Goring-on-Thames, Chiltern Hills

DISTANCE 14.3km (8.9 miles) CLIMBING 245m (804ft) TIME 1hr to 2hrs

Start/ inish Goring and Streatley railway station (grid ref SU 603/805, postcode RG8 0ES)

Route summary An easy introduction to the Chilterns countryside, with some fast- lowing singletrack through beautiful scenery. Suitable for all abilities, but still some climbing involved – and watch out for those roots! 1

Turn right out of the railway station car park. Continue along this road as the houses end and it becomes narrower, climbing uphill. When the road flattens and then turns sharp left, uphill, keep ahead, onto a bridleway. Follow this around to the left, uphill.

2

Go right on the road at the top. Keep ahead on the tarmac, bearing left at a junction by a house, until you reach the main road (B471). Cross this and continue ahead, dropping down to a junction. Keep ahead/left here. Shortly afterwards, as the road drops, turn o right onto a bridleway. Follow this as it climbs uphill to start, then flattens o , bears left and drops down to a road.

3

Turn left on the tarmac, up a steep hill and past some houses. When the road turns sharp left, go right, onto a ‘dead end’ track past an outdoors centre. Continue to follow this track as it becomes rougher and heads into the woods. Bear to the right slightly, then turn left to drop down the hill. 4

After the zig-zags, turn right at the bottom, on a concrete track. Pass the stables and go through the large (open) gates by a gatehouse. Keep ahead on the road, all the way to a T-junction in Whitchurch-on-Thames.

5

Turn right, uphill. After the road widens again, turn left on the Hartslock Bridleway. Keep ahead at the track crossing at the end, by the houses and farm, on a concrete track. When you eventually reach a road, keep ahead/left to return to Goring and the car park.

LOCATION DETAILS

The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment in southern England. They cover 833km2, most of which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The terrain is characterised by rolling hills and beech woodland, which is home to lots of superb singletrack. Navigating the trails is notoriously di cult though, and they su er in the wet.

GETTING THERE

Goring is just north of the M4, north-west of Reading, near Pangbourne. From there, follow the A329 to Streatley and cross the River Thames. Keep ahead through Goring, over a railway bridge. Then turn right to the station, where there’s ample parking.

MAPS & BOOKS

Ordnance Survey Landranger 175: Reading & Windsor. Mountain Bike Rides in & Around the Chilterns by Max Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).

FACILITIES

Stay at The Swan at Streatley (01491 878800, www.theswanatstreatley.com), The Bull (01491 872392, www.bullinnpub.co.uk) or YHA Streatley-on-Thames (0345 371 9044, www.yha.org. uk). Pierreponts Cafe in Streatley serves good food (01491 874464, http://pierreponts.co.uk), and there are two good pubs in Goring – The John Barleycorn (01491 872509, www.thejohnbarleycornpub.com) and The Catherine Wheel (01491 872379, www.tcw goring.co.uk). There’s a pub on the route, in Whitchurch Hill, and one just o it, in Whitchurch. Pankhurst Cycles in Pangbourne can help with spares (01189 842823, www.pankhurstcycles.co.uk).