Today we visit Trinity, literally the high spot of our rides around Jersey.­ Although all the northern parishes are further from sea level than their counterparts in the south, Trinity can claim the highest point on the island at 455 feet.

Our route starts at the car park situated at the top of Bouley Bay, next to the common or what is now called Le Parc de la Petite Falaise.­The car park is built on the site of the old Bouley Bay Hotel, which was knocked down in the early seventies.

Leaving the car park we turn left and freewheel down La Rue de la Petite Falaise.­ Where the road joins the main hill, using care, turn right into La Route du Boulay.

When the road levels out we take a left into Chemin D’Olivet.­ After 200 yards detour into the lane on the left to pass Jardin d’Olivet, an area of common land, where in 1549 the local militia successfully defended the island from a French invasion force which had just ransacked Sark. At the far end of the common stands the most impressive ‘No Dumping’ sign in the island.

Follow the road round, and at the crossroads, leave Rue de la Falaise and turn left into Rue des Bouillons.­ Enjoy the slight slope that takes us past a relatively unchanged 17th.century cottage; ‘Sous les Bois’.

Continue over the yellow line at the end of Rue des Bouillons. At the T junction, leave Rue du Becquet and turn right into Rue du Pot du Rocher.­ Another gentle freewheel takes us to the main road, which we cross to enter Rue de la Piece Mauger.

For the next half mile we will be skirting the grounds of Les Augres Manor or Durell as it is better known. The road winds right and left. The large building that we see on the right is the Lowland Gorilla enclosure.­ Lowland Gorillas were one of the first endangered species cared for by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.

Take the first right into a narrow lane.­ This lane provides us with a good view of the Orang-Utan enclosure and also the manor house itself, just visible through the trees.

The lane descends between two high leafy banks. ­When it rises again, look to the right across the field.­ The tall mound which makes the far corner is all that remains of a huge earthwork known as Chastel Sedement. It was said to extend to 10 acres, and be enclosed by a moat. Islanders would flee into it during raids, taking with them their family and as much livestock as they could round up.

Before turning left at the crossroads ­at the end of Rue de la Fosse, notice the granite bowl built into the wall opposite, above the mounting block. ­This appears to be a holy water stoop, probably taken from a church demolished during the Reformation.

As the lane drops away into a wooded valley, the white buildings which we see in the distance are what is left of Dielament Manor, once the­ largest ­fief ­in the­ island.­ At­ the ­end ­of­ Rue­ des­ Cateaux­, we have cycled 2.62 miles. Bear left and follow the lane as it twists its way up to Victoria Village. As we climb, avoid a lane on the left and then another on the right.

Follow the hill as it bends left and right as it climbs. At the top, when we reach Rue de la Boucterie, miss a left and turn right into Rue du Moulin de Ponterrin. Once past the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, the lane gets quite steep, so be ready with your brakes.­ Just before the bottom of the hill we pass the remains of Ponterrin Mill. ­At the yellow line, cross over and ascend the only steep hill on our ride today.

Thankfully, the road soon levels out. At the T junction, at the top of Rue du Moulin de Ponterrin, turn right. Follow the road round and turn right into Rue du Clos Durell.­ Proceed along this road, missing a right, until it meets the main road after a slight rise.­

At the main road turn right and, after a short distance, turn left into Rue Jacques.­ Pass a lane on the left and, on reaching the crossroads, turn right. ­Continue along this typical Jersey lane past a lane on the left. Soon Trinity Manor can be seen through the trees on the right.­ The manor owes its chateau like appearance to Mr.Athelstan Riley, who restored the manor in the early part of the 20th.century.

Once past the radio masts on the corner, miss a right and carry­ on down La Rue Bechet, passing the Young Farmers’ Club and the Steam Museum, before turning right into La Neuve Route. At the end of the road take a right and head back toward the church steeple.

Coast along this stretch, avoiding a lane that enters from the right and, when the road divides at the Catholic Church, avoid the appealingly named Rue de la Monnaie and bear left into Rue de la Fontaine.

Go past a lane on the left and then another on­ the right.­ The road climbs and, after passing a dead end sign on the left, becomes La Rue Coutanche. The road winds to the right. On the skyline we can see Ebenezer Methodist Church and what was the Highfield Hotel.­ Continue up this road and take the first right into Rue de la Fontaine de Colarde.­ The lane dips and, after turning left, climbs again to meet the main road.

