71km - Chiltern Gravel -Ashridge
Ashridge Estate
Ride Overview
The Chilterns National Landscape offers some of the best off-road riding in the South East. Short sharp hills, grin-inducing descents through fields and woods, or cruising along flat trails, some of which are very ancient. This route is a woodland ride through the Chiltern’s fabled beech forests, which in spring are covered in carpets of bluebells. Riding along a path surrounded by the nationally famous bluebell woods of the Ashridge Estate, with an avian soundtrack accompanying you and a warm(ish) spring sun on your back, is surely one of the great joys of being alive. Of course in other seasons the ride is equally delightful; rich and verdant summer, or multi-hued autumn. There are wonderful views across the plains and along the ridge of hills. If it’s a different sort of nature that you seek, something more exotic, you ride past past Whipsnade Zoo, (ZSL Conservation Zoo) with its lion, pygmy hippos, rhinos, elephants and the like.
It is not just nature which features on the ride, for there is Ashridge House, once the seat of the Dukes of Bridgewater. The gardens are a delight to walk around and the cafe offers a good half way stop. There is an impossible-to-miss memorial column commemorating the role of the Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater’s role in the development of England’s canal system. There are gliders to watch in the thermals above the Dunstable Downs. There are some delectable houses to dream of owning, quintessential villages and their medieval churches such as at Great Gaddesden. Then there is Berkhamstead Castle, one of the finest surviving motte and bailey castles in the land.
The route is almost lined with village pubs, but if you were to choose one, the Alford Arms at Frithsden is listed as one of the top pubs in England. (book ahead). Church Farm Café on the way out of Albury is a Chiltern cyclist institution.
The route links two towns (Tring and Berkhamstead) both with good road and rail conncections. Ride each loop separately or combine to create a splendid day out on the bike.
Reviewed and amended April 26
Ride Practicalities
DISTANCE: 51km TOTAL ASCENT: 626m TERRAIN AND SURFACES: The whole route uses bridleways, by-ways and quiet country lanes, except for two short (5-600m) stretches on busy roads. A gravel bike is recommended. In early spring the paths can be muddy and chalk is never good to ride on when wet RECOMMENDED CAFÈS/PUBS/: Edlesborough; Heirloom Café, Dunstable Downs; View Café (NT) Aldbury; Church Farm Café, The Greyhound, Ashridge Estate; Ashridge Monument Café, Ashridge House; The Bakehouse; Frithsden (near Berkhamstead); The Alford Arms, NEARBY MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: Tring, Berkhamstead, PLACES TO VISIT; Edlesborough: St. Mary the Virgin church, Ashridge Estate; Ashridge House and bluebell woods LINKS TO OTHER RIDES: The Chiltern Explorer
Ride Notes
Having beseiged Berkhamstead Castle (wehre the ride begins)and laid waste its inhabitants in time honoured fashion, (just as the French king Louis VIII did), head up the hill onto the Berkhamstead Commons, once part of a royal hunting forest. There’s an optional, and short diversion, to Ashridge House, a giant pile of a home and now housing a good cafe.
Duke of Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge
The Ashridge Estate, was variously owned by the Bonhommes, (what a name for a group of monks - ‘good men’), and later by the Tudor monarchs who apparently loved the place. The first Duke of Bridgewater bought the estate from the Crown and successive Dukes used it as their private playground until Lloyd George’s Death Duties made the passing of huge estates onto the next generation all but impossible. In the early years of the twentieth century, the House became a Conservative (party) college before coming under the on-going control of the Hult International Business School. The gardens are sometimes open to the public.
Using the wide, shared paths through the estate’s woodlands, you arrive at the monster memorial dedicated to the memory of Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater who is said to be 'the ‘father of English canals’. (There’s a café here too). The riding is lovely on a well drained and maintained path through woods with occasional views. If you are here at bluebell time, you’re in for a real treat, especially if you make another short diversion once you reach the road, to Dockey Wood, one of England’s most famous bluebell woods.
Back on the route, you head downhill towards Ivinghoe Beacon (which is well worth a quick walk up - walkers take a dim view of riding a bike up it) before heading fast downhill to join a busy road on which you have to ride without protection for 600m.
Leaving the road, you head off onto some great bridlepaths heading up to Edelborough Church, an ancient place of prayer with some remarkable Victorian wall paintings. (You can stay the night here too). Small roads take you to Tottenhoe and an ancient track leads you up to the Dunstable Downs where you ride whilst gliders fly around you. It seems as if you can see the whole of England from up here.
The route uses more bridleways to pass Whipsade Zoo - through the fencing more exotic animals than you might expect in the Home counties can both be often seen and heard. More woodland trails take you past vast swathes of bluebells, before a series of ups and downs (quite steep) take you to Frithsden and its pub, the Alford Arms (excellent) and on lanes back to Berkhamstead.
The second loop, which can be ridden as a separate ride or added to first to create a wonderful day out, takes you onto Albury Common, before you drop down to Albury itself. If you’re out for the day, Church Farm Café serve a very good cyclist lunch - packed rolls, great soup, cakes and coffee.
The route continues on a mix of paths and road into Tring, rather a picturesque town filled with Victorian architecture and ruined by the number of cars crawling along its highstreet. You’re not there long before you head up the steepest and longest climb of the day which takes you to Hastoe Hill, the highest point of the day.
Thereafter, its a continuation of tracks and lanes to take you to Chollesbury, passing its famous windmill, more bluebells and woods, a ruin of a 13th century church and eventually a sharp descent back into Berkhamstead, where the sheep-dip was invented (a mix of arsenic and sulphur) and where in days past, straw plaiting occupied over 400 women. A pint of well kept beer at the Rising Sun, or a meal at The Boat, may be just what is needed, before returning to the castle to ensure all is still and at peace within its walls.
All the details given on this route are given in good faith. However, situations on the ground can change, so if you know of any access issues, closures, or have any thoughts and feedback on the route, please include them in the comments section below.
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