This route started out from Worcester and headed generally South-Westwards towards the Wye Valley. Being our first ever outing on loaded touring bikes the start was a little stuttering. Loading a touring bike is an art - if you get the balance wrong the bike handles like a pig - or you go around in circles.

 

The next problem was due to poor mounting of panniers, causing a pannier to drop off the back of the bike, followed by the heels of our shoes hitting the bags. Eventually all the minor niggles were sorted out and we had left Worcester behind us. This being our first fully laden route we chose a flattish route South of the Malvern Hills. This lead through quiet country lanes until we reached the bottom of the Malverns where a headwind started.

 

Once past the Malverns the headwind died down and we made our first stop at Much Marcle to visit the lovely old Hellens House. A tour of the gardens was followed by tea and cakes. Unfortunately the tea and cakes left no room to visit the other highlight of Much Marcle - the Westons Cider Mill.

 

From Much Marcle the road climbed steeply to cross the Marcle Hills - a good 100 m climb. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the reality of the taking a loaded bike up a steep hill wasn't nearly as bad as we had feared (that said it still wasn't a walk in the park). The road dropped down to How Caple on the River Wye. The road then followed closely to the River Wye with beautiful steep wooded slopes to the left full of Bluebells.

We crossed the River Wye via a small footbridge near Foy. The footbridge was fine but the route onto the road the otherside involved a stile - never good with a loaded bike. The bikes were unloaded, lifted over the stile and then reloaded again and we were continued to the hamlet of Sellack. We found a quiet corner of a field and set up the tent just as the sun was beginning to set. The camping spot was ideal, lovely views and perfectly tranquil.

We ate that evening in the Lough Pool pub down the road - a relaxing, sumptuous treat when you are camping in a field with no facilities.

The route took us through Fownhope and then to Woolhope. Woolhope is a sleepy little village hidden away in the folds of the Marcle Hills and has two fabulous pubs well worth visiting. We carried on climbing up to the summit of the Marcle Hills. A top ten view point along the ridge and Eastwards to the Malvern Hills. We cooked up some sausage sandwiches for lunch, and feeling brave decided to return to Worcester by tackling the Malvern Hills

 

 

We took the fast descent and the little Marcle Lane to Ledbury where we stopped for a cup of tea. The backroute from Ledbury manages to avoid all of the traffic on the busy A449 before reaching Colwall Green. The climb of 200m from here to the B4232 is steep in places but quiet and varied enough to take your mind off the burning thighs. Once on the B4232 the the cycle around to the North end of the Malverns has a constantly changing view - and a rip roaring final descent into Great Malvern and thence to Sherrards Green.

 

For more information or questions please contact us at isaetterry@mac.com