C2C = Cycle to Cafe. Circular routes from Goring designed as much for a friendly cafe or two as for the lovely scenery and enjoyable riding.

Waterperry Gardens

Across the Thame valley to the famous Waterperry Gardens

Highlights
Coffee or lunch on the lawn at the Waterperry Gardens tea shop (assuming fine weather).

The views of the Thame valley near Chippinghurst and Cuddesdon, once threatened as the route for an Oxford – Cambridge Expressway.

Hazards
Traffic on the stretch from Stadhampton through Chiselhampton up the hill to the right turn off the B480, and on a short section of the A329 across the M40 at Milton Common.

Hospitality
The Tea Shop at Waterperry Gardens

Cafes in Benson. Village shop in Ewelme.

Hints
Waterperry Gardens was made famous by Beatrix Havergal, who established her School of Horticulture for Ladies there from 1932 to 1971. It’s now home to 8 acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens, a quality plant centre and garden shop, gallery and gift shop, museum and tea shop. No entrance fee is payable when just visiting the Tea Shop.

The route uses a short section of bridleway from Waterperry Gardens to Waterstock

Alternative routes to or from Crowmarsh Gifford are available, either on-road or off-road, using part of the route to Wallingford.

Whitchurch Hill and Checkendon

A steep climb out of the Thames Valley is followed by bridleways through beech woods.

Highlights
Bluebells in the spring.

Extensive views west across South Oxfordshire and the Berkshire Downs (at 8.8 miles)

Historic pub near the highest point on the route.

Hazards
Take extra care at road crossings. The two with the major A4074 are quite obvious, with good visibility, but some of the others come with very little warning on roads that are quite busy, for example the crossings at 3.2 miles and 7.3 miles.

The initial climb near Hartslock after 1 mile is quite steep with a loose surface. There is a simple on-road alternative following the road and tarmac bridleway past Upper Gatehampton Farm. Turn sharp left up the hill instead of taking the off-road section.

Hospitality
The Black Horse pub is right on the route at 7.6 miles, close to its highest point. For more information about the pub and alternative on-road routes to and from it, see The Black Horse pub ride.

Hints
This is a great ride for viewing bluebells, with the majority of the sections of woodland on the route having extensive displays of bluebells in the spring.

The bridleways in the mid-part of the route can be very muddy in wet weather.

Inkpen

Down the beautiful Bagnor Valley and up onto the foothills of the Newbury Downs.

Highlights
The winding Bagnor Valley

Hazards
Two crossings of the A4, which has high-speed traffic.

The descent of Streatley Hill – steep (14%), winding and with traffic lights at the bottom

Hospitality
The Honesty Coffee Shop at Inkpen shares its site and kitchen with The Crown and Garter pub.

Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Cafe is a very short distance off-route at 9 miles, and again on the return at 45 miles.

Hints
The Boxford Alps are a succession of three relatively short climbs where the route takes a cut across the Downs between the Lambourn and Winterbourne valleys. Probably so named by Reading cyclists, they feature frequently in sportives and Audax rides. Although not that high (a total of 250 ft of climbing for the three), they feel like Alps for riders in the latter stages of a long challenge ride.

The route uses the old railway path from Hermitage to Hampstead Norreys. It has a good off-road surface. The alternative is the B4009, which runs parallel one field to the west.

Greenham Common

A visit to the Cold War Control Tower at Greenham Common, now a cafe surrounded by a nature reserve.

Highlights
The former RAF airfield at Greenham Common, now a nature reserve, but famous in the 1980s for the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp protesting against nuclear weapons.

Hazards
The first part of Crookham Common Road from Brimpton is quite windy, making it difficult for traffic to overtake. Once it straightens out it’s a lot calmer.

The return uses National Cycle Route 4 along the Kennet and Avon Canal for a mile or two, as the alternative roads through Newbury and Thatcham are quite busy.

The descent of Streatley Hill – steep (14%), winding and with traffic lights at the bottom

Hospitality
Greenham Common Control Tower (museum) and Cafe (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Honesty at the Base cafe is open seven days a week, situated in the business park on the south side of the airfield.

The Blackbird cafe at Chapel Row

Molly’s Village Cafe on the A4 at Woolhampton.

Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Cafe

Hints
The route takes in both the Honesty Coffee Shop and the Control Tower. It can be easily tweaked to avoid either.

Cuddesdon and Little Milton

A relatively flat tour of the valley of the river Thame (not Thames) north of Wallingford

Highlights
The views of the Thame valley near Chippinghurst and Cuddesdon, once threatened as the route for an Oxford – Cambridge Expressway.

Hazards
Traffic on the stretch from Stadhampton through Chiselhampton up the hill to the right turn off the B480, and on a short section of the A329 through Little Milton

Hospitality
Little Milton Village Shop and Post Office. A delightful location overlooking the village’s recreation ground.

Cafes in Benson. Village shop in Ewelme.

Hints
The climbs on the route are generally quite short and not too steep, the exception being the steep pull up through Denton to Cuddesdon.

The route back from Little Milton is quite open, in contrast to the outward half, which is relatively sheltered: a good route to choose when there is a northerly wind.

