Every summer since 1839, rowers have raced up a straight stretch of the Thames at Henley, and the Royal Regatta has become one of the fixtures of the English social season, with blazers, boaters, Pimm's and picnics on the riverbank. The rest of the year, Henley is a handsome market town on the river, with a fine bridge, old inns and the River and Rowing Museum, which tells the story of the Thames and the sport.
The high ground around Henley is the southern end of the Chiltern Hills. West of town, the land rises steeply through beech woods towards Nettlebed and the Oxfordshire plateau, and to the east, Remenham Hill climbs out of the valley on the road towards Maidenhead. From the tops, you look down over the Thames valley, with the river winding between meadows and wooded slopes.
For riders, the roads around Henley are among the best in the Home Counties. The A4130 climbs west through Fair Mile, a broad avenue of trees, and on towards Nettlebed and Wallingford, with flowing bends and good views. The minor roads through the Chiltern villages, like Hambleden, Turville and Fingest, are narrow and twisting, with steep hills and beautiful scenery. Turville, with its windmill on the hill above, appeared in many films and television series.
Traffic can be heavy, especially during the Regatta, and the lanes are narrow, with blind bends. Fuel and food are available in Henley. As a high point, the Chiltern escarpment offers sweeping views over the Thames valley.