On Ya Bike - Richmond Park & Richmond Hill

Hopefully this will be the first of many posts about bike rides this summer, and where better to start than the old favourite....

Richmond Park is the largest open space in all of London with plenty of deer and great views back to the city and further out to the South West of London. It also has a great 12km ring road which is well paved and where bikes rule just as much as cars. Also fortunate is that Putney is only 3km from the Park, so has become our usual jaunt for a quick ride.

The ride typically starts with a pick up of my usual partner in crime in any ride - Jabs - though sometimes we manage to pull along a few others. Usually it is only for a lap or two, depending on whether we get waylaid by the decision to stop off for a pint (which obviously curtails the appetite for more laps). The Park really is a great place to ride, you don't have to bike miles to get the feeling of being outside of the city. The drivers are always (well, normally) respectful of riders, and there is always the roaming deer or the views to keep you occupied. Here is a montage of photos of the Park and some of the views.




I mentioned the pints and I think an explanation is required for this distraction.
This is because the distraction is none other than Richmond Hill, which is just outside one of the gates to Richmond Park. On top of the hill is this great little Terrace, where on the other side of the road is, of course, a great little pub - The Roebuck. The CAMRA-listed Roebuck always has a couple of well-kept guest ales on handpump, and where better to drink them with the World Heritage view of Petersham Meadows and the Thames. Is becoming one of my favourite spots.