Essential Info:

Tourist Info: Tourist Info: Wallingford Tourist Information, Town Hall, Market Place, Wallingford 01491 826972. Opening hours are 9.30-5.00 Monday to Saturday.

What to take: Usual tools and puncture repair kit, plus some food and water is a good idea as the pubs are all located on the south side of the circuit. OS map Explorer 171 is useful as there are tons of adjoining bridlepaths that may inspire you to add some extra miles to the route.

Bike shops: Rides on Air is the main bike shop in Wallingford and has an excellent range of bikes, spares and accessories plus a good mechanic. They are only too pleased to help. Rides On Air, 45 St Mary's Street, Wallingford 01491 836289.

The Route:

The start Car park by Black Horse pub, near Scot's common, Checkendon. Map reference OS Explorer 171, GR6660,8410.

1. 0.00km (0.00 mile) From the car park turn left up the lane to the crossroads, then turn right.
2. 0.85km (0.53 mile) Straight on at the next crossroads, then on past Ipsden Heath Farm, then take a left at the next junction along the road through the woods. 
3. 1.75km (1.09 miles) Turn left down 'Urquart Lane'. The Track drops downhill and splits into two, take the right-hand track and then descend rapidly though the trees and into a gently banked gulley. The trail flattens out as you exit the woods and then across chalk farmland with rutted tracks and wide vistas. The track drops down again past 'Handsmooth Farm', beware of the deep boggy section as you approach the farm. Travel past 'Wellplace Farm' to join the metalled road. At the junction turn right.
4. 3.5km (2.18 miles) Pass the zoo, and on the right is a bridlepath leading up to the hill beside a field and fence. Follow up to the top of the field where it meets a lane, then turn left and follow the lane down the hill past the King William pub at Hailey. Continue until you reach a junction.
5. 5.5km (3.43 miles) Turn Right at a junction and continue along the road (passing Poors Farm) untill you reach Swan's Way/Icknield Way bridlepath on the left. Follow and then cross the main A4074 road. Continue on the bridlepath and then cross the field.
6. 9.25km (5.75 miles) At the crossing point of the two tracks, turn right and up hill passing 'Middle Barn'. The track then turns to a road and leads into 'Littlestoke Manor'.
7. 11.75km (7.34 miles) Follow the road round to the right and take the stone track off to the left (towards North Stoke), this is the Ridgeway Path and it will take you on to Carmel College.
8. 14.82km (9.26 miles) Travel through the grounds of 'Carmel College', and follow the Ridgeway signs. Turn right along the main college driveway (leading to the A4074). Cross with care and turn left along the wide grass verge until you pick up the Ridgeway on your right.
9. 15.75km (9.84 miles) This singletrack section is along a raised bank. The track is very twisty and rooty, with dips and bends for some fun singletrack action. After about 1.3km the path dips steeply and crosses a road. Continue straight across and carry on along the Ridgeway, it is all well signposted.
10. 17.75km (11.09 miles) At the end of the Ridgeway singletrack, the path drops down to another road and cyclists have to turn right to avoid the footpath. Take the next left up the bridleway before the cottages and up past 'Woodhouse farm'. Continue up the track following alongside the hedge and up into the field. This continues up through 'Mongewell Woods'. Stay on the main track, it will bring you out at the top of the hill beside 'Upper Cottages' where it turns into a lane. Carry on until you meet the crossroads.
11. 22km (13.75 miles) At this junction you could take a shortcut back to the start by turning right along the more major road - this would bring you out at point 3, where you'd continue straight on and do the route in reverse back to 'Black Horse Pub' and the start. If you fancy an extra loop and the full Judge's Ride, carry on across the road, following the lane which joins the bridleway at 'Whitcalls Farm'. Carry on this bridleway to 'Oakingham Bottom' until you reach a road junction where you'll turn right.
12. 23.87km (14.91 miles) Continue on the road until you reach a bridleway on the right, this brings you out onto 'Northwood Lane'. Follow the road to junction, then turn right into 'Stoke Row village'.
13. 24.69km (15.43 miles) Look for 'Busgrove Lane' on the left, and then down the hill until you reach the 'Judge's Ride' on you right. This bridlepath takes you through 'Ipsden Wood' back towards the start. At the road junction continue straight on towards 'Black Horse Pub'.

Total Distance: 28.5km (17.81 miles)