CTC British Road Book Vol. 2

Published	1898
Chapters	55

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Contents

• Preface

  The editor explains the collaborative fieldwork behind this volume, drawing on the observations of local CTC correspondents across Wales and East Anglia to ensure the road descriptions are practically accurate. He describes the processes of verification and the limitations that still apply to the reported surface gradings and distances.
• Introductory Notes

  Sets out the geographical scope of Volume II (bounded south by the Thames and the London-Bath-Bristol road, north by the Chester-Boroughbridge road), and explains the layout of route entries, the mileage columns, gradient symbols, warning notices, square-bracket side-trips, styles of type for place-name populations, and abbreviations used throughout.
• Section A. — Routes in the South Midlands, the Severn Valley, South Wales, and West Wales

  The opening and largest section of the book, covering the sector between the London-Bath road on the south and the London-Aberystwyth road on the north; includes all cycling roads from London and the Thames valley westward through Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and the Severn crossings, and southwestward through the whole of South Wales, Pembrokeshire, and the Cardigan Bay coast.
• Route 1. London to Bath and Bristol

  The main Bath Road from London (Hyde Park Corner) through Hounslow, Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Newbury, Marlborough, Calne, and Chippenham to Bath and Bristol, approximately 120 miles, with detailed gradient warnings and surface notes for the Marlborough Downs and the descent into Bath.
• Routes 2–4. London to Bath via Alternative Roads (Uxbridge, Colnbrook, St Albans)

  Alternative western exits from London including the Hounslow to Uxbridge road via Southall, the Colnbrook to St Albans cross-country connection, and the Twyford to Henley branch off the Bath Road, providing cyclists with options to avoid the busiest sections of the main road.
• Routes 5–12. Berkshire Cross-Country Routes (Newbury, Hungerford, Lambourn, Faringdon, Wantage, Swindon, Marlborough, Cirencester)

  A network of shorter routes linking the market towns of Berkshire and north Wiltshire, including Twyford to Henley, Newbury to Faringdon via the Ridgeway country, Hungerford to Lambourn, Lambourn to Shrivenham, Marlborough to Swindon, and Marlborough to Cirencester, with notes on the hilly White Horse vale terrain.
• Routes 13–23. London to Bristol, Gloucester, and Oxford via Main and Alternative Roads

  The direct London-to-Bristol road via Chippenham and Marshfield, the main London-to-Gloucester road via Henley and Faringdon, alternative Gloucester routes via Wantage and via Hungerford and Swindon, and the Reading-to-Gloucester options, allowing comparison of distance, surface, and gradient difficulty across five competing routes.
• Routes 24–31. Reading and Oxford Local Routes (Goring, Streatley, Woodcote, Wallingford, Henley, Great Marlow, Dorchester, Stokenchurch)

  Shorter cycling roads around Reading and Oxford, including two Reading-to-Oxford routes (via Woodcote and via Streatley), the London-to-Oxford roads via Maidenhead and Dorchester and via Great Marlow and Stokenchurch, and the Oxford-to-Henley cross-country route through Stadhampton and Watlington.
• Routes 30–36. Oxford to Hungerford, Devizes, Newbury, Hungerford, and Shrivenham

  Routes radiating south and west from Oxford through the Vale of White Horse, including the Oxford-to-Hungerford road, Oxford-to-Devizes via Wantage and Lambourn, and Oxford-to-Newbury, covering the broad chalk downland belt between the Thames and the Kennet valley.
• Routes 32–40. Wiltshire and North Gloucestershire Cross-Country Routes (Swindon, Malmesbury, Oxford to Bristol, Cirencester, Chippenham, Bath)

  Covers Swindon to Malmesbury, the Oxford-to-Bristol road via Faringdon and Cirencester, and the network of connecting roads around Cirencester, Chippenham, Wootton Bassett, and Calne, including the Cirencester-to-Chippenham and Cirencester-to-Bath roads and the routes across the Cotswold plateau.
• Routes 41–50. Oxford, Aylesbury, Cirencester, and Cheltenham District Routes

