George's Delightful Abbeys & Roads 200

Pass three abbeys in various states, crossing the old Calne branchline and pass through Gloucester to Taynton. Follow roads around the Forest of Dean before up George’s Delight then back across the Severn Bridge.

Description:

Starting at Gary Harris Cycles you climb up onto The Cotswolds at Hinton making your way east to Lacock to enjoy savouries and cakes from Lacock Bakery. Passing the abbey you head up Bowden Hill to Derry Hill. Descending you will pass the site of Stanley Abbey long since raised to the ground, and also the dismantled Calne branchline, before heading north through Malmesbury passing its abbey. Slowly climb quite roads to The Cotswolds Edge through Minchinhampton. Drop straight down into Stroud and up and over to Gloucester passing across its docks and on to Taynton Farm Shop & Tea Room. Carrying on you cross the Wye with the Forest of Dean to your left and use the old road to Monmouth. On the descent you will have to join the A40 dual carriageway for 3km but being downhill it is over quick; but please take care on this section! Continue west before the homeward stretch south up George’s Delight and over to Chepstow and The Severn Bridge. Just before the end there is the infamous Fernhill, infamous as for many Bristolian riders it is that last niggle you get coming back from usually an even nigglier ride over the border in Wales.

Details:

Route: It is an advisory route, you may take a different one to that supplied as long as you visit all the controls within time and answer the info questions; no allowance will be made for any extra distance this may occur.

Covid-19: Whilst restrictions have eased I may still use groups and a staggered start time to ease the pressure on controls of every one arriving simultaneously. I still highly recommend the use of a mask/buff whilst in close proximity to others whilst undertaking the event, what ever your views are; it is a small measure that can reduce the chance of you spreading it if you are a carrier.