RLE to Crowle Green, 29 June 2022

I had been designated to lead a ride south west so the first thing was to see if I could adapt a ride that was already in the club’s ride directory. I had a scroll through but in the end decided to look for a pub we’d not used before and found The Chequers at Crowle Green that appeared to have had significant renovations.

I used a route I follow regularly from Earlswood out to Alvechurch and then up Cobley Hill before dropping down to Tunstall to cross the main Bromsgrove to Redditch road. Sticking to small roads the route winds south between Upper and Lower Bentley to the Jinny Ring Craft Centre. Continuing south west past Hanbury, across the Saltway and on to Broughton Green. At Shell the route turns west towards Saleway before turning south again through Sale Green and on to Crowle Green.

The return route heads for Himbleton where the club has lunched before, then on east to Earls Common and Stock Green before touching briefly the A422, which goes to Alcester. Coming off the A422 after only a few hundred yards it heads for New End, Sambourne and Studley where it follows a cycle way through the back streets before crossing the main road to head out to Studley Castle. Just before the route joins the A4189 towards Henley in Arden there is a beast of a hill that can be avoided by turning left at the cross roads at its foot and climbing more gently through Outhill to the main road.

On to Ullenhall and past the Danzey Green railway station before passing east of Tanworth in Arden and attacking Tom Hill. Finally across the B4101 towards Earslwood and home.

The GPX file for this route will be found on the Club’s website: http://www.heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk/