Dear riders, welcome to the second edition of the Newbury Dean a recreation of the classic Dean route, but running from Newbury with the support of Newbury Road Club. Its being run on some well-known roads which as with much of our network in the UK has degraded, so watch out for pot holes!

As its the second time the event has been run from Newbury we are still working on improvements, which now includes an Start/Arrivee in Chievely village a fixed controls at Winchcombe and Chepstow. There is a fair amount of replanning needed to comply with BRM regulations and also build in any feedback from the 1st edition.

Please remember when parking this is a residential area and if we want to use it again, waking the locals will not be appreciated.

The route exits the start and runs down the high street to school road, which winds its way over a couple of short hills to Boxford and onto the valley road, remember these hills as you will be doing them on the return, there is a slightly longer but flatter route via Bagnor. From here is it is a straight run to Great Shefford and then a small climb before you continue down the road to get to Lambourn the first info control.

From the Lambourn control it is flat for the next few km, then rides over the Berkshire downs before descending steeply and fast into Oxfordshire where the going is flat as you head North to Minster Lovell the first control. After that the road are a bit the worse for wear also on the entrance to Shipton under Whychwood

After that there are small lanes that end upon the main road into Stow in The Wold. This is not a control, but by that time there are shops, cafes open. Also there is a petrol station to the left of the T junction at the top of the town

You then head over to your next control at Winchcombe where Peter Davis will be waiting for you at the White Heart Inn after which the going is quite flat and fast before you end up at the next control turn in Newent. After that going gets a bit more lumpy as you approach towards the forest of Dean and make your way up to Raurdean, watch out for the fast decent at Joys Green. You then make your way up the hill at Bream and onto the next control, the cross roads a St Briavels

The route into Chepstow now follows has the old Wye bridge and make your way to the Café at Recycle where you will be greeted by Kevin Daffey, If you need more supplies before going over the bridge there is a large Tescos just before you turn left.

Climbing out of Chepstow you get to one of the highlights of the route the old Severn Bridge. Then its more undulating and interesting roads before you go across a cattle grid and traverse towards the Somerset monument and another hill!

Afterward much meandering you get to Malmsbury for another break, before heading across the Wooton Basset, then along a flat road, where you have two climbs to conquer Broad Hinton, quickly followed by Hackpen hill and then the drag into Marlborough,

The route will take you over the top of Malborough, so if you need to something to eat drop down the hill to the Highstreet, where there may be something open. The control is on the route, so if you do drop down to the highstreet, remember where you left.

After Marlborough you carry on through to Ramsbury, yes after yet another hill, then flat to Chilton Foliat, taking a left up Stag Hill which takes you eventually to Ermin Street and then left at Wickam back on to the valley road to retrace your route back to the Arrivee on the valley road, by which time it will be dark and the road is quite potholed in parts. The team and I will be there to greet you.