| 1. This is a scenic ride on quiet, well-surfaced country lanes through beautiful, varied countryside including open fields, woodland areas and characteristic Essex villages: Stock, Blackmore and Ingatestone. After a gentle ride to Stock, where there are shops and excellent pubs you follow Swan Lane down to an old hump-back bridge on the road to Margaretting. Crossing the A12 at Margaretting, the road gently climbs up Ivy Barns lane to the Viper Pub and Mill Green. You can either follow the road anti-clockwise or clockwise to Blackmore - the route is know by a local cycle club as the "Viper Loop". A cut-through along the scenic Beggar Hill is the way illustrated here and arriving in Blackmore, a stop is recommended at the tea rooms. |