90 mile local guided cycle tours put on by the organisers of the Three Chesters Cycle Challenge

Check our 'Ride Dates' page for the dates ALL rides are taking place.

Dates for this particular ride are 4th July, 29th Aug

Total elevation = 572m ~ Duration = 9 hours (8:30am - 5:30pm) ~ Difficulty = Moderate

We strongly recommend taking an energy gel, protein bar and electrolyte tablets for this ride

We make refreshment and toilet stops approximately every 1.5 - 2 hours  

Cost = £49 per person (includes coffee & cake at a café + lunch and a drink)  

 A wonderful ride taking in spectacular Essex and Suffolk countryside. Cycling quiet country lanes that showcases a wide range of contrasting views, from rural countryside through to town centres and costal vistas. Taking in Hadleigh, Woodbridge, Rendlesham Forest, the Bawdsey foot ferry, Old Felixtowe and Ipswich Marina, this ride is quite an adventure! With rest / coffee & cake stops, and a lunch of freshly caught fish and chips in the hamlet of Felixtowe Ferry.

Arrive early for this ride and get in a craft coffee from Paddy & Scott's at the Northern Gateway Sports Park (and check out the 1 mile floodlit cycle track). We head out towards Langham where we quickly get onto quiet country lanes with moss and stones along the centre of the road and sign posted 'not suitable for HGV's'. As we head into Stratford St Mary we enjoy a pleasant downhill freewheel alongside the River Stour into Suffolk and past Le Talbooth, where we enter onto National Cycle Route 1.

We turn down Higham Road and join National Cycle Route 48, which is a very small and little used single lane road (a little mucky and stony) as we make a fairly steep climb up into the Higham Hills. At the top we appreciate the Essex countryside views before turning down Sandpit Lane and on to Holton St Mary. Then it's to Hadleigh, where we cycle through the grounds of the Guildhall building and past St Mary's Church. Here we are 13 miles into the ride and take the opportunity to have a brief stop at the Gregg's Bakery for an optional coffee & cake (not included in the price of the ride). This stop is included as the next coffee & cake stop is in Woodbridge, which is a further 24 miles away.

Next it's onto Kersey, through the ford and out onto very quiet, narrow country lanes and a couple of steep up-hill climbs. The elevation gives us stunning views across the countryside north of Hadleigh. We continue through lovely Suffolk countryside as we head west and then north of Ipswich. At Claydon we do a brief spell on the more main road - the B1113, crossing over the fairly busy roundabout that runs under the A14, but quickly back onto very quiet country lanes. At Westerfield we pick up National Cycle Route 48, though Tuddenham St Martin and a fantastically long stretch of uninterrupted countryside views and quiet lanes. We pick up slightly more main roads outside of Woodbridge, and then join the busier town roads as we cycle into the centre of Woodbridge. Here we enjoy a very well deserved coffee & cake stop (included in the price of the ride) at the Wild Strawberry Cafe on Market Hill Square. If anyone needs to pick up food for lunch (if you don't eat Fish & Chips), there is a Deli or the high street is 2 minutes away by bike.

The next push towards our lunch stop (53 miles in) sees us take a wonderful ride past the famous Sutton Hoo, and through Rendlesham Forest, which is classed as an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We exit the forest and into the costal countryside of Hollesley, Alderton and onto Bawdsey Peninsula. Here we flag down the ferryman to pick us up and take us across the mouth of the River Deben to the hamlet of Felixtowe Ferry. Here we stop at the Ferry Cafe for freshly caught Fish & Chips & a soft drink (included in the price of the ride).

We set off through Felixtowe Ferry Golf Course and head through scenic costal countryside until we get to Trimley St Mary. Here it's a brief ride through the town, then back out into open countryside as we head on quiet country lanes towards Ipswich. Entering Ipswich is a pleasant ride through Trinity Park and past Ipswich Golf Club. The road gets busier here as we join town traffic heading into Ipswich town centre. We soon turn off to avoid the worst of the traffic and take a very pleasant and interesting route through Ipswich Marina. There is an optional refreshments stop here if required (not included in the price of the ride).

Heading out of Ipswich we cycle under the imposing Orwell Bridge, towards the Shotley peninsula, to Hobrook and through the grounds of the impressive Royal Hospital School. Then on through the charming little village of Tattingstone, back into traditional Essex countryside, onto East Bergholt and onto Holton St Mary. Here we pick up the route we cycled out on, and so it's the final push back through Stratford St Mary, Langham and finally the Colchester Northern Gateway Park.

