The Icknield Way and The Ridgeway.

[Globalti]

I discovered by chance today that these ancient routes link Norfolk with Dorset, passing the village of Chinnor where I grew up, Pirton where I once owned a house (though I never stayed there) and Old Sarum where we scattered my Dad's ashes and thence on through Salisbury where my Mum and my sister live.

I'm thinking it would be fitting to cycle with the prevailing wind from Old Sarum back to Chinnor where we had a happy childhood when my Dad was the village doctor.

Anybody know about these routes and can anybody estimate the time that would be required? I reckon 3 days on my light XC mountain bike or my crosser. I wonder if there are maps available?

 

[TheDoctor]

The Icknield Way goes near me (well, some of it does).
It's certainly rideable with a MTB or possibly a tourer if it's not rained lately. Bits of it are roads these days.

 

[palinurus]

I rode the Ridgeway and some other bits of Bridleway (particularly Swans way and parts of the Ickneild way) from near Avebury to somewhere near Tring. I took two days to do that on a 'cross bike, on the first day I took the train to Swindon and rode via. Marlborough to where I wanted to start so there was a bit of extra riding involved. Allow three days and you should be fine. I stopped at the YHA in Streatley- I've no idea if it's still open.

Going wasn't bad on the Ridgeway, somewhat rutted but surface fine for a 'cross bike. Icknield way parts tend to be muddier and more overgrown- you will need longs to protect from nettles.

I didn't know the Icknield way went as far as Norfolk- must explore the rest of it one day.

 

[palinurus]

Turns out I posted something about it.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/ridgeway.27968/#post-551383

 

[outlash]

To give you a taster: http://pages.rapha.cc/rides/icknield-way

 

[Bodhbh]

There's actually a book on the route: The Chalke Way

I've done most of it, but not in one go. Unfortunately it was a few years ago and I can't remember much. Some of the Ridgeway is quite easy double track, some of it is footpath only - let it be on your conscience what you do there - some of it is quite lumpy. I think I did the Ridgeway itself in a couple of days, or at least a weekend making a start on Friday after work. I used a MTB with panniers, touring tyres, etc - it was fine. Get caked in lots of creamy coloured muck from the chalk when it's wet.

I really enjoyed it tbh, particularly the 20 miles or so just west of Goring where you're really on a ridge and pass Uffington White Horse (great campsite there btw), Waylands Smithy, etc.

 

[Globalti]

Useful contributions thanks, just what I expected from CC!

I rode some of it on my Raleigh Roadster when I was about ten years old. We lived on the Lower Icknield way, which was tarmac but the Upper Icknield way was chalk and extremely claggy in wet weather. There was a huge cement works just outside Chinnor, now gone. My Dad was the village doctor and he built the first ever purpose-designed surgery in Britain there. He used to be called out almost every Sunday to patch up the local road club when they had a pileup outside the Bird in Hand. He also got called out a few times to certify dead some Pakistanis and Poles who had had gruesome accidents at the cement works; one who disappeared and reappeared days later, completely dessicated at the outlet in the bottom of a huge hopper full of lime. Later I rode the Upper Icknield way on my 10 speed and snapped the rear axle as the dried chalk was so bumpy.