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Hi all,
I’ve just moved to the area and am thinking of cycling from Harwell to Wantage via Ickneild Way and Ginge, instead of turning left at Newbury as given by Sustrans 544. The route is:
Does anyone have experience with this modification to the route? Just how far west can you go on Ickneild Way? Google maps satellite view seems to indicate it goes even further west, all the way to Well Street.
I’m a new cyclist and very out of shape, so I don’t want to head off on a bad or dangerous route.
I’d be really grateful for any comments/suggestions/stories of experience.
Thanks,
Scott. -
I’m not sure if I’m seeing your route correctly, but I have a few thoughts. If you are not in good shape I would not recommend trying to cross Ginge Brooke on Ickneild Way. In anything other than (persistently) perfectly dry conditions it becomes so deep in thick sticky mud that it is almost unpassable going Eastwards.
To be honest I’d stick with the published 544 route, it is quiet and actually rather pleasant! Enjoy!
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Don’t do it! Trust route 544. Your proposed route has a chest-high locked gate at the end of Hillside, a muddy track (although currently fairly dry) past Aldfield Farm, then after Newbury Road a very rough section of Icknield Way currently with side-to-side puddles. And the proposed right turn after crossing Ginge Brook uses a private track. The Icknield Way does continue west after Ginge Brook but it’s very cut up by horses; can be OK-ish to cycle eastbound in dry weather, but westbound is uphill and pretty difficult.
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