Coffee at Milland

We used to choose the destination of our Sunday ride using geographical landmarks, such as a particularly nasty hill somebody wanted to try. Maybe we’re getting older, but now the route is always based on coffee, and if I’m lucky cake! 

Milland Stores & Cafe

We also used to discuss tomorrows ride on the phone the night before, but now plans can be hatched during the week via email. During last week’s correspondence, Ian happened to mention Milland. Last winter, on a particularly unpleasant and soaking wet day, we stumbled upon the recently opened Milland village store. To our delight it was equipped with a coffee machine and cake counter! We happily spent the better part of an hour talking about a multitude of cycling related topics, while the puddles expanded under the chairs from our soggy leggings.

 

So for no particular reason we decided to structure this Sunday’s ride around a return visit. Milland is a small village a few miles north of the South Downs east of Petersfield. Not an obvious choice of destination for a group of thirsty cyclists setting out from Bognor. To add to the challenge the ‘Revival’ classic car event was taking place at Goodwood, so the main roads were going to be jammed with queues of frustrated petrol heads.  

With no definite route in mind we set off from our meeting spot by the Oaks pub on the A27 close to Fontwell. From here we climbed via Madehurst to Whiteways at the top of Bury Hill. Conscious of the long ride ahead we deviated from our normal descent into Amberley, instead streaming over the hill along the A29. Diving quickly left at the bottom towards Bignor we wound along the steep banked lanes past stunning country residences, through to Sutton. Here we headed north again, through to Byworth and the market town of Petworth.  

Dodging the traffic we skirted along the park walls for a mile or two towards Midhurst, before following the perimeter of the deer park north at Tillington. This road seems to climb and climb. After each ascent there is a brief chance for recovery before the road rears up again and again. Passing the beautiful pub overlooking the cricket pitch at Lurgashall we continued on to Lodsworth and finally through to Fernhurst. 

With caffeine cravings driving us on into a stiffening head wind, we quickly covered the 3 miles to Milland. Much to our collective relief the shop was open and the cafe aspect of the establishment had obviously flourished over the summer, with more seating now available both outside and in. There wasn’t a cake on the counter so instead I washed down the fig rolls and banana in my back pocket with a frothy Cappuccino. Dave was particularly happy because they even knew how to make a Macchiato! 

We sat on the decking outside and watched the dark storm clouds gathering in the west. Eventually the fear of a dousing before we got home prized us up out of the chairs and back onto the road. The horrid little climb at Redhill Copse by the MTB track was slightly unpleasant on cold legs but we were certainly warm by the top! 

Straight across the A272 at Rogate we continued south to Harting and the big climb of the day. Luckily Harting Hill has been resurfaced, so although the gradient of the road is relentless as it weaves left and right, at least all the effort you put in is rewarded by smooth forward motion. Having dropped down the opposite side we turned right to avoid the main road drag home. Instead taking the picturesque lane through East Marden and on to Stoughton, with the wooded Kingley Vale nature reserve on our left. As we passed the village pubs we started to talk about food, a sure sign that we needed to be getting home for lunch! 

Crossing Common Road we took the secluded route east from Woodmancote through West Ashling into Chichester. Twisting through the back streets of the City and finally out the other side towards Bognor via the Oving Road. 

Four hours, and 69 miles of cycling just for a coffee! It had however been a stunning ride, as well as excellent stamina training. Coffee Shop route planning would appear to be as good a method as any, with the obvious benefits of nourishment and a chance to warm up / dry off should the weather be unkind. Judging by the precarious tangles of expensive carbon fibre leaning up outside the rapidly growing number of village cafes and coffee shops, we aren’t the only ones operating this method!