TfL's Elizabeth Line has effectively expanded the scope of CyOrb, especially to Freedom Pass holders, so another Spinoff Loop extends Spinoff 9 beyond Crazies Hill over the Thames into more lovely Chilterns Cycling. A particularly spectacular autumn in 2025 prompted this addition, as well as Amersham-Ashridge Link, to add to Spinoffs 10 and 11, and the Chilterns Loop as ways to explore these hills, whose beech woods look particularly fine at this season.
Having crossed the Thames at 2.5 Sonning the Loop meets up with NCN 5 at 7.8 Kidmore End, climbing together up Wyfold Road/Busgrove Lane up a delightful valley from 8.8 Gallowstree Common to 11.5 Checkendon. A further mile of climbing leads to 12.9 the escarpment ridge, where NCN 5 will take you on to Wallingford and S Oxfordshire.
Turning back, the Loop descends to Stoke Row and there learn the remarkable story of 14.4 The Maharajah's Well. Steeply down and back up to 15.5 Witheridge Hill and 15.8 Highmoor Cross, joining the B481 briefly, before L 16.2 on a beautiful lane to 18 Grey's Court NT.
The descent into Henley passes Friar Park, former home of George Harrison, and after the fine town and the river, a loop-within-a-loop takes in the famous rowing course of Henley Reach to 22 Remenham and 23 Aston, thus avoiding the busy A4130 up Remenham Hill. This road is briefly taken after Aston 24 (R and L) before Crazies Hill presents a choice of three: Spinoff 9 via Warren Row or Bowsey Hill, or NCN 4 and Twyford Link back to Twyford.
Three shorter alternatives back to Twyford at Henley are: take the A321 direct; turn L after 1.5 miles to return via Crazies Hill - or by train. The branch line has a half hourly service on the hour at Henley.
