Watkins Way

[Verena]

Oooo, just seen this: https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/se ... atkins-way

I can just picture a leisurely trip doing this, maybe in late summer, or springtime when there's lots of apple blossom, with some picturesque bivvi in an orchard, belly full of God pub grub and Herefordshire cider....

[psling]

That looks a fun road ride Verena, lots of nice points of interest along the way

I've ridden quite a few bits of the route over the years. The climb up to Arthur's Stone is certainly a challenge but soon after that I would miss the main road out after crossing Bredwardine Bridge, missing out Eardisley and Kington and finding a quieter cross-country route to Pembridge. The main road through Eardisley to Kington is quite busy with a lot of bends and sees a lot of lorries and the A44 from Kington to Pembridge is a trunk road; personally I wouldn't enjoy riding that part of the route and there are much quieter alternatives equally as interesting.
The 'Orgasmic Cider Company' could be an experience though....

[RIP]

a quieter cross-country route to Pembridge.

A good idea would be to go past David Nobbs's house at Broxwood like Kev and myself on the Rude Place Names Tour. I'm sure the owner would be even more baffled if we weren't the only people to pilgrimage there....

The 'Orgasmic Cider Company' could be an experience though....

They do nice T-shirts...

[woodsmith]

A good idea would be to go past David Nobbs's house at Broxwood like Kev and myself on the Rude Place Names Tour. I'm sure the owner would be even more baffled if we weren't the only people to pilgrimage there....


[/quote]

OT but possibly of interest to you Reg, an ex-girlfrien's parents house in Cheltenham was used for the exterior of Reggie Perrin's home.

[RIP]

That was a good factoid, excellent!

[godivatrailrider]

As it passes within 5 miles of my home in Ludlow, I can see this being modified to incorporate more off road…. Thanks for the heads up will download the Strava gpx tomorrow

[UnderTheRadars]

As it passes within 5 miles of my home in Ludlow, I can see this being modified to incorporate more off road…. Thanks for the heads up will download the Strava gpx tomorrow

Once you’ve sussed a more off-road route do you mind sharing it please? I think it’ll be a nice late spring 2/3 day bimble from Stourbridge

[godivatrailrider]

As it passes within 5 miles of my home in Ludlow, I can see this being modified to incorporate more off road…. Thanks for the heads up will download the Strava gpx tomorrow

Once you’ve sussed a more off-road route do you mind sharing it please? I think it’ll be a nice late spring 2/3 day bimble from Stourbridge

My first iteration ... https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38588973
This starts and ends in Ludlow.
It's not identical to the Strava route as that takes in far too much main road for my liking so I've chosen much smaller lanes.
I've not done every single point but it does visit most.
There are also sections I've missed as they're local to me and I've already been there.
If you want more offroad, especially in Mortimer forest I can ramp that up a bit.
There's a campsite and a couple of pubs at the very lowest point of this route
It's a start point anyway, I'm sure to rework it.

[Verena]

This is great, thank you

[JackT]

Lots of great lanes riding in Herefordshire. Call me an old curmudgeon, but I do find it sad that these sorts of routes are being marketed primarily as a driving route, with a bullet point saying 'and you can do it by bike too if you want'. North Coast 500 and Wild Atlantic Way are primarily marketed as driving routes. I remember being at a Sustrans conference and someone from Visit Wales went up to give a talk about a set of new long distance touring routes around Wales. I was getting all excited then it dawned on me that they were marketing them as driving routes and shock horror, the route featured some of my favourite lanes (including the one from Llanbrynmair north to the A458 which will be known by many of this parish).

I know there has been leisure motoring for almost as long as there's been leisure cycling, but it still annoys me.

[RIP]

Aye. Equally annoying is the description of any "attraction", place, thing, location, whatever; in any magazine, newspaper, telly programme, leaflet, whatever; containing the words "it's only an X minute drive away". Just the thing Mr Toad would say.

[RIP]

Aye. Equally annoying is the description of any "attraction", place, thing, location, whatever; in any magazine, newspaper, telly programme, leaflet, whatever; containing the words "it's only an X minute drive away".

One of the worst examples of this I that came across was in the visitors book of a holiday cottage we once stayed in near Llandildos. It said something like "and it's only a 2 hour drive to Snowdon"......




Easy Reg, take it easy, it's Cheery Friday....... aaaannnnnnnnnnd relax.

[JackT]

Obviously none of my curmudgeonliness applies to anyone driving a celebrated MTB route in a pair of 2CVs, and stopping for what looks like a picnic. Guess where?

2150640_33d91f6c.jpg (134.68 KiB) Viewed 1476 times

[whitestone]

I'm going to guess at The Gap in the Brecon Beacons.

[JackT]

I'm going to guess at The Gap in the Brecon Beacons.

Correct! 46 years ago according to Geograph https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2150640

[RIP]

Astounding. Wonder if they made it right through to the other side? Goodness knows where they'd reverse if not. Mrs Perrin had 2CVs when she was younger but I don't think this is her.

[Verena]

Maybe they carried it if they got stuck? My parents were big 2CV fans in their younger years, and have many tales of picking it up and carrying it out of trouble. With some help obvs. Also about canoodling the battery between them in their honeymoon suite on an extremely cold night, and then being the only people in the morning who could get their car to start...

[psling]

I hate to be a terrible bore but those are Dianes in Jack's photo, not 2CVs

[pistonbroke]

holiday cottage we once stayed in near Llandildos.

Was that a bring your own batteries holiday?

[Dave Barter]

I hate to be a terrible bore but those are Dianes in Jack's photo, not 2CVs

I salute this pedantry

[JackT]

I hate to be a terrible bore but those are Dianes in Jack's photo, not 2CVs

Dyanes

[psling]

I hate to be a terrible bore but those are Dianes in Jack's photo, not 2CVs

Dyanes

I always like to leave people a come back
Used to have one in the 70s, also had a Renault 4 which was equally as quirky. Only ever drove the Gap road in Series I Land Rovers though

[RIP]

holiday cottage we once stayed in near Llandildos.

Was that a bring your own batteries holiday?

Yes indeed, but they weren't as powerful as the one canoodled by Verena's folks or we'd have given the Orgasmic Cider Co a run for their money .

Dyane - thank goodness Peter's on the ball upholding our pedantic standards. And, er, also that Jack's on the ball upholding Peter's pedantic standards.

This thread is turning out to be one of the most tangled for a while, excellent.

Mind The Gap, Mind The Gap. The Dyane is about to depart. Please stand clear of the doors.

[Bearbonesnorm]

While we're playing this game, can anyone identify this spot?

[psling]

While we're playing this game, can anyone identify this spot?

I've never cleared that hill although I have managed to get to the crash barrier. Far too many chevrons