If the word “saucily” conjures up images of suggestive seaside postcards or salacious goings-on, I’m sorry to mislead you. Though this route won’t steer you wrong – and it’ll definitely spice up the weekend.

 

This is a fairly laid-back afternoon ride, heading from its source in Worcester into the Cotswolds. It’s a piquant blend of A, B and unclassified roads, skirting the smaller towns and passing through pretty villages – with a couple of quality coffee stops factored in along the way.

 

This a taste of everything that’s good about riding here: flowing roads, shady woodlands, open countryside, one or two hills and – usually – not too much traffic. Though, okay, at weekends some of these picture-postcard villages do draw a few tourists. Still, that means the cafés can keep going and that’s a good thing.

 

Whether you ride it at the weekend or mid-week, this ride works with every kind of bike – whether you’re out for a bimble or having a more-spirited ride. Though as the makers of the famous sauce (almost) say, dashing about makes all the difference…