  Local and connecting routes around the northern Cotswolds and Chilterns, including the Aylesbury-to-Oxford road, Aylesbury-to-Wallingford, Oxford-to-Cirencester, the Cirencester-to-Cheltenham road over the Cotswold edge via Seven Springs, and the Cirencester-to-Newnham-on-Severn route through the Forest of Dean approaches.
• Routes 50–58. Gloucester and Bath District Routes (Stow-on-the-Wold, Stroud, Nailsworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Pucklechurch, Chipping Sodbury)

  The four competing routes between Gloucester and Bath (via Horsepools, Stonehouse, Wotton-under-Edge, and the Bristol Road), the Gloucester-to-Stroud road via Stonehouse and Nailsworth, and the Bath-to-Bristol and Bath-to-Pucklechurch routes with an alternative via Chipping Sodbury, with detailed gradient advice through the Stroud valleys.
• Routes 63–70. Bristol to Newport, Pilning to Chippenham, and Bristol to Carlisle (Holyhead Road North)

  The Bristol-to-Newport road across the Severn levels, the Pilning-to-Chippenham route serving the Severn ferry crossing, and the first long stages of the great Bristol-to-Carlisle arterial road following the Holyhead Road through Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Worcester, Wolverhampton, and Stafford northward.
• Routes 71–79. Oxford to Bedford, Gloucester to Swansea, Gloucester to Monmouth, and the Forest of Dean Routes

  The Oxford-to-Bedford cross-country road, the long Gloucester-to-Swansea route down the Wye valley and through Monmouth and Abergavenny, alternative Gloucester-to-Monmouth roads via the Forest of Dean, and the Newnham-to-Ross routes via Flaxley and Mitcheldean, covering the hilly and scenic Wye and Severn border country.
• Routes 80–95. South Wales Routes: Hereford, Abergavenny, Newport, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, and the Valleys

  A dense network of routes through South Wales including Monmouth-to-Hereford, Newport-to-Cardiff, Cardiff-to-Swansea, the coalfield routes linking Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Pontypridd, and Rhondda, and the Merthyr-to-Abergavenny road with its exceptionally heavy gradients across the Heads of the Valleys.
• Routes 95–107. Mid-Wales and West Wales Routes: Brecon, Llandovery, Lampeter, Cardigan, Aberystwyth, and the Teifi Valley

  Routes across the mountainous interior of Wales, including Brecon-to-Cardigan, Lampeter-to-Swansea, Lampeter-to-Neath, Lampeter-to-Aberaeron, and Lampeter-to-Aberystwyth, covering the remote roads of Ceredigion, the upper Teifi valley, and the Cambrian Mountains with warnings of very rough and steep surfaces.
• Routes 108–126. South Wales Coastal and Inland Routes: Barry, Cowbridge, Swansea, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Neath

  Routes along the South Wales coast and hinterland from Barry and Cowbridge through Swansea and the Gower approaches to Cardigan, including the Swansea-to-Cardigan road via Newcastle Emlyn, the Pembrokeshire coast, the Carmarthen-to-Tenby and Tenby-to-Pembroke routes, and the Pembroke-to-Haverfordwest roads by two competing approaches.
• Routes 114–124. Pembrokeshire Routes: London to Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and St Davids

  The long London-to-Pembroke Dock main road in two parts, the competing routes between Pembroke and Haverfordwest via Pembroke Dock and Pembroke Ferry, and the routes around the Pembrokeshire peninsula to Fishguard and St Davids, with notes on the Hobbs Point ferry and road conditions in Pembrokeshire.
• Routes 125–133. Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Welsh Border Routes: Gloucester to Bromyard, Cheltenham to Evesham, London to Tewkesbury and Hereford, Builth to Llandovery

