Tag: Clifton Campville

#365daysofbiking Golden

Sunday March 21st 2021 – I felt better, and the day was bright, if not actually sunny. I got the daily jobs out of the way and headed out in the afternoon through Weeford and on the A5 to Atherstone. From there, I pushed up through Pinwall and through Ratcliffe Culey to Shenton; after that, over to Market Bosworth, Bilstone, Twycross and I managed to hit Orton on the Hill just in time to catch the sunset.

As night fell I returned via Austey, No Mans Heath, Clifton and Darlaston.

The sun came out eventually and rendered a magical golden hour.

A ride of well over 60 miles, it was thoroughly enjoyable and it was so glad to be seeing those little villages and quiet lanes again.

And of course, the beauty of a dusk skyline with a church spire elegantly punctuating it.

Great stuff.

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#365daysofbiking Roadside repairs

Sunday March 7th 2021 – Sometimes when your bike ails you, the only thing you can do is pack a big bag of tools, and ride it with an ear attuned to the sounds it may make in complaint.

I set off for a ride over to Hopwas, Syerscote, Clifton and Lullington, returning via Whitemoor Haye. Fortunately I nailed the problem with the bike at Hopwas.

In the shadow of that farmhouse-like, remarkable church, I found my rubs and rattles were due to a slightly loose brake calliper, which was mobile when braking but not loose enough to be obvious.

Secured and adjusted, I rode out with renewed vigour. After all, newly fixed up bikes always go faster.

Sadly, the light wasn’t with me, and spring still hadn’t kissed Syerscote or that gorgeous view back to Clifton from the hill to Lullington, where the Mease Valley separates you from it.

But it will.

In these strange times I am impatient for the comfort and openness of better days, as are we all. But for now, we must just press on.

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#365daysofbiking English as tuppence


June 8th – Riding 20 miles in the pouring rain to visit a country fair in a village on the border of four counties may not be many folk’s idea of fun. But I loved it.

I’ve always liked Clifton Campbville Country Fair, for it’s acute Englishness, parochiality and eccentricity. And on this Saturday, it was almost, but not quite rained off.

Most of the stalls had gone. But I sat in a beer tent, had tea, strawberries, listened to Morris music and endless jokes about the weather. I had cake, met a Kookaburra and enjoyed the company of damp but faithful dogs.

An event continuing despite dreadful weather is almost as much fun as one on a blazing sunny day.

Better luck next year, folks.

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#365daysofbiking Streaming sunlight

March 22nd – Just outside Clifton Campville, near Chilcote and Honey Hill as the sun set, the cloud broke and sunlight streamed through to the distant landscape below. It was absolutely captivating.

One thing about early spring – some absolutely terrific skies.

I was glad I was there to catch this.

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August 25th – I loped back from Alvecote through Seckington, Clifton, Darlaston and Whittington. It was a lovely evening ride marred only by my stomach troubles.

At Haunton, the beautiful little Catholic church there remains a hidden gem, the rows of graves of nuns from the local convent still sobering and very sad. Here I noted cyclamen, another sign of Autumn, and darkness fell what seemed to be cruelly early bit with a gorgeous orange moon.

Autumn is tapping me on the shoulder now…

June 9th – I carried on from Clifton on a weary, hot but enjoyable ride around Netherseal, Lullington, Edingale and Croxall. The countryside was showing itself beautifully, and the willows over the Seal Brook are still timeless.

One small complaint, though. Country pubs, that people tend to drive or cycle to: I don’t drink when riding for the same reason I wouldn’t if driving, but I do like a nice alcohol free beer. So why not stock it?

Nothing worse than sugary, sickly syrup parading as a soft drink when you’re really looking for something cool and bitter to take the edge off.

Country pubs: Look after your nominated drivers and responsible cyclists and you’ll get repeat custom!

June 10th – I took a ride out on a dreadfully windy afternoon intent on visiting the Clifton Campville Country Fair. I’d been before a decade ago, when it was just a few stalls in a large garden, but I do love a country fete with cakes and all the usual things, and I’ve been determined to attend more this year. It was also a good way to force myself into a 40 mile plus ride in weather I’d normally swerve one for.

What I found was stunning; a large country event with big arena, loads of great stalls, a real ale bus, more cake than you could ever eat and lots of people. I wished I’d arrived earlier with more cash in my pocket!

It was a lovely, offbeat affair with a peculiarly eccentric atmosphere; a little disjointed but great fun.

All in the shadow of one of England’s finest churches.

The day was only darkened by the rain setting in on my way home; it started at Whitemoor Haye and didn’t stop. Combined with a 20mph headwind, it wasn’t a fun ride back.

But the event was well worth the battle.

July 17th – In spite of some grim mechanical problems and slow initial progress, I made it to Rosliston for tea and cake, and then pootled back through Coton in the Elms, Lullington, Clifton Campville, Haunton and Syerscote, calling at Hints and Weeford in the golden hour.

The villages glowed in the summer evening warmth, and even though I was battling a keen westerly, my England was right here – in a view familiar to Peter Cutler, in the flower-adorned villages, and in the sad but tranquil churchyard at Haunton, with it’s ranks of gravestones to nuns from the nearby convent.

It doesn’t get much better than this.

May 1st – A blustery and occasionally wet ride over to Walton on Trent and back through Lullington and Clifton Campville – but true to my promise, I found the colours of spring.

Songbirds were in the hedgerows – never seen so many goldfinches – and blossom, wildflowers and emerging leaves made everything bright.

I couldn’t get the sunshine, but I got the season. A great ride.

April 6th – East Staffordshire was positively glowing on a sunny, warm spring afternoon; the rolling countryside, spring flowers and greening countryside was gorgeous.

These views never grow old – and I couldn’t resist Clifton Campville and Lullington for Pedro Cutler. 

I’m rediscovering this countryside again. It’s still gorgeous. Summer is going to be brilliant.