The Putty Road is the long, quiet backbone of the country north of Sydney, running from the Hawkesbury at Windsor up through the Wollemi wilderness to Singleton in the Hunter Valley, and this is the part of it that feels furthest from everything. The settlements are few, the forest is dense, and the road swings up and down over ridges and creeks with a rhythm that riders know well, though it demands concentration more than most.
The road has a long history. It began as a track used by stockmen and timber-getters moving cattle and cut logs between the Hunter and the Hawkesbury, and it was upgraded over the twentieth century into the sealed route you ride today. The bush on either side is Wollemi National Park, a vast sandstone wilderness, and the Yengo area beyond it, and few places so close to a large city feel so empty. There are lookouts here and there, with views over eroded gorges and plateau scrub that stretches to the horizon.
The riding is excellent and a little dangerous. Bends are linked in long sequences, often blind, with sudden changes of camber and slippery patches where the shade stays damp. Police patrol it frequently, and speed limits are enforced, with signs warning of recent crashes. A calm, smooth pace gives a better day than a fast one, and in the afternoon the low sun through the trees makes it hard to see the road surface, so pay attention. Kangaroos and wallabies bound across the road at dusk, and cattle may wander onto the verge in the more open stretches.
What you can rely on is that there are only occasional roadhouses along the route, and their opening hours vary, particularly on weekdays and in winter. Fuel in particular is scarce, so fill the tank at Windsor or Richmond before you start, and consider Singleton or Howes Valley, where a small roadhouse exists, as a backup.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild days and clear air. In summer it can be very hot, with fire risk and smoke, and in winter dawn frost makes the shaded sections treacherous. Take water, a spare layer and a phone, since reception drops out for long stretches.