  Cross-country routes linking the cathedral cities of the Marches and the Severn vale, including Gloucester-to-Bromyard via Newent, Cheltenham-to-Evesham via Winchcomb, the London-to-Hereford road via Stow-on-the-Wold and Tewkesbury, and the mid-Wales road from Builth Wells to Llandovery.
• Routes 134–145. London to Malvern, Evesham, Ledbury, Worcester, and Aberystwyth

  The London-to-Malvern road via Oxford, Evesham-to-Ledbury, Pershore-to-Cheltenham, Worcester-to-Gloucester, Worcester-to-Newport, Worcester-to-Hereford, and the great London-to-Aberystwyth through road via the Welsh Marches, with the Llangurig-to-Tregaron and Llangurig-to-Aberystwyth branch roads across the Cambrian Mountains.
• Section B. — Routes in the North Midlands, the Welsh Marches, and North Wales

  The second major section of the book, covering the sector between the London-Aberystwyth road on the south and the London-Chester-Birkenhead-Liverpool road on the east; encompasses the English Midlands from Oxford and Aylesbury north to Birmingham, Coventry, and Stoke-on-Trent, the Shropshire and North Wales borders, and the whole of North Wales including the Lleyn Peninsula and Anglesey.
• Route 151. London to Birmingham (via Bicester and Banbury)

  The best and most direct road between London and Birmingham, running via Aylesbury, Bicester, Banbury, and Warwick, described as preferable to both the Holyhead Road and the Oxford-and-Stratford route, with a full gradient and surface account covering approximately 101 miles.
• Routes 152–155. London Suburban and Cross-Country Routes: Edgware, Uxbridge, Tottenham, Aylesbury to Bedford

  Short connecting routes in the outer London suburbs and Chiltern area, including the Edgware-to-Uxbridge lane road, Edgware-to-Tottenham via Muswell Hill, and the Aylesbury-to-Bedford cross-country road through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
• Routes 156–169. Banbury, Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Coventry, Warwick, and Leamington District Routes

  The network of roads linking the towns of south Warwickshire and north Oxfordshire, including Banbury-to-Witney, Banbury-to-Stratford-on-Avon via Wellesbourne, Banbury-to-Warwick via Edge Hill, Banbury-to-Coventry via Leamington, Banbury-to-Daventry, Warwick-to-Coventry, and Warwick-to-Leamington.
• Routes 170–178. Birmingham, Coventry, and Warwickshire Routes

  Routes radiating from Birmingham and Coventry through the industrial and agricultural heart of Warwickshire, including the London-to-Birmingham road via the Holyhead Road, Birmingham-to-Evesham with an alternative out of the city, and the connecting roads between Coventry, Warwick, Kenilworth, and Stratford-on-Avon.
• Routes 173–187. Birmingham and Central Midlands Routes: Evesham, Aylesbury, London to Harrow, Rickmansworth, Pinner, Harrow to Watford

  Birmingham-to-Evesham, the London-to-Aylesbury road via Amersham, the London-to-Harrow-and-Rickmansworth road via Harlesden and Pinner, Rickmansworth-to-Great Marlow, London-to-Pinner, Kew Bridge-to-Harrow, and Harrow-to-Watford, covering the north-west London suburbs and the Chiltern fringes.
• Routes 179–187. Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Outer London Routes: Buckingham to Towcester, Barnet, Edgware, Brentford, Hammersmith, St Albans

  The Buckingham-to-Towcester road, Barnet-to-Edgware-and-Brentford, Hammersmith-to-Barnet, St Albans-to-Biggleswade, St Albans-to-Hertford, and suburban routes connecting the outer ring of north London with Hertfordshire, with notes on the narrow lanes of the Barnet and Edgware district.
• Routes 194–208. London to Shrewsbury, Birmingham to Derby, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Rhyl

