Cloud and the Roaches was particularly lovely, and inspired some music for guitar, which you can hear at the bottom of the page. Music for guitar: Hen Cloud Listen to my…
Staffs 1: Mr Kipling’s lakes
More cycle-route research, this time in Staffordshire Moorlands, aka the bits of the Peak District that aren’t in Derbyshire. Mr Kipling makes exceedingly good lakes.
Surrey Hills 3: Box Hill
Surrey Hills Cycle Route Research finished today with Box Hill, a secret known only to me and 15,000 other cyclists on this baking hot sunny day.
Surrey Hills 2: In the slow lane
More lovely cycle route research in the Surrey Hills that involved lots of traditional English things, such as quaint villages, more sunken country tracks, and anti-fracking protest camps.
Surrey Hills 1: Sunken lanes and horse touring
More cycle route research, this time in the lovely Surrey Hills. They’re hilly.
Faroes 1: Kirkjubøur to Eiði
Is the Faroe Islands – in the North Atlantic, halfway between Scotland and Iceland – a country? Actually no, because it’s a dependency of Denmark, which looks after its defence, currency, policing and foreign affairs. And only has about five trees. But actually yes, because it otherwise self-governs, has its own football team, and has…
Falkirk: Wheels, tunnels and Irn-Bru
Lovely sunny weather for a route research jaunt along the canal from Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk.
Rutland 2: Border ride
More route research in Rutland, this time a complete 65-mile circuit of the traditional county’s border.