This is a really flat ride with no more than 100 feet of climb and just on 5 miles depending upon where you start in the village. There are two versions of the loop. One avoids the big roundabout where Majors Road (MR) meets the A420 and also avoids the roundabout on the exits from the Defence Academy (DA) and the Shopping/Eateries at Watchfield.
Most of the rides in this series are done anti-clockwise as this way you avoid as many right turns as possible. As well as being a little more dangerous, right turns also mean you probably have to stop and get going again, whereas left turns especially Major-Minor can be taken without stopping so long as your exit and the way ahead is clear.
Please note that the “Take Care” messages in the route notes are not there to worry you they are simply there to advise you of what we have observed doing the risk assessment. If the risks were deemed to be anything higher than very low, we would not be publishing the route.
Our ride starts by going down Stainswick Lane (SL) and turning left into Vicarage Lane (VL). At the T junction with Longcot Road (LR) turn Right, take care because traffic from your right may not have slowed, and traffic from left tends to be accelerating.
Follow LR for two miles to junction with Majors Road (MR). The road surface in places is not good so keep your eye on the road and if necessary move out to avoid the bumps and pot holes.
At MR turn Left, the road surface here was redone in 2019, but is not nice and the road rises slowly.
Avoiding Roundabouts: Turn left into Barrington Avenue; this is MoD Land but there are no prohibition signs; Take first Right into Scholar Close and go almost to the end take the Right turn (Scholar Close 35 -55) and almost immediately you will see a left turn onto a cycle path follow cycle path to Y fork, take right fork and then turn Right as you approach the entrance road to the DA. About 30m before the roundabout you will see a cycle path crossing, cross over and follow cycle path through wooded area to the Traffic Light Controlled crossing just ahead you will see a dropped kerb so with care watching for traffic from behind you can join Faringdon Road (FR).
Taking Roundabouts: Continue along MR until roundabout (there is a dirt track on the left which you could take). At roundabout take first left and then at next roundabout watching for traffic from all directions go straight on to Faringdon Road.
Follow Faringdon Road back to Shrivenham. At the golf Course entrance sweeping left hand bend and be ready to slow and give way to oncoming traffic at the Traffic Calming just Past Days Ground. There is a space on the left of the road but take care if you use it as the end tends to be full of water and or rubbish. The author prefers to take the primary position at places like this.
As you approach the mini roundabout, check right for the odd bit of traffic that is coming from the High Street and not turning but going on to Longcot road. On the High Street ride about 2 metres away from all the parked cars, keeping an eye out for reversing lights coming on.
Just past the Post Office and the One Stop you complete the ride. Well done.