Spire and Spoke

Below the Chilterns escarpment to a cycle pub/cafe, with an easy ride back – after a classic Chilterns climb

Highlights
The sense of achievement and relief when you get to the top of Watlington Hill.

Hazards
Two crossings each of the A4074 and A4130, both with good visibility

The infamous Ipsden Dip on the way out – steep both sides, with gravel on the bend at the bottom

Hospitality
Spire and Spoke cafe and bar in Watlington

Village shop in Ewelme on the outward half. Maker Space cafe just off-route on the A4130 at Nuffield on the return half.

Hints
The big climb up Watlington Hill to Christmas Common starts the moment you leave Spire and Spoke, although it gets much steeper as you go around the first bend.

The route back from Christmas Common to Goring is gently downhill, giving a relaxing ride, unless there’s a strong southwesterly wind.

It’s possible to shorten the route by 2.8 miles by taking the B480 from Cuxham direct to Watlington.

Taste of The Ridgeway

An on-road climb up to The Ridgeway, followed by a hurtle down Thurle Down

Highlights
The wide-open views of Ridgeway country to the northwest of Aldworth

Hazards
Traffic on the A329. The right turn onto Hook End Lane is on a stretch of road with good visibility, but beware of high-speed traffic from behind you.

The chalk on The Ridgeway is very slippy when wet, making it easy for your front wheel to slip sideways and throw you off.

The descent of Thurle Down has drainage gullies diagonally across the path

Hospitality
The Bell pub in Aldworth. CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2019, but no website.

Coppa Club at the Swan in Streatley. Cafe, bar, restaurant and gym in a hotel with a stunning Thames-side location.

Other cafes and pubs in Goring.

Hints
The route starts from the west side of Goring & Streatley station to use quieter roads through the village.

This route uses a short stretch of the A329 in order to avoid the very steep and busy Streatley Hill.

It’s possible to cycle The Ridgeway all the way to its western end 40 miles away in Avebury, and many people do. This ride gives a brief idea of what the terrain and views are like. East of Goring some sections of The Ridgeway long-distance trail are footpath, not bridleway, and out-of-bounds to cyclists.

Ridgeway and Cholsey

Up The Ridgeway to Blewbury Down, returning via Blewbury and Cholsey

Highlights
Wide views to both sides from The Ridgeway

The straight, fast, easy descent on tarmac to Blewbury

Views across to the Chilterns from the descent of Cholsey Hill (photo above)

Hazards
Traffic on the A329. Although this is an A road, it has a weight restriction barring heavy vehicles and is generally quite wide with good sight lines.

The chalk on The Ridgeway is very slippy when wet, making it easy for your front wheel to slip sideways and throw you off.

Hospitality
Style Acre Tea Rooms at Savage’s Garden Centre in Blewbury

Coppa Club at the Swan in Streatley. Cafe, bar, restaurant and gym in a hotel with a stunning Thames-side location.

Other cafes and pubs in Goring.

Hints
The route starts from the west side of Goring & Streatley station to use quieter roads through the village. The station has bike-friendly lifts.

Nettlebed off-road

Classic Chiltern beechwood bridleways

Highlights
Extensive views towards the Thames Valley on the return

Bluebells in the spring

Hazards
Two crossings of the A4074; both have good visibility.

Short stretches along the busy A4130 in Nettlebed and Nuffield

Hospitality

The Cheese Shed, McQueens Deli & Bakery (open Wed – Sat), both in Nettlebed

Hints
The bridleways south of Checkendon and Stoke Row can be very muddy at wet times of year. These can be avoided by taking the road through Checkendon to Stoke Row and Witheridge Hill. The other bridleways have much firmer surfaces.

The Cheese Shed is based in a barn. Don’t expect to be warm if visiting in winter. McQueens has indoor seating, but is not open every day.

Across The Ridgeway (Compton – Blewbury)

Off-road but all-weather route across the ancient Ridgeway in the North Wessex Downs

Highlights
The views from the top of Compton Downs, where the route crosses The Ridgeway, a route used by travellers since prehistoric times and now a national trail.

The straight descent on tarmac down to Blewbury, with great views and (probably) no traffic.

Hazards
Traffic along a short stretch of the A329 coming out of Streatley. The route uses this to avoid the very steep (and quite busy) Streatley Hill.

Short stretches along the busy A4130 in Nettlebed and Nuffield

Hospitality

Style Acre Tea Room at Savages Garden Centre in Blewbury. Style Acre is a charity that supports over 250 people with learning disabilities and autism throughout Oxfordshire. The Tea Room is run as a social enterprise so that people the charity supports can take part in catering work placements and gain employment.

Various cafes and pubs in Wallingford and Goring

Hints
The route starts and finishes on the west side of Goring & Streatley railway station, which has bike-friendly lifts.

From Compton to Blewbury the route is a combination of gravel or concrete farm tracks and tarmac no through roads, with virtually no traffic. The gravel can be a bit loose, but overall the route is suitable for hybrid bikes.

Some of the bridleway sections between Wallingford and Goring can be muddy in wet weather. For on-road alternatives, see the Goring – Wallingford via B4009 route (in reverse) or the second half of The Moretons route.