1. Newent South Loop (Full) New and Improved
Newent - Tibberton - Bulley - Birdwood - Blaisdon - Flaxley - Mitcheldean - Lea - Aston Crews - Linton - Oxenhall - Newent
This route offers easy riding, mostly on quiet roads and lanes with safe crossings over the A40 and very few cars or lorries, except possibly at times through Mitcheldean. Visibility at junctions is mostly excellent but please wear brightly coloured clothing and use your lights to be seen in dim conditions. Everyone should wear a helmet!
Starting from the centre of Newent head past the Tudor Fish and Chip shop out along the B4216 (Culver Street, then Newent Lane) for 2.3km. Turn left at St Anthony’s Cross and follow Kent’s Green Road all the way to the T junction with Taynton Road opposite Taynton and Tibberton Village Hall (4km). Turn left towards Tibberton and then right into Huntley Road after 1km. At the next T junction, turn left and follow to Bulley Lane. Keep on Bulley Lane past Bulley Church towards Churcham, turning right into Lake Lane for Birdwood. Continue to the A40 at Birdwood, cross to Chapel lane and continue to Upper Ley, then Frewins Lane, Northwood Green, then right at T along Boseley Road. Follow signs to Flaxley. At the next junction, turn right along Flaxley Road to the junction with Abenhall Road. Turn right and follow Abenhall Road to Mitcheldean. At the mini roundabout, take the exit up Hawker Hill to the High Street (possibly use the pedestrian crossing to get over the A4136), then left after about 0.5km onto Ross Road (B4224) for 2.5km to Lea. Right onto B4222 and cross the A40 at Lea where there are traffic lights and on up to Aston Crews on the B4222. Before the Penny Farthing Inn, turn left towards Linton, then either follow the lane along the ridge or take the second left into Cut Throat Lane. Turn right past Burton Farm up the hill to Linton. In Linton, continue past the the Alma Inn, down the hill and turn right towards Newent under the M50 to the B4221. Turn right and go back over the M50 and then immediately left down Burrups Lane and left again into Ivy House Lane. At Kempley Road, turn right for a short distance before turning left into Oxenhall Lane and continue through to Oxenhall. Turn right at Oxenhall joining the North loop and follow Horsefair Lane back to Newent.
Total distance: approx. 45km (28 miles)
NEWENT WELCOMES CYCLISTS and is a great hub for many different routes starting and ending in the town as well as for groups riding through from surrounding towns (Ledbury, Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester) to the Forest of Dean. Local rides range from short routes, to build confidence and fitness, to whole day excursions taking in great views, diverse places of interest, some excellent pubs and welcoming food stops.
For more about Newent see: http://www.fweb.org.uk/towns/35-Newent , http://www.newent-online.co.uk/local-information/history-area/ ,
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/county25/townguideNewent/
Parking
There is a large council car park by Newent Lake (http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/newent/ ) where charges apply, currently £1.60 for the day (http://www.fdean.gov.uk/residents/environment/car-parking/ ) and llimited free parking at the Good News Centre
Cafes and Restaurants in Newent
Good News Centre, High Street Newent, GL18 1AN
Tel; 01531 821456, Mon - Sat, 9 - 5 (last orders 4.30)
Really excellent for food, coffee and cakes, friendly staff and good value
http://www.goodnewscentre.com
The Buttery Tea Rooms 1 Culver Street, Newent, GL18 9DB
Tel: 01531 820896, Mon - Sat, 9 - 5; Sun 12.30 - 2.30
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g315973-d6613390-Reviews-The_Buttery_Tea_Room-Newent_Forest_of_Dean_Gloucestershire_England.html
Erols Sandwich Bar, 16 Church Street, Newent, GL18 1PP
Tel: 07565 296804, Mon - Fri, 9 - 3
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g315973-d6578752-Reviews-Erols_Sandwich_Bar-Newent_Forest_of_Dean_Gloucestershire_England.html
The Newent Tandoori, 34 Broad Street, Newent, GL18 1AJ
Tel: 01531 822748/828264, 5 - 11 every day
http://www.newenttandoori.co.uk/index.html
There is a variety of shops and also three supermarkets which are open till late
Pubs in Newent
Kings Arms, Ross Road, Newent, GL18 1BD
Tel: 01531 820548
https://whatpub.com/pubs/GLO/0604/kings-arms-newent
George Hotel, 21 - 23 Church Street, Newent, GL18 1PU
Tel: 01531 820203
https://whatpub.com/pubs/GLO/0360/george-hotel-newent
Cobblers, 7 Church Street, Newent, GL18 1SA
Tel: 07990 992545
https://whatpub.com/pubs/GLO/1048/cobblers-newent
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Along the Route
Bulley Church
Part of this building has been there for over 900 years
Fairview Garden Centre, Chapel Lane, Birdwood, GL2 8AR
Tel: 01452 750436,
Excellent food Mon - Sat 9 - 5.30, Sun 10 - 4
http://www.thefairviewgardener.co.uk/index.html
Red Hart Inn, Blaisdon
http://www.redhartinn.co.uk
Tel: 01452 830477
Popes Hill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope%27s_Hill
Flaxley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaxley
Gunns Mill Furnace
http://fodbpt.org/gunns-mill.html
ASHA Centre
http://www.ashacentre.org/index.php/en/
St Anthony’s Well
http://www.deanweb.info/history6.html
Mitcheldean
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitcheldean
The Coop is open till 10.00 pm each day (9.00 on Sundays)
Lea, Herefordshire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea,_Herefordshire
The Crown Inn, Lea
http://www.thecrowninnatlea.co.uk
Tel: 01989 750407
The Penny Farthing Inn, Aston Crews
http://www.pennyfarthinginn.co.uk
Tel: 01989 750366
Linton, Herefordshire
http://www.lintonfestival.org
A Yew tree in the churchyard is said to be over 4000 years old.
The Alma Inn, Linton
http://www.almainnlinton.co.uk
Tel: 01989 720355
Bike Shops
Ross on Wye (9.3 miles)
Revolutions 48 Broad Street, Ross on Wye, HR6 7DY
Tel: 01989 562639
http://www.revolutionsatross.co.uk
Ledbury (9.0 miles)
Cycles Clements, 6 Bank Crescent, Ledbury, HR8 1AA
Tel: 01531 632213
http://www.cyclesclements.co.uk
Gloucester (9.8 miles)
Many to choose from. See for example: https://www.yell.com/s/cycle+shops+and+repairs-gloucester.html
Also Halfords, 210 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, GL4 4LP
Tel: 01452 310055
http://www.halfords.com/stores/gloucester
Rail Connections
Gloucester
Bruton Way, Gloucester, GL1 1DE
Tel: 0845 700 0125
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/GCR.aspx
Ledbury
7 Masefield Avenue, Ledbury, HR8 1BW
http://www.railticket.co.uk
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/led/details.html
A & E
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN
Tel: 0300 422 2222
Forest of Dean
Dilke Memorial Hospital
Speech House Road, Cinderford, GL14 3HX
Tel: 0300 421 8640
Ledbury Minor Injuries Unit
Market Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire
Tel: 01531 632488
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