Well done riders!!

Check our 'Ride Dates' page for the dates ALL rides are taking place.

Dates for this particular ride are 30th March, 18th July, 12th Sept

Total elevation = 768m ~ Duration = 9 hours (8:30am - 5:30pm) ~ Difficulty = Moderate

We strongly recommend taking an energy gel, protein bar and electrolyte tablets for this ride

We make refreshment and toilet stops approximately every 1.5 - 2 hours

Cost = £49 per person (includes coffee & cake at a café + lunch and a drink)  

Being a long ride, the distance gives us an opportunity to explore deep into rural Essex Countryside, seeing the best views that Essex has to offer. We experience remarkable countryside, the quietest country lanes, historic towns as well as stunning buildings including quaint thatched cottages through to spectacular churches and castles. We enjoy a well deserved coffee stop in the ancient town of Castle Hedingham, a brief tour of Saffron Walden and lunch in the lovely village of Great Bardfield, before heading back to Colchester via the stunning Colne Valley and the magnificent Chappel Viaduct.  

Arrive early for this ride and get in a craft coffee from Paddy & Scott's at the Northern Gateway Sports Park (and check out the 1 mile floodlit cycle track). We start off with a cycle along the aptly named Straight Road for a mile before turning off onto Queens Head Road and onto Workhouse Hill and the wonderfully named Burnt Dick Hill. This is one of the nicest ways to get out of Colchester on a bike, and very quickly onto quiet country lanes and lovey country views. Being slightly elevated provides a lovely vista as we take a long downhill freewheel towards Nayland. Then a brief spell on the A143 and into Suffolk, before turning off onto very quiet country lanes towards Bures, where we cycle a few relatively steep hills, which provides us with some of the most stunning uninterrupted countryside views this close to Colchester.

At Bures St Mary we enter back into Essex (where we stay for the rest of the ride), through Bures and over the River Stour, into Bures Hamlet and up the long and steep Lamarsh Hill. The effort is well worth it, as we are rewarded with a stunning outlook over the Stour Valley all the way to Henny Street. Here we head west onto very quiet single track lanes and into deep rural Essex countryside.

After some time on these lanes we come out onto the A131 for a brief spell, and then turn off onto fairly quiet lanes all the way to historic Castle Hedingham, where we take a quick detour up Castle Lane to take in wonderful views of the Castle, then back down through Falcon Square, past the late Norman and Gothic St Nicholas Church where we see many timber-framed medieval buildings. Then out onto Crown Street, Nunnery Street, past Castle Hedingham Priory and then up Brick Hill and into open countryside.

We’re now into very rural Essex countryside, with 20 miles of almost uninterrupted countryside views and lanes, passing through only a handful of small villages, one of which is Finchingfield where we enjoy our well deserved coffee stop at Winners Tea Room or The Picture Pot Tea Room before entering into Radwinter and then Saffron Walden. We take a brief tour of the medieval market town, past the ruins of the castle, the church and town centre. There is an optional quick refreshment stop here, as it’s a further 12 miles until our lunch stop.

We exit Saffron Walden via some steep uphill climbs, taking us into relatively quiet country lanes and very wide open countryside, the elevation giving some lovely views. Through Debden and into the valley of the River Chelmer to the beautiful small town of Thaxted. Here is an optional toilet stop and a chance to see the stunning church, Guildhall, Dick Turpins cottage and windmill. Then a very pleasant country ride on relatively quiet country lanes, through Little Bardfield and onto Great Bardfield where we stop for a very well deserved freshly prepared lunch. Lunch will either be at Cole’s Tea Room, or the Vine Bar & Grill if we prefer to sit outside.

Fully refreshed, it’s back onto very quiet country lanes and onto single track lanes all the way to Shalford. Then down Water Hall lane to the wonderfully named Rotten End and Beazley End, through Maid’s Wood and onto Gosfield. Then it’s through the High Street in the traditional market town of Halstead and into the stunning Colne Valley. We take a small single track lane from Colne Engaine, past White Colne and into Wakes Colne where we stop briefly to take in the striking and surprising view of the gigantic Chappel Viaduct. The viaduct is said to be one of the largest brick-built structures in Britain and is Grade II listed, at a length of 1,066 ft, with 32 arches and is 75ft tall. This is a perfect opportunity for a quick energy bar or gel, to help with the final 18 miles back to Colchester. This last stretch takes in superb countryside views and quiet roads through Ford Street, Fordham, Little Horksley and back to Colchester Northern Gateway.

