Burton Cycle Route 3

Burton – The Gibb – Kington St Michael – Stanton St Quintin – Grittleton – Littleton Drew – Burton

16 miles, 500 ft (154m) climbing

Blog by Ian Wilson

Ian & Ann Wilson (credit: Lee Jane Hawkes)

Inevitably there is overlap of routes as we add more to this series, but at the risk of duplication we repeat directions to avoid the need for cross-referencing. While there is 500 feet of climbing on this route, the gradients are really pretty tame.

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Leave Burton eastbound on the B4039 then in 1.7 miles turn left at the Gibb cross-roads, beside The Salutation. Immediately swing right into Summer Lane. This is a quiet road but the surface is somewhat rough. In a mile turn left at a minor cross-roads, then after a further mile right at the next T-junction.

Remain on this road until shortly after passing a water-tower turn left towards Kington St Michael. This narrow lane passes through the hamlet of Easton Piercy  then emerges at a T on the outskirts of Kington. Turn right here then almost immediately left into Stanton Lane. In non-lockdown times a short diversion into the village offers two refreshment possibilities, the Kington Café (formerly Folly Row) or the Jolly Huntsman.

In a couple of miles Stanton Lane passes under the M4 then at the top of the rise it comes in to Stanton St Quintin. Turn left at the T. The church of St Giles is worth a look, with interesting historical information displayed outside (if churches are open they will always welcome a contribution in their boxes!)

On leaving the village note the method used to camouflage the hangars on the old airfield, which was the scene of one of the most extraordinary feats of flying in the history of aviation (if you didn’t read the story when it appeared in the Honeycomb, look up Neil Williams on the internet)

After a mile, fork left up a gradual hill. Keep straight on at a minor junction but note this is a give way to traffic from the right. Soon after, turn right at the next T then continue on this lane until it joins the Hullavington – Grittleton road.

Pass through Clapcote then enter Grittleton. The Neeld Arms offers another refreshment opportunity in normal times, as does the Salutation with a small diversion from this route.

Go straight ahead at the cross-roads when leaving the village then in 1.5 miles turn right into a lane beside an isolated house. It is unsigned but the Littleton Drew sign immediately on turning confirms the route. On the outskirts of the village turn left at the T, pass under the M4 then right when reaching the B4039 by the Coachwise depot. Then after a short rise it’s just over a mile of predominantly downhill cycling back to Burton.

If you liked this, see more like it here.

This article by Ian Wilson originally appeared in The Bugle.