The Elizabeth Line, formerly Crossrail, provides easy access to many cycle rides in the countryside around London. I’ll be adding new routes regularly. They will all be for any type of bike - no muddy off road routes!
Langley Windsor Great Park Hurst Langley 73 km
An easy 73 km route starting and finishing at Langley station. Out through Windsor Great Park, skirting Wokingham and with a coffee and cake break at 43 km in Dinton Country Park. I rode this as the first part of a 200 km ride i’m planning from London to Whitchurch, based loosely on the Audax “Brace of Bramleys”.
Totally suitable for a road bike, generally good surfaces with no gravelly sections.
Twyford to Reading - Wandering and Wondering
It’s no more than 10 km from Twyford Station to Reading Station. The ride in this blog was just under 160 km, leaving me plenty of time for my own thoughts as I meandered my way gently through the countryside. On this ride I found myself wondering which, who, what and which again.
Why I like these rides - and you might too
Why I like these rides - and why you might too.
A summary of the key points of each ride using the Elizabeth Line.
Taplow Boveney Eton Windsor Taplow 30 km
An easy ride of about 30 km, much of it on quiet roads or well surfaced off road cycleways, with one optional climb. There’s much to see on this ride which takes in Eton and Windsor, passing close by the castle. The first part of this ride, taking in a refreshment stop at Dorney Court and passing Boveney Lock, is suitable for inexperienced riders, possibly including children with the adults.
Never Far from Maidenhead - 58 km
At just under 60 km, a leisurely circular ride starting and finishing in Maidenhead. With so many changes of direction this is a great ride for a breezy day because you are never left slogging into a headwind for long.
Two refreshments stops - at 20 km and 44 km. Options to cut the route short.
Shenfield - Good, Quiet Roads
A ride of just over 60 km from Shenfield at the eastern end of the Elizabeth Line. Good quality, quiet roads with no hills and two recommended refreshments stops at Matching Tye and Norton Heath.
Twyford, Stokenchurch, Maidenhead
Starting from Twyford station, the route took me to a hot drink and homemade cake at the Ewelme Village Store before turning north through Cuxham to the A40 old Oxford to London road for a long but easy climb to Stokenchurch. It was then downhill through the picturesque village of Hambleden to the weir at Mill End. The route then took me on familiar roads passing the Velolife cafe at Warren Row before reaching Maidenhead for a train back to London on the Elizabeth Line.
Seven Chiltern Wells from Twyford
A ride of just over 50 km from Twyford station to Reading station, both on the Elizabeth Line, taking in seven wells in the Chilterns. While the most famous is the Maharaja’s Well at Stoke Row, this ride takes in six others, all quite easy to find.
Maidenhead - 27 km easy ride
An easy circular ride from Maidenhead, using a traffic free section of the National Cycle Network. No challenging climbs, one exhilirating descent towards Cookham.
Iver - Taplow - West Drayton (54 km)
At 55km, a fairly short ride taking in the sights of Windsor and Eton before venturing into the countryside, with an option to shorten the ride to 46 km by returning through Burnham Beeches.
Chiltern Hills from Twyford
A circular 70 km ride with some hills and two highly recommended cafes from Twyford Station. Optional “there and back” addition from Ewelme to the No.25 Cafe in Benson.