Phew, very well done! That was 90 miles!

Check our 'Ride Dates' page for the dates ALL rides are taking place.

Dates for this particular ride are 16th May, 15th Aug, 26th Sept

Total elevation = 587m ~ Duration = 9 hours (8:30am - 5:30pm) ~ Difficulty = Moderate

We strongly recommend taking an energy gel, protein bar and electrolyte tablets for this ride

We make refreshment and toilet stops approximately every 1.5 - 2 hours

Cost = £49 per person (includes coffee & cake at a café + lunch and a drink)  

The Rodings are a group of eight villages in the upper part of the River Roding. They are the largest group in the country to bear a common name, and the villages are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. This ride takes us the furthest away from Colchester than any of our other local rides. Due to the direction the ride takes we discover roads, countryside views, quaint villages and properties not on any of our other routes. This route will delight and surprise as it is predominantly quiet country roads and single-track lanes for the whole 90 miles, with wonderful Essex countryside vistas, quaint villages, impressive and historic buildings. Taking in not only The Rodings, but also The Notleys, The Easters, The Chignalls and The Walthams.

It’s 30 miles until our first coffee stop, so arrive early for this ride and get in a craft coffee from Paddy & Scott's at the Northern Gateway Sports Park (and check out the 1 mile floodlit cycle track). We head to Ford Street and into stunning Essex and Suffolk countryside and quiet country lanes. The ride quickly turns very pleasant indeed with country lanes, views of fields, trees and grassy verges.

In Aldham we pass the church and turn right onto Tey Road, where the roads start to become particularly quiet and the countryside becomes very picturesque. It’s onto Great Tey and past the distinctive St Barnabuas church, with its Romanesque architecture. We follow quiet and winding country lanes towards Coggeshall, where we cross over the A120 and take a sneaky little cut-through right into the centre of this striking town. We pass medieval and Tudor timber-framed buildings as well as a whole host of historic properties, making this a particularly interesting section of the ride. We exit the town by crossing over the River Blackwater and onto Coggeshall Hamlet where we pick up a long section of single-track lanes through fields and wonderful uninterrupted countryside views.

We now head towards Cressing via Clapdog Green on very narrow and winding single-track lanes, through fields and wonderful countryside. Over the railway crossing at Cressing, through the ford and onto Hawbush Green, Black Notley and White Notley. Continuing along National Cycle Network 50 to Rank’s Green and then onto Great Leighs where we make a very welcomed stop at the Castle Pub for good strong coffee and a great selection of cakes.

Fully refuelled we head off towards The Rodings. Over the A130 and past Phylis Currie Nature Reserve, it’s back onto very quiet country lanes and single-track lanes as we pass Leez Priory and the countryside becomes rural and very quiet, with wonderful countryside views and many stunning old properties and farm buildings.

At Hartford End we enter onto slightly more main country lanes as we head towards Ringtail Green. We’re soon at Rolphy Green and back onto narrow single-track lanes and rural countryside as we head towards the first of our eight Rodings – High Roding. Here we cycle past a group of stunning historic properties as we head onto a slightly more main road through Aythorpe Roding and Leaden Roding. Then it’s back onto quiet country lanes as we continue our tour through Margaret Roding, alongside the River Roding, past Berners Roding and onto Beauchamp Roding. Then it’s through the particularly quaint village of Abbess Roding with its Old Post Office and delightful church, then past White Roding, before looping back around to Leaden Roding, where we complete our tour of the Rodings and start making our way back towards Colchester.

Still on very quiet country roads and single-track lanes, it’s on towards our lunch stop of either The Beehive Pub at Great Waltham (58 miles in but stops serving food at 3pm) or The White Hart Pub in Little Waltham (60 miles in and serves food all day).

It’s now off to Flack’s Green and the quaint little village of Terling, still along quiet country lanes and on to Witham and Rivenhall. Here we pick up slightly more main roads as we head under the A12 into Rivenhall End, past Kelvedon Hall Wood and then back over the A12 and into the small historic town of Kelvedon.

We now head back to Coggeshall Hamlet, where we pick up the route we came out on and follow this back to Colchester for the last 15 miles of the ride. Eventually ending up back at the Northern Gateway, and that is 92 miles – so very well done!!