Lewknor, Chilterns

Distance 25km (15.5 miles) Climbing 590m (1,935ft) Time 1hr 30mins to 2hrs 30mins

1

Head up the road, keeping ahead at a track crossing, and follow the trail, bearing right by the farm. Climb steeply to the top and, just before the road, go left on a bridleway parallel to the tarmac. Bear right at some picnic tables, proceed to the road and go left on it.

2

Turn right where the barrier starts, before crossing the M40, on a bridleway into the Wormsley Estate. Keep ahead on the main track, following the white arrows on trees, downhill to, and over, a tarmac drive. Ascend, go right on the road at the top and join a bridleway after 1km, to the right, into the woods.

3

Keep ahead, exit the woods and ride across the common, to some tracks by houses. Cross over these, keeping ahead on the bridleway. At the minor tarmac road, turn right and keep ahead as it becomes an o -road bridleway heading downhill. At the bottom, follow it left and then keep ahead at a track crossing, running parallel to a road.

4

Eventually you’ll join the road. Keep ahead on this until you see the Turville sign, then turn right onto a bridleway and follow it, bearing right and then left into the trees, steeply uphill. At the top, exit the trees and go right by Turville Court, on the tarmac, to the road. Keep ahead/right on this.

Maps produced in association with 5

Continue straight on until you reach a crossroads. Go diagonally right (between the road ahead and right), into the trees and across the common to The Barn at Turville Cafe. Pick up a bridleway to the left of the buildings here, which heads downhill. Next there’s a short climb to a road, where you go left, for a long ascent. Go over a crossroads and ahead at the grass island/junction.

6

After 0.7km, take a bridleway on the left by the houses, into the woods. Follow the trail through the gates. It descends along the left-hand side of a field, to a track crossing, where you turn right and continue uphill, emerging at a driveway, which you should turn right on.

7

Go left on the road (by the ‘Christmas Common’ sign), then shortly afterwards, make a right at the junction and keep right at the next one too. Go right on a bridleway after 200m, cruise downhill on the singletrack and continue ahead at the bottom (by the timber yard) on tarmac.

8

After 300m, turn right on the Icknield Way/Ridgeway, which crosses the road, and follow it all the way to a track crossing, where you were at the start of the ride (with a bridge ahead, passing under the M40). Turn left to finish.

LOCATION DETAILS

The Chiltern Hills are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, consisting of rolling hills, woodlands and farmland stretching across the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. This route is easy to get to, being situated just along the M40, but it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere, with red kites circling overhead and wonderful country pubs and cafes.

GETTING THERE

Exit the M40 at junction 5 and head north-west on the A40, turning left after around 1km, signposted ‘Sculpture Trail’. The car park is back over the M40, on the left.

MAPS & BOOKS FACILITIES

and by Max Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).

The Mercure Thame Lambert Hotel, on the northern side of the M40 from Lewknor, is good (01844 351496, www.allaccor.com). There are B&Bs and inns in Watlington – see www.visitchilterns.co.uk for details. You can camp near Watlington at White Mark Farm (01491 612295, www.whitemarkfarm. co.uk). The Leathern Bottle in Lewknor is a great pub with amazing food and cyclists are welcome, but leave your muddy boots outside (01844 351482, www.theleathernbottle.co.uk). There are no bike shops nearby.