Marlow / Henley - 65 miles

Not really a nice cafe in either town but Jim swears by the cake shop in Henley...

• Out to Watlington, where left then right in the village and up Christmas Common.
• Turn left then right at the top, then straight on down the descent (care - narrrow and gravelly!) to Turville; turn left at the bottom to Fingest.
• From here there is a short cut to Henley; if you turn left you go through Skirmett and down the Hambledon valley to come out on the A4155 about three miles from Henley.
• Otherwise, go past the spectacular Norman church in Fingest (illustrated as an example of Medieval building construction in "The Making of the English Landscape") past some high hedges; follow the road round to the right, across the crossroads near Frieth and through Finnamore Wood to eventually descend into Marlow.

Incidentally, I once was knocked off here by some drunken tosser swaying merrily about the road; he was nearly hit by a Mercedes coming up the hill and jumped across the road, swearing, straight into my path. Then he had the temerity to blame me, though he probably came of worst as I think the sharp point of my bar-bag carrier gouged out some of his flesh. Bastard.

• Anyway, from Marlow there isn't really much alternative to the A4155 to Henley.
• From Henley, there are loads of ways home. Apart from the obvious route through Pishill and Watlington, or the road over Maidensgrove Common, the following makes quite a nice variation:
• From the High Street in Henley, instead of turning right at the Traffic Lights, go straight on up a long draggy climb out of the town.
• After about three miles, turn right for Greys Court (signposted Oxford Cycleway), which brings you out on the B481.
• Turn right then, after half a mile, left down Witheridge hill to Stoke Row, past the Maharajah's Well. Digby apparently could fill you in on the history.
• Go straight through towards Ipsden Heath;
• At Ipsden Heath you have a choice - either sweep round to the right to Nuffield, then left (signposted Nuffield Church) to come out just above Crowmarsh Gifford.
• Alternatively, follow the signs for Wellplace Zoo (care! The descent is steep with a right-angled left turn at the bottom, invariably covered in mud) towards Hailey; turning right about a mile after the Zoo again brings you out in Crowmarsh Gifford.
• Either way, the best way back is through Benson, Rokemarsh and Berrick Salome to Chalgrove.