Road · United Kingdom
Great Missenden – Berkhamsted
A hilly 32 km road cycling loop from Great Missenden, England through Hyde Heath, Hilltop and Orchard Leigh, with 284 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 31.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 284 m
- Riding time
- 1½–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Great Missenden
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 284 m
- 32 km
Route description
- Great Missenden
- Hyde Heath
- Hilltop
- Orchard Leigh
- Whelpley Hill
- Ashley Green
- Newtown
- Lowndes
- Old Town
- Great Missenden
Starting at Great Missenden near the Nag's Head pub, the route climbs gently 55 m over 1.6 km from 3.5 km with gradients averaging 3.5% and peaking at 6.8%. It passes through Hyde Heath at 4.9 km, then Hilltop and Lye Green before reaching Berkhamsted at 16.6 km. The route's highest point is at 168 m around 19.2 km. It continues through Ashley Green, Pond Park, Newtown, Lowndes, Chesham, and Old Town.
The return section includes another climb of 59 m over 1.8 km starting around 23.1 km with a max gradient of 5.9%. Surfaces are mostly paved (93%), with minor gravel and some unmapped parts. Roads are mainly minor (60%) and main roads (19%) with 7.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 3.5 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Facilities near the route include pubs and cafés off-route like Red Lion (3 km) and The Drawing Room (8.3 km), shops and a bike shop near Chesham, and bailout at Chesham station (22.8 km). The longest stretch without café, shop or water spans 7.3 km from 11 to 18.3 km.
Highlights
- Climbs near km 3.5, 8.2 and 23.1
- Berkhamsted at 16.6 km
- Chesham and bike shop at 22.3 km
- Route high point at 168 m near 19.2 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.5 km | 1.6 km · 55 m · 3.5 % · max 6.8 % | 164 m |
| Unnamed climb | 8.2 km | 1.6 km · 57 m · 3.5 % · max 6.9 % | 161 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.1 km | 1.8 km · 59 m · 3.4 % · max 5.9 % | 162 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (7.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 60% minor road · 19% main road · 9% quiet street · 7% path · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 3.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Fuller's Hill (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 93% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 6% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 18% climbing · 18% descending · 64% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.1 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 9.9% at 0 km
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 41 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops, 4 petrol stations, 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.8 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 3 kmRed Lion · pub · on the route
- 8.3 kmThe Drawing Room · café · on the route
- 8.4 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 18.3 kmThe Golden Eagle · pub · 40 m off route
- 21.4 kmShell Chesham · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 21.8 kmChess Pharnacy · pharmacy · 30 m off route
- 22.3 kmL J Stronnell Cycles · bike shop · on the route
- 22.4 kmWenzel's · bakery · on the route
- 22.6 kmWaitrose · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 22.8 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 29.4 kmDeep Mill Diner · café · 30 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 22.8 km — Chesham (station), 50 m off route
Worth a stop
- 23.1 km — Chesham Clock Tower (monument)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Nag's Head (430 m)
Know before you go
- 7.3 km without café, shop or water from km 11 to 18.3
- 7.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 3.5 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit
- Short gravel section (1%)