  The London-to-Shrewsbury road via the Holyhead Road through Coventry and Stafford, Birmingham-to-Dudley-and-Wolverhampton with cautionary notes on rough tramway roads, Birmingham-to-Derby via Lichfield, and Birmingham-to-Rhyl via Stafford and Whitchurch, forming the main arteries northward from the Midlands.
• Routes 211–225. West Midlands and Shropshire Border Routes: Dudley, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Worcester, Welshpool, Aberdovey, Bridgnorth, Wolverhampton

  The industrial and rural roads of the West Midlands border, including Dudley-to-Worcester, Bromsgrove-to-Stourbridge, Kidderminster-to-Alcester, Kidderminster-to-Lichfield, Worcester-to-Evesham, Worcester-to-Welshpool, Worcester-to-Aberdovey, and Bridgnorth-to-Wolverhampton.
• Routes 226–240. Shropshire and Welsh Border Routes: Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Clun, Cleobury Mortimer, Newport, Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Builth Wells

  The roads of rural Shropshire linking Bridgnorth-to-Ludlow via Corve Dale, Bridgnorth-to-Clun, Ludlow-to-Kidderminster, Cleobury Mortimer-to-Droitwich, Bridgnorth-to-Newport, Bridgnorth-to-Wellington, Bridgnorth-to-Shrewsbury via Ironbridge, and the long Shrewsbury-to-Builth Wells road through mid-Wales.
• Routes 244–257. Newport to Stone, Lichfield, Nuneaton, Atherstone, and Wrexham to Chester

  Newport-to-Stone, routes linking the Staffordshire towns of Lichfield, Tamworth, and Atherstone, the Nuneaton-to-Atherstone road, Lichfield-to-Warwick, and Wrexham-to-Chester with an alternative route via Eaton Park, covering the roads across the North Staffordshire and East Cheshire plain.
• Routes 257–278. North Wales Border and Chester District: Wrexham to Denbigh, Oswestry to Llanfair, Chester to Mold, Mold to Flint

  The routes of the Dee valley and north-east Wales borderland, including Wrexham-to-Denbigh via Ruthin, Oswestry-to-Llanfair Caereinion, Chester-to-Mold, and Mold-to-Flint, with notes on the hilly terrain of Clwyd and the connections into the main North Wales coastal road.
• Routes 282–297. North Wales Coast and Interior Routes: Portmadoc, Carnarvon, Nevin, Holyhead, Bangor, Beaumaris, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno

  Routes covering the Lleyn Peninsula and Anglesey, including Portmadoc-to-Carnarvon, Portmadoc-to-Nevin, Nevin-to-Carnarvon, the London-to-Carnarvon main road, Carnarvon-to-Holyhead, Holywell-to-Mostyn Quay, Colwyn Bay to Llandudno, Bangor-to-Beaumaris via the Garth Ferry, and the Festiniog-to-Harlech road through Snowdonia approaches.
• Routes 305–313. Wirral Peninsula Routes: Chester, Parkgate, West Kirby, Birkenhead, Queensferry, Hoylake, New Brighton

  A self-contained group of routes covering the Wirral Peninsula, including Chester-to-Parkgate-and-West Kirby, Birkenhead-to-Queensferry for North Wales, West Kirby-to-Birkenhead via Upton, Birkenhead-to-Parkgate via Thornton Hough, Birkenhead-to-Hoylake-and-West Kirby, Birkenhead-to-West Kirby via Liscard, and Birkenhead-to-New Brighton via Wallasey.
• Section C. — Routes in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, and East Anglia

  The third major section of the book, covering the sector between the London-Chester-Liverpool road on the west and the London-Lynn road on the east; embraces the East Midlands counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire, all of Lincolnshire, and the western part of East Anglia including Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.
• Route 315. London to Manchester (via Coventry and Newcastle-under-Lyme)

  The main through road from London to Manchester via the Holyhead Road to Coventry and then northward through Newcastle-under-Lyme, described as the best available route for cyclists before the faster Derby route was fully mapped in Volume III.
• Routes 316–326. Coventry, Derby, Stoke-on-Trent, and North Midlands Routes

