Routesheets are up on audax.uk along with info about the route, controls and accomodation.
Here's a slightly edited version of the information document:
THE ACME TOURDAX: 3 x 100km Brevet Populaires Friday 12 – Sunday 14 April 2024
Please note: the information and routes are still a ‘work in progress’.
Tourist and Route Information (May include some light off-road riding!)
Café/pub starts at 09:00, with postal finish – or you may find me in one of the pubs at the arrivée controls, noted below! The route is advisory: provided you visit all controls in the right order you can meander off-route and find alternatives. Any receipt with the relevant place name is valid as ‘proof-of-passage’.
Ride as a two- or three-day tour, or stand-alone events, returning in each case is possible by train via Ipswich.
Tourdax #1 Friday 12th April 2024Starting from the Battesford Court, Newland St, Witham CM8 1AH (opens 08:00)
Controls, distances & closing times (facilities locations on routesheet):
Earls Colne 10:54 19km (Co-op, café)
Clare 13:24 44km (Co-op, cafés, pubs)
Barrow 15:30 65km (Village shop, fish & chip shop, pub)
Ely 19:12 102km (Wide range of options in city centre. Suggested evening venue tbc: The Cutter pub, close to the River Ouse and marina).
Lots of charming villages on the route, from thatched cottages to the International Modern style inter-war houses of Silver End. The route goes from the Essex claylands, over the chalk hills via Barrow, then down to the Fens at Mildenhall. It follows the River Lark (with a gravel road section) to the pumping station and museum at Prickwillow, before the railway village of Queen Adelaide and the city of Ely. There are plenty of overnight options from city centre B&Bs, large coaching inns to a Travelodge on the outskirts, as well as several nearby campsites - Mad Hatters near Queen Adelaide (about 5km from Ely centre) has good reviews. £18.50 for a tent + two adults.
https://www.madhatterscampsite.co.uk/Tourdax #2 Saturday 13th April 2024Starting from Costa Coffee, Market Street, Ely CB7 4PB (opens 07:30)
Controls and details as above:
Red Lodge 11:18 23km (Café, shop)
Thurston 14:12 52km (Café, pub, fish & chips, Co-op)
Woodbridge 19:30 105km (Lots of options - recommended evening rendezvous: The Boathouse Kitchen & Bar, right by the River Deben and moorings).
The route retraces out of Ely, back across the Fens to the first control at Red Lodge, then through a section of the sandy, heathy Breckland to the village of Thurston for a lunch stop. The final leg is punctuated by two information controls, also passing through the town of Stowmarket in the Gipping valley near Ipswich. Woodbridge has a wide range of fairly up-market eateries and a fascinating waterfront on the River Deben, including a replica of the Sutton Hoo ship under construction.
There are plenty of pricey hotels in or near Woodbridge, but on the southern outskirts of Ipswich there are Holiday- and Premier Inns. There’s also a bikers and hikers hostel in nearby Kesgrave. Campsites abound, but the nearest is just a handful of kilometres away at Sutton Hoo Holidays Camping – no website or phone#, booking via the Camping and Caravanning club or pitchup.com
I’ve stayed several times at Wantisden near Butley a bit further away -
https://www.wantisden.co.uk/wantisdenpark/venues/suffolk-coast-Caravans-Camping-siteBoth are around £20-25 for 2 + tent.
There’s plenty of forest and heath around this area for a spot of wild camping …
Tourdax #3 14th April 2024Starting from The Bull Inn, Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LR (opens 08:00 – advised to book for breakfast: 01394 382089) (It being Sunday, not much is open before 09:00 for breakfast!)
Controls:
Dedham 14:36 56km (café, pubs, Co-op)
Witham 19:12 102km (Battesford Court Wetherspoons, or any valid receipt)
The route heads across the ‘Suffolk Sandlings’ to the Bawdsey ferry to Felixstowe. This is ‘on-demand’ so when you arrive at the quay, wave the paddle to attract the ferryman’s attention! You’ll need to remove luggage to board from the quay. On the outskirts of Bawdsey is the small but very interesting Radar Museum, charting the early development of the technology here, through to the Cold War. If this and the later ferry to Harwich are cancelled due to high winds (above 20 knots) there is an alternative route via Ipswich to the second control at Dedham, for a handful of ‘bonus’ kilometres!
From the ramshackle huts of Felixstowe Ferry (café) we go to the seaside delights of Felixstowe itself (icecream time?), along the Promenade which should be cyclable. There’s a pair of interesting museums in Landguard Fort by the ferry landing. The crossing to Harwich should be pre-booked by phone or online, recommended times tba:
https://www.harwichharbourferry.com/01728 666329
Depending on the tide, the ferry may land anywhere along this section of beach – boarding up the steps can be tricky with luggage, which is best removed! There are more museums in Harwich and Dedham.
Dedham would be a good lunch venue with several pubs, a Wilkins Café and another Co-op. After here we head along the lovely Vale of Dedham to an info at Bures and another at Coggeshall (pubs at both locations, plus a Co-op at the latter). Finally, a shock to the system with the A12 cyclepath back into Witham and a well-earned drink at the arrivée, the Battesford Court pub (or any Witham venue for a postal finish).
Sometime in the next month or two I'm aiming to ride round some of the route on a little late winter/early spring tour.
