This link is a beautiful mainly off-road ride in itself, but it is also a useful north bank alternative to Spoke 6 – and there are three possible Thames crossings to link both rides at Hampton Ferry 2.6; Walton Bridge 7.4 and - best fun, and the NCN4 option - 7.1 Shepperton ferry (£3 single; every 15 mins on the quarter – ring the bell!). The family friendly sections are Bushey Park at the outset, and then the Thames Path from Chertsey Bridge to Staines.
The route starts short of the Oyster boundary, at Hampton Wick to incorporate the lovely ride through Bushey Park. The A308 2.2 is busy and congested, so the short detour route via Hampton, where the spoke originally began, is retained.
Having passed through water works and reservoirs off-road the route resumes 4 on well-used roads by Cycle Orbital standards, but there are fine views of the Thames and attractive town centres (5.4 Sunbury, 8.5 Old Shepperton). Two detours keep up the interest and reduce the traffic: 6.4 L Felix Lane to Shepperton Marina (gate closed on Good Friday; very sharp L turn out of Penny Lane 7.2) and 8.7 Ferry Lane (road is one way eastbound after Shepperton Lock; proceed with caution).
After the tricky R turn at Chertsey Bridge 11 there are four fine Thames-side miles to Staines Bridge 15 - mostly off-road on NCN 4 (Spoke 7 ext joins 14.3 from the eastward extension to Feltham). Traffic is inevitable around Staines Bridge and towards 16.5 Egham, but the ride up to then has more than compensated. After a short off-road section 16.7 on the Egham bypass – which you cross with caution – or continue up to the roundabout, your destination is on the far side of the dual carriageway; Spoke 7b from Egham and the NCN4 cycleway skirting Runneymede and about to climb steeply up Coopers Hill.
