Part of the West Country Cycling Weekend series, this event is a little bit different to most on our calendar, and usually requires the attendance of several of our members – as a club, we are due to host the White Horse Weekend based in Chippenham next year. This is a fantastic chance to ride in a different part of the country and a great opportunity to meet up with people from other clubs and areas. The event organisers have provided us with plenty of information, which you will find below, if you are interested in attending, please contact John Else at john.else@mypostoffice.co.uk.
13th-15th April (Friday evening through to Sunday lunchtime) base at Redmarley Village Hall GL19 3HS.
The weekend programme:
Friday
- Hall open from 5pm for registration. Tea coffee and cakes available. General social evening.
- Note: Pubs nearby for evening meals (0.2 miles The Rose and Crown or 2.6 miles The Swan Inn, both on the A417 towards Gloucester), or bring your own food (and wine) into the hall. The nearest places for a take-away (fish & chips, pizza, Indian, Chinese) would be Newent 4.5 miles or Ledbury 6.6 miles. We have use of the kitchen in the hall, so you are welcome to bring something to heat up.
Saturday
- Tea/coffee and buns/toast served at the Hall from 8.30am.
- All-day led rides of different lengths to start from 9:30am; stops for morning coffee and lunch (not booked).
- Tea/coffee and cakes available at the Hall after the rides; stop for afternoon tea possible on some rides.
- Pre-booked evening meal served at 7:30pm in the Hall. General social evening.
Sunday
- Tea/coffee and buns/toast served at the Hall from 8.30am.
- Morning led rides of different lengths to start from 9:30am; stop for morning coffee.
- Pre-booked lunch available at 1:30pm in the Hall.
Note: The Saturday evening and Sunday lunch in the hall will be provided by our local bespoke catering service called May Hill Catering and meals must be booked in advance. Details of choices and prices are on the booking form.
The Ledbury and Newent area is renowned for its beautiful wild daffodils and bluebells that cover the woods and verges with carpets of yellow and purple — glorious sights even for people who live here and witness them every year. However, we also have fantastic cycling along quiet country lanes with fabulous vistas of the Black Mountains, the Malvern Hills, the Cotswold Hills and our iconic May Hill, with tall pine trees on top commemorating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and our present Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
There is a variety of accommodation in the near vicinity – www.visitledbury.info and www.bedandbreakfast.co.uk (search for Redmarley Dabitot) have useful listings – with more places to stay in Newent, Ledbury, and Gloucester. A number of campervans and caravans can be parked at the hall and there is very limited space for 3 small tents.
We will have three levels of all-day led rides on the Saturday, ranging from those who like to stretch their legs to those who have no intention of doing so, and two rides on the Sunday. Please indicate your likely preference at the top of page 2 of the form so we know how many leaders to line up for each level of ride. If you would prefer to do a self-guided ride, the Newent Loop map will be available free of charge, with a range from 19 to 50 miles – www.newentloop.org There will also be photocopies of maps of the organised rides available for you to take away.
Non-cycling partners (or even you, if the weather isn’t to your liking) can enjoy some of the delights of local towns and villages.
Newent, lying in the north of the Forest of Dean, is an attractive, un-spoilt market town with buildings dating back to the 13th century and a half timbered market house, all part of the town centre conservation area. Newent Lake close to town is a tranquil attraction that offers a home to a diverse range of wildlife.
Ledbury is a Herefordshire market town, lying east of Hereford, and west of the Malvern Hills. It has a significant number of timber-framed structures, in particular along Church Lane and the High Street. One of the most outstanding is the Market House, built in 1617, located in the town centre. Other notable buildings include the parish church of St. Michael and All Angels, the Painted Room (containing sixteenth-century frescoes), the Old Grammar School, the Barrett-Browning memorial clock tower (designed by Brightwen Binyon and opened in 1896) and the restored medieval Master’s House.
Malvern is a spa town and civil parish in Worcestershire, lying at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The centre, Great Malvern, is a historic conservation area, which grew dramatically in Victorian times due to the natural mineral water springs in the vicinity, including Malvern Water.
Cider making is another main feature of the area, and Weston’s Cider Mill www.westons-cider.co.uk/ offers daily guided mill tours and tasting sessions (not free; phone first on 01531 660233), and in their tea room they have a magnificent cider bottle collection on show, one of the largest in the world. Needless to say, they also sell their produce, and their shop is open until 6pm on Friday, 5pm on Saturday.