  Coventry-to-Derby, London-to-Stoke-on-Trent via Coventry and Newcastle, and the connecting roads across the Staffordshire Potteries and the Trent valley, including the Atherstone-to-Shrewsbury road via the Holyhead Road as far as Newport.
• Route 323. London to Leicester

  The direct road from London to Leicester via Northampton and Market Harborough, with a full gradient and surface account through the Northamptonshire uplands and the Leicestershire gently rolling farmland.
• Route 327. London to Derby

  The best route between London and Derby, running via Market Harborough and Husbands Bosworth, described as shorter and easier than the Coventry-and-Newcastle route for cyclists heading to the northern counties.
• Routes 333–338. East Midlands Cross-Country Routes: Leicester, Derby, Chester, Grantham, Hinckley, Nuneaton

  Connecting roads across the East Midlands, including Leicester-to-Hinckley and Atherstone, Derby-to-Chester through Staffordshire, and Derby-to-Grantham through the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire wolds, with notes on the level but often rough roads of this district.
• Routes 343–353. Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire Routes: Higham Ferrers, Market Harborough, Peterborough, Nottingham, Hertford, Colchester

  Higham Ferrers-to-Thrapston, Market Harborough-to-Atherstone, Market Harborough-to-Peterborough, London-to-Nottingham via Northampton and Leicester, and Hertford-to-Colchester, covering the eastern edge of the Midlands and the approach routes into East Anglia.
• Routes 354–366. London, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Rutland Routes: London to Grantham, Barnet to Tottenham, Stamford, Grantham, Oakham, Boston

  The London-to-Grantham Great North Road, Barnet-to-Tottenham local routes via Whetstone and Muswellhill and via Southgate, Barnet-to-Woodford-and-Epping, Oakham-to-Stamford, Stamford-to-Boston, Stamford-to-Lynn, and the Grantham-to-Boston road via Sleaford, covering the flat Lincolnshire roads of the fens and wolds.
• Routes 367–384. Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Fen Routes: Grantham to Boston, Huntingdon, Spalding, London to Boston, Cambridge, Bedford

  Grantham-to-Boston via Sleaford and via Donington, Huntingdon-to-March-and-Wisbech through the fens, Spalding-to-Grantham, the London-to-Boston main road, Ely-to-St Ives-and-Huntingdon, Cambridge-to-Bedford, and the north Cambridgeshire routes, with notes on the very level but frequently flooded fen roads.
• Routes 386–392. Cambridge, Ely, Wisbech, and North London Routes: Cambridge to Leicester, Cambridge to Wisbech, Ely, London to Hampstead and Hendon, Enfield to Waltham Cross

  Cambridge-to-Leicester, Cambridge-to-Wisbech, Ely-to-Peterborough, London-to-Hampstead-and-Hendon with an alternative via Swiss Cottage avoiding the Hampstead hill, an alternative route to Highgate, and the Enfield-to-Waltham Cross road, covering the northern London approaches and the western fens.
• Section D. — Routes in East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex)

  The fourth and final major section, covering the sector between the London-Lynn road on the west and the London-Southend road on the south; contains all cycling routes across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, from the fenland edge at King's Lynn and Downham Market to the Suffolk Heritage Coast and the Essex Thames estuary.
• Route 401. London to Norwich and Yarmouth (via Epping, Newmarket, and Thetford)

  The through road from London to Norwich and Great Yarmouth via Epping Forest, Newmarket, and Thetford, noted as a reasonable route though inferior to the Colchester road in surface quality, especially near Newmarket and Thetford racecourse.
• Routes 405–413. Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex Cross-Country Routes: Cambridge to Lowestoft, Ely to Colchester, Downham Market, London to Braintree, Sible Hedingham

