Short rides to local pubs. These also make good beginner or family rides. Visiting the pub is not compulsory.

The Perch and Pike

A short ride along the river to the pub in South Stoke.

Highlights
The friendly pub/restaurant in South Stoke, mentioned in Three Men in a Boat

River views and wildlife. The route passes the Withymead nature reserve.

Hazards
The bridleway can be muddy. An alternative is shown as the return route along the B4009 road.

Hospitality
The Perch and Pike

South Stoke also has a village shop.

Hints
The route also passes the Rossini at the Leatherne Bottel, a former riverside pub, now a “Relaxed Riverside Dining” restaurant.

The Sun at Whitchurch Hill

Up and down some Chiltern Hills to a nearby pub, with an easy return.

Highlights
A long descent on Long Toll near Woodcote.

Stunning views of the River Thames and the Goring Gap on the return journey near Upper Gatehampton.

Hazards
The descent from Upper to Lower Gatehampton is very steep and narrow, with a sharp bend at the bottom.

Hospitality
The Sun at Whitchurch Hill

The King William IV

Five miles each way to a country pub with spectacular views of the local countryside.

Highlights
The view from the terrace outside the pub, particularly on warm summer evenings.

Hazards
The Ipsden Dip – steep down and up with a bend and loose gravel at the bottom.

Care needed when crossing the busy A4074.

Hospitality
The King William IV at Hailey

Hints
The return route avoids the Ipsden Dip, but uses the B4009, which can be busy at times.

The Bell at Aldworth

A climb into the Berkshire Downs to visit the famous Bell pub at Aldworth.

Highlights
Extensive views from the Ridgeway on the return journey.

A small detour in Aldworth will take you to the church and the famous Aldworth Giants, medieval effigies of members of the De La Beche family.

Hazards
Busy traffic on the A329

The long descent of the Ridgeway to Warren Farm and Rectory Road has a number of drainage run-off channels running diagonally across it. Take care here.

Hospitality
The Bell at Aldworth

Hints
This route is shown going out on tarmac “round the back” of the infamous Streatley Hill, with the return journey using bridleways and the Ridgeway. A hybrid or touring bike will be fine here if the conditions are dry. The B4009 Streatley Hill is another alternative for the return, but it is very steep (16%), quite busy and has poor sight lines.

The Cherry Tree

A stiff climb up the Chiltern escarpment is rewarded by a family-friendly country pub with a large garden.

Highlights
Bluebells in the woods during the spring.

The Maharajah’s Well in Stoke Row.

Hazards
Steep climb up Garson’s hill.

Poor surface on descent down Busgrove Lane from Stoke Row

Hospitality
The Cherry Tree Inn.

Stoke Row also has a village shop and cafe.

Hints
The Maharajah’s Well route provides alternatives for both the outward and return legs.

The Black Horse

A traditional country pub, hidden in the Chiltern woods.

The Black Horse has been in existence for over 350 years and run by the same family for over 110 (according to whatpub.com).

Highlights
The Black Horse pub

Hazards
High-speed traffic on the A4074, but both crossings have good visibility.

Garsons Hill at 4.5 miles is steep and narrow. If following this route in the reverse direction, take care for the loose gravel and sharp corner at the bottom.

Hospitality
The Black Horse pub (no website)

Village shop and café (and another pub) in Stoke Row, 0.5 miles ENE of the Black Horse.

Shops and pubs in Woodcote.

Hints

The military-looking buildings in the nearby woodland are the remains of a wartime RAF maintenance unit. Those on the site of the current timber yard formed part of a resettlement camp for displaced Polish families, which was active from 1948 to the early 1960s. For more information, see http://www.polishresettlementcampsintheuk.co.uk/checkendon.htm.

Off-road Pub Crawl

A 20 mile circular route to the five Chilterns pubs nearest Goring, with a fine mixture of downland, woodland and views of the Thames en route. The one major climb is from the King William IV pub to Homer, which is on a bridleway with a good surface.

Highlights
The pubs! The view towards the Ridgeway from the King William. Bluebells in the spring. The final descent into the Thames Valley.

Hazards
The off-road sections are bridleway and can be muddy after wet weather.

The bridleway descent to the Thames Valley is relatively steep and quite loose in parts. An alternative is the tarmac private road via Upper Gatehampton.

Busy traffic on the A4074, which is crossed twice.

Hospitality
Five pubs: The Perch and Pike, King William IV, Cherry Tree, Black Horse and The Sun at Whitchurch Hill. Each of the pubs is also described in its own pub ride – see the Routes page.

Café and Village Store at Stoke Row.

Hints
The start of this route is the west side (the “back entrance”) of Goring and Streatley station.

The sharp left turn from one bridleway to another (from East to North at 4.28 mi) is easy to miss.