Black & White Villages: Eardisland to Pembridge
Great for beginners, take a scenic 9.2 mile loop between two of the prettiest black and white villages.
Don't Miss
Cycle along the River Arrow and along quiet country lanes between the stars of the show, Pembridge and Eardisland. Check out the amazing Black and White dovecote at Luntley along the way.
Route Guide
Don’t have time to tackle the full 42-mile loop through the picturesque villages? Try this nine-mile taster circuit, taking in two of the prettiest settlements, plus delightful country lanes through orchards and farmland.
Start your journey alongside the Cross Inn at Eardisland (and spot the vintage AA box). Turn right, then immediately left at Eardisland dovecote, following the lane for three miles beneath mistletoe-baubled oaks to Pembridge. For freshly-made goodies, stop at cyclist-friendly Pembridge Café (01544 388922). Or - drink at the cosy, ironically named 17th-century New Inn (01544 388427), offering local ales and game-rich fare.
Pedal south from the New Inn, across the crossroads at Lower Bearwood into the heart of cider country. Dunkerton’s Cider Shop (dunkertonscider.co.uk) soon appears on your left, where you can pick up cider and perry on Fridays and Saturdays. Or, stop at the 450-year-old Cider Barn (the-cider-barn.co.uk), a rustic cafe-bar and restaurant open for weekend lunches.
Travel south for half a mile, to find the picturesque Luntley Court. Continue south, ignoring the turn to your right. Take the first left, following undulating, peaceful farm roads. After another 1.6 miles, take a sharp left north-west. At the next T-junction, turn right. Prepare to climb steadily as the lane snakes east, then north, to meet the A44. Cross that road, continuing along the backroad past Burton Court. Emerging onto the busier road, then turn right for the short ride back into the centre of Eardisland.
Head north across the bridge, guarded by a red-brick Georgian dovecote – now a community shop – to find Staick House, a 14th-century yeoman’s hall currently under renovation, opposite a shady riverside picnic area. A path from the car park leads south past the tree-tufted, moated castle mound to the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Back in the centre, choose from a few atmospheric eating options: try Rita’s Tearooms (01544 388064), with a pleasant garden and an astonishingly large menu, or the Cross Inn (thecrossinneardisland.co.uk), a homely pub with B&B rooms and locally sourced food.