  Cambridge-to-Lowestoft via Bury St Edmunds, Ely-to-Colchester, Downham Market-to-Stoke Ferry, Sible Hedingham-to-Braintree, and London-to-Braintree via Chelmsford, covering the roads of west Suffolk and north Essex between the fen edge and the Stour valley.
• Routes 415–422. East London and Essex Routes: London to Chingford and Waltham Abbey, Ilford to Woodford Green, Woodford Green to Watford, Gravesend to Brentwood, Woolwich

  London-to-Chingford-and-Waltham-Abbey via Clapton and Walthamstow, Waltham Cross-to-Gravesend, Ilford-to-Woodford-Green, Woodford-Green-to-Watford via Barnet, and Gravesend-to-Brentwood, covering the eastern fringes of London through Epping Forest and the lower Essex Thames corridor.
• Routes 428–433. Norfolk Routes: Swaffham to Sandringham and Hunstanton, Wells to Norwich

  Swaffham-to-Sandringham-and-Hunstanton via a cross-country track through Narborough and West Newton, and Wells-to-Norwich via Holt, described as preferable to the Aylsham alternative, covering the north Norfolk roads across the Breckland and the coastal plain.
• Routes 437–449. Norfolk Routes: Lynn to Litcham, Hunstanton to Cromer, Wells to Fakenham, Thetford to Scole, East Dereham to Hunstanton

  Lynn-to-Litcham, Hunstanton-to-Cromer along the north Norfolk coast, Wells-to-Fakenham, Thetford-to-Scole via Diss, and East Dereham-to-Hunstanton, collectively covering the roads of north and mid-Norfolk between the Wash coast and the Waveney valley.
• Routes 455–464. East Suffolk and Norfolk Routes: Bury St Edmunds to Framlingham, London to Norwich, London to Cromer, Norwich to Cromer, Norwich to Wells, Cromer to Happisburgh

  Bury-St-Edmunds-to-Framlingham through mid-Suffolk, London-to-Norwich via Colchester and Long Stratton (the best route), London-to-Cromer via Newmarket, Norwich-to-Cromer, Norwich-to-Wells, and Cromer-to-Happisburgh along the north-east Norfolk coast.
• Routes 467–473. Essex Routes: Chelmsford to Southend, Colchester to Maldon, Maldon to Ingatestone, Colchester to Harwich

  Chelmsford-to-Southend, Colchester-to-Maldon through the Blackwater estuary country, Maldon-to-Ingatestone, and Colchester-to-Harwich, covering the roads of the Essex coastal plain between the lower Colne and Blackwater estuaries and the Thames.
• Routes 482–498. Suffolk Coastal and Inland Routes: Ipswich to Harleston, Woodbridge to Felixstowe, Framlingham, Yoxford, Dunwich, Halesworth to Beccles

  Ipswich-to-Harleston through mid-Suffolk, Woodbridge-to-Felixstowe, Framlingham-to-Yoxford, Yoxford-to-Dunwich along the Heritage Coast, Halesworth-to-Beccles, and the Suffolk coastal plain routes between the Orwell, Deben, Alde, and Blyth estuaries.
• Routes 504–515. Norfolk Coast, Suffolk, and Essex Route Connections: North Walsham, London to Southwold, Southwold to Halesworth, London to Harwich and Felixstowe, Southend to Braintree, London to Southend, Rayleigh to Burnham-on-Crouch

  North Walsham-to-Mundesley, London-to-Southwold via Newmarket, Southwold-to-Blythburgh-and-Halesworth by the Wangford road, London-to-Harwich-and-Felixstowe via Colchester, London-to-Southend via Brentwood, and Rayleigh-to-Burnham-on-Crouch, completing the coverage of the Essex and Suffolk coasts.
• Index

  A comprehensive alphabetical index of all place names appearing in Volume II, with page references to the routes on which each town, village, or landmark is mentioned, covering thousands of locations across Wales, the Midlands, and East Anglia.