A Ride Based on Maidenhead with optional climb challenge

Why This Route?

With two busy days coming up, I wanted a ride of about 60 km with some challenging climbs. For a ride of 50 km that omits the steepest climb, just omit the loop from Lane End. I had designed this ride a couple of years ago to give myself some practice and confidence in tackling the climb of Bullocks Farm Lane which comes in the last quarter of the Audax Turing Tribute, a 200 km ride from Reading that passes by Bletchley Park, home of the code breakers in the second world war. Admittedly, I expected the climb to feel easier as part of a 60 km ride than it did towards the end of a 200.

Leaving Maidenhead

The route leaves the main entrance of Maidenhead station with the Clock Tower ahead, to follow the one way system to the left and then continue straight ahead on to Grenfell Road. The map for this post shows the route to Quarry Wood Road which provides an exhilirating (or slightly scary) descent with two hairpins. The first photo shows the view before the first hairpin while the second photo, taken between the two hairpins, shows the road below by Longridge Activity Centre with its range of facilities for young people.

The road flattens to pass under the busy A404; on the left are fields, on the right housing with some interesting modern architecture. The route turns right by the Compleat Angler to enter Marlow through the impressive bridge. After riding along the High Street (which has some independent shops), the route turns left at the roundabout, then right on the Oxford Road to climb Chalkpit Lane; this becomes Frieth Road with beautiful views over open countryside to the right.

Shortly, the route passes Finnamore Wood, the location of a prison for young offenders. This closed and was demolished in 2023; it is now the site of five substantial new homes.

The route continues to Moor End where you may see two Triumph Spitfire cars languishing under tarpaulins. At the T junction the route turns right to reach Lane End with its church and cottages on the left. Lane End has a Morrisons Daily for riders short on water and basic foods.

For the 60 km ride with a challenging climb, the route turns left, then right along Bolter End Lane for a fast ride downhill towards the old A40 which was the main route between Wales and London. I am old enough to remember crawling along this road in a mini!

Skirting the Old A40

The route turns right just before the A40 to pass the Dashwood Roadhouse, formerly the Dashwood Arms. It still advertises the local Rebellion beer.

The route continues parallel with the A40 on the left until it joins the road for a short distance. For the easiest ride to Bullocks Farm Lane, turn right by a shrine on the verge to a member of the Polish community and pass some commercial buildings to start the climb. I didn’t stop to take any photos of the surface because I thought I would have difficulty in starting again as much of the ride is at 12-13%. When I first tackled this climb as part of the Turing Tribute, I saw some “old school” cyclists walking the climb; they had the traditional high gearing that modern pros would not ride. Bulliocks Farm Lane is at the tougher end of Chiltern hills: the surface is poor with potholes and loose flints and an earth and flint mix taking the centre line.

It eventually tops out for a fairly fast ride back to Lane End, where the route turns right opposite the Strawberry Grove cafe (closed on Sundays) to turn left and retrace part of the route; the ride continues through Frieth to turn left on Parmoor Lane, passing St Katharine’s Convent. It eventually reaches Rockwell End to turn right and descend quite steeply. I’ve been told that this hill is used (in the opposite direction) for hill climbing trials. I leave that to others!

Rockwell End - right turn here to Hambleden

Hambleden and Mill End

The road drops down to the picturesque village of Hambleden which is used as a film location. In the photo you can see that the road surface avoids bland tarmac for a period look.

The route continues to Mill End (passing a car park with toilets) where it takes a footpath across the weir. I never cease to wonder at the power of the water.

Power of the water in the weir at Mill End

The route continues - on foot - to the lock gates where I stopped for a chat with a female cyclist who had ridden from Wokingham. Since COVID, she told me, she rides largely on her own, valuing the flexibility and the benefits for her mental state. She was a strong and consistent rider, as I found when she passed me later.

After stopping to eat by the lock gates I took the route across the meadows to emerge by the Flower Pot inn for the climb to the main road from Henley. I passed a large yellow lorry and was soon “flagged down” a couple of walkers who were looking for the continuation of the Thames Path: back to the yellow lorry!

Bray - JESUS HOSPITALL

Yes, it has a double L and yes, I am omitting a large part of the ride because this post is already quite long. The route eventually leads through Holyport to the village of Bray with its almshouses. Dating from 1607, the original 34 almshouses have been remodelled to provide 13 single and 4 double residences.

Return to Maidenhead

The route returns to Maidenhead, using part of NCN 4 to pass a shopping centre. The map shows the route continuing to the Shoppenhanger Road entrance. Riders with Freedom passes or similar will need to turn right to access the main station entrance as the Shoppenhanger Road entrance is often not staffed.

Route map for Maidenhead Lane End Circular by Clifford French on plotaroute.com