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Pub Guide

Dragoon - Brampton

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Roy Rides

Roy Rides

Abbotsley, Gransdens, Gamlingay

Introduction:

This article, I hope, will be the start of a occasional series on interesting bike rides, not necessarily within the Hunts branch boundaries, but which I think might appeal anyone who enjoys having a beer and a pleasant ride around on a bike.

This first tour is a circular one starting from St Neots, and passes through the Gransdens and Gamlingay.

The origins of this particular route started when I realised that I could not deliver my branch newsletters by car and have drink at the same time, but before I go on, a warning; riding a bike under the influence of alcohol is an offence so you have been warned. No riding along the white line trying to find your way home!

Distance:27.5 km (17 miles). Can be completed in around 3 hours.

The Ride:

I will start from two points. From the railway station, proceed down Station Road, towards Cambridge Street. Turn right at the first mini roundabout and left at the second, into Cromwell Rd. Head along this road for about a mile until you get to Potton Road on the left hand side.

For those starting at the Market Square, exit the square from the South East corner into Brook Street, turn right at the Woolpack (Charles Wells), opposite the Church into Berkeley Street over the Hen Brook bridge into Eynesbury, and follow the road round. Go past the Berkeley Arms (Greene King) on the left, and the Hare & Hounds (Pubmaster) on the right. At the next pub, Cambridgeshire Hunter (Charles Wells) turn left, into what looks a dead end road. At the end of the road you need to across Cromwell Road via the pedestrian crossing into Potton Road opposite.

Head up Potton Road (B1046) and over the railway line. Cycle along until you come to a junction, take the left towards Abbotsley. As you get into the village you will see the first pub at the top of a small rise.

The Jolly Abbot, now a free house, was formerly an old James Paine house named the Plough. Inside there are three handpumps serving, a house beer, brewed by the local Potton Brewery, called Topknot, and along side this you will usually find Greene King IPA and guest beer. The pub features vegetarian food as a specialty.

Fortunately, there are still two pubs in this small village and the second pub is only a few hundred yards further on past the church on the left hand side.

The Eight Bells is a Greene King tied house. The pub suffered a serious fire during 2004 and was closed for over six months, luckily it survived and has now reopened. It has a good range of food on offer and the usual Greene King range of beers to sup.

After leaving the Eight Bells turn left and leave Abbotsley on a long straight road until you reach a staggered crossroads, here turn right then left towards Great Gransden.

The village now only has one pub, the Crown & Cushion. This is a former Charles Wells pub which has been sold to a small pub chain. It still offers Charles Wells Eagle and usually another guest beer. This is a good stop for food if you are getting hungry by now.

Exit the pub and turn left towards Little Grandsen. About a mile further on you reach one of the best unspoilt pubs in the area, the Chequers.

The Chequers is the 2005 Hunts branch pub of the year and well deserved too. Here you will find at least three beers on tap. The house beer is currently Oakham JHB which will be an excellent thirst quencher which you will have deserved by now. Stay for one or two and join in on the local gossip. Not too many electronic distractions to be found here.

Assuming you need to leave, exit the pub and continue onward through the village, you will come to a right turn signposted to Gamlingay, take this road. On the way you will pass Little Gransden airfield on the right hand side, a former WW2 airbase, but now is used for light aircraft.

Continue on, and this is now one of the best bits as you can freewheel downhill all the way into Gamlingay. At the church bear right, past the Greene King owned Wheatsheaf, stop if you want, but there is more choice further down the road at the Cock, also a Greene King pub (what two Greene King pubs in one village!!).

The Cock is the oldest building in the village having survived the great fire in 1600, hence it retains many old and interesting features. Greene King IPA and Abbot are usually supplemented by a “Greene King guest ale “. Excellent food is available if you are still hungry. There is a colourful patio and large garden with assorted animals to keep the kids amused, while the adults can enjoy a quite drink.

Finally, we go to the last pub. It is hard to believe, but it is documented that Gamlingay had 52 pubs but sadly only three remain. The last on the list is the Hardwick Arms, a large pub which dominates the Cross Roads. The pub has much improved over the last 6 months and now offers. Fullers London Pride and two other guest beers.

Now for the worse bit, how to find your way home! At the crossroads take the first right after a hundred meters or so take a left and follow this road out of Gamlingay into the small hamlet of Gamlingay Cinques. Here you will pass the former Greene King pub the Green Man closed in 1980 (check). Shortly after you will arrive at a crossroads go straight over (looking both ways of course) and follow the road and descend down a steep hill, hopefully getting some speed up for the ascent. The rest of the return is straight forward follow any direction signs to Eynesbury and you should not get lost. To make the return interesting see if you can spot which bit is the old roman road that use to run from Godmanchester to Sandy.

Roy Endersby