Watford Cycle Hub: Best Bridleways: Langleybury, Flaunden & Sarratt

One for the Mountain Bikers! This is a Challenging Route in terms of the amount of climbing, but we'll take it on at a Steady Pace, averaging 8-10 mph over the route. Cycling off-road is like running on sand - you'll need to have the fitness level of cycling a Challenging Road Route averaging 10-11 mph to take this one on. So the route itself! We will cut through Whippendell Woods& enjoy a road descent to the Grand Union Canal. After a brief roll along the towpath we cut up through the public bridleways traversing the grounds of The Grove Hotel. At Langleybury Children's Farm we off-road it through some picturesque farmland where we then have our first real challenge with a descent on loose gravel. Following the valley we then take on a challenging off-road climb heading up & over via Penman's Green to Belsize. Then it's a lovely country lane section along to Flaunden where we cut off-road again and descend down to the Chess Valley - the descent through the woods is exhilarating and the last bit on chalk and gravel (as pictured) is a good challenge. We follow a bridleway along by the River Chess, climb to Chenies on road, then descend to Sarratt Bottom to the idyllic Crestyl Watercress Farm for ice cream! :) We then face the challenging Dawes Common Climb up to Sarratt Green before cutting back off-road down a gravel descent back to Chandlers Cross, Whipendell Woods and The Cha Cafe. All in all, hopefully an exhilarating ride with lovely scenery right on your doorstep! :)