New Cross Campus Road Open

I notice Hagbourne Hill road closes today for about 5 months – that’s likely to increase traffic levels on A4185 between Rowstock – Harwell Campus.

With Hagbourne road being closed, does this mean that we are not longer able to use Icknield way down to Upton (crossing Hagbourne)?

I am planning to cycle in to site with my new ride, and wonder if it would be accessibly? If not, what is the Dene Hollow (Chilton to Upton) route like?

Hi Leo246, You cycle from Upton via Chilton Road to join the Icknield Way where it meets Hagborne Hill. Although there’s a “Road Closed” sign on Chilton Road, it’s wide enough to let a single car through. At the top of Chilton Road, the road closed sign has a cycle diversion sign indicating that cyclists should go via Icknield Way. I cycled this way this morning and it was great to be able to cycle up an empty Chilton Road – should make winter cycling a lot safer along this route!

That’s good to know, I really don’t fancy cycling via Harwell or Rowstock roundabout with the extra traffic the closure has caused. Does anyone know whether cycle access will be maintained for the duration of the works?

The “Dene Hollow” route is lovely….on the way home. You have to be careful going down “Flinty Hill” (not an official name but you’ll find it). It is unpleasant to go up.

The top end of Dene Hollow is riddled with potholes and requires a bit of care. (It’s always been like this – several years ago someone – the farmer who owns it, suspect – filled the potholes with broken bricks, which made it even more, er, ‘interesting’.)

The Lynchway (aka Flinty Hill) is in pretty good condition, but I’d agree with Didcotbob on the care going down and unpleasant to go up.

Back to the original topic, the new road is a welcome change from Wantage direction. Also, a few weeks ago a very bumpy section at Ginge Stables has been improved on the 544 route. Now the worst bit from that direction is that 100-200 m stretch just outside of the Campus which is alone responsible for about 90% of the mud on my bike. If my recollection is correct there are some resources allocated to improve that section but the plans were rejected as below standards. Any development on that that front?

Yes, it would great to get an update about that. That’s not only where most of the mud comes from for me, but it’s the only place I have come off my bike a couple of times and also got literally stuck due to slipperiness and grooves in wet weather.