Читать книгу Cycling in the Cotswolds. 21 half and full-day cycle routes, and a 4-day 200km Tour of the Cotswolds онлайн

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Turn left towards Brailes and climb gently over another rounded shoulder of Mine Hill before descending, 1.8km later, to a road on the edge of Lower Brailes. Turn left here and enjoy the descent into the village, passing The George PH as the gradient levels. Now head uphill, staying on the major road and passing an excellent (if unexpected) French bakery on your left as you come into Upper Brailes. The road now rises, passing The Gate PH.

Roughly 400m beyond this, turn right onto Castle Hill. This is both easily missed and potentially dangerous; make sure you continue past the former spring to take the one-way entry lane to this road.

A former motte and bailey castle once stood proud above Upper Brailes. Only earthworks and buried remnants still exist, but it is thought the castle was built on a natural knoll, which was raised further by the Normans to form the ‘motte’ of the motte and bailey.

This road gently rises to a sharp right-hand bend and then descends gently towards a T-junction. Immediately before this junction, turn left onto a minor road towards Whatcote.