By now we have come 6.2 miles. Exercising some care, turn right and,­ after only a few yards, turn left into L’Allee.­ At the T junction turn left and begin a long freewheel which takes us to a small crossroads. Here leave la Rue du Nord and­ go straight over the junction into Rue de la Petite Lande.­ On reaching the yellow line we get our first glimpse of the sea, with Sark away in the distance. Nowadays an aeronautical receiving station graces the high ground on the right, but twenty years ago a disused coach was the only feature of the area.­ In it lived an old lady and her entourage of dogs. Rumour had it that if the dogs did not keep you away, the shotgun she often brandished would!

Turn  right here and, missing a right, follow the road past the twin masts of the ­transmitter station.­ Behind the building is Jersey’s highest point at 455 feet.­ The road dips and passes through an S bend, missing a lane on the left, before rising again. It passes another lane on the right and, at the next corner continue straight on into La Vieille Charriere.

The lane curves and falls away as we make the long descent towards the harbour at Bouley Bay.­When the lane straightens out, we can see a ruined Napoleonic guardhouse on the hillside in front of us.­This is one of a chain which would relay signals from Gorey to Grosnez and from there on to Guernsey.

Freewheel down this long descent, passing a lane on the right some way down.­ At the yellow line, we leave La Vieille Charriere at Les Platons corner and start our ascent of the nationally famous Bouley Bay hill climb course.­ Although the hill is generally associated with motorsport, there are also opportunities for the more masochistic, as cycling and running races are held here as well. Continue up the hill, avoiding a detour to the left at Radio Corner, the tightest hairpin on the hill.

­After rounding the final hairpin take time to admire the double armco barrier which protects a small patch of level ground,­ on which stand two benches and a refuse bin. This is where club officials sit when a hill climb is in progress.­ Until the mid seventies, it was felt that a single armco barrier would provide sufficient protection against any errant competitor.­ However, after an incident in which an ‘E’ type Jaguar nearly decimated the clubs hierarchy at a stroke, the height of the barrier was doubled to its present height!

After enjoying the outlook from this vantage point, climb the remainder of the hill, following the road as it swings right into la Rue de la Petite Falaise again.­ Climb a little further to get back to the start. ­

Approximate distance 9 Miles.

Breaking News

• British Cycling and Sky broadcasting launched this year’s series of Sky Rides during the week. In a calendar that runs from July to September, these closed-road events give leisure cyclists the opportunity to ride in complete safety and enjoy various other attractions taking place at the same time. Sounds like a good idea, what about one here in Jersey?

• Paris has plans to almost double the current cycle lane network by 2014. It’s planned to have a north-south, and an east-west route that will handle large numbers of riders, and also ten points where cyclists can get into Paris without being blocked by the current ring road.

• I see that Shimano have released a 30 speed XT groupset. The rear cassette has a low cog of 36 teeth, mix that with a current inner ring of 22 teeth and you should be able to tow a lorry! See more on http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/05/25/shimano-xt-3×10-dynasys-unboxed-and-weighed/

• The Bicycle Association reports that bicycle imports dropped between 2008 and 2009 by 12%. Despite this, the average cost of an imported bike went up by 15%. Hopefully this means that, finally, the man in the street realises that a slightly more expensive bike is safer and much easier to use.

• If you’d like to see how the Olympic Velodrome is coming on, ahead of the 2012 Olympics, click here: http://www.london2012.com/videos/2010/british-cycling-stars-visit-velodrome.php

• Barclays are sponsoring the London Cycle Hire Scheme to the tune of £25 million over the next five years. Mayor Boris said: “We’re very keen to work with Barclays to put in a second phase out towards the Olympics, out towards the Barclays office in the Isle of Dogs, and spread it to East London, and then to see if we can get it in outer London too.”

• Halfords in the Netherlands, which is completely different to Halfords in the United Kingdom, has just started offering a two hour turnaround in its workshops for small repairs.  In the past the company feels that it didn’t offer a sufficiently good service, something that it hopes to change with this new initiative.

• Volkswagen has developed an electric bike that folds up and sits above the spare tyre. It is continuously charged by the car’s electrical system, so it’ll never run flat. At present it does not meet current e-bike legislation.

• I see that World Naked Bike Ride UK starts its year in Brighton on 13th June, and has a ride in eight different cities before finishing in York on 19th June.

See what you’re missing: http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/

• The CTC have started a campaign to try to keep Britain’s postmen on bikes, following a move by Royal Mail’s outgoing chief executive, Adam Crozier, to replace bikes with electric trolleys. Here in Jersey, Andy Jehan, ex bike racer and general manager of Jersey Post, assures me that our postmen will remain on bikes.

And Finally,

The buzz this week is that certain riders in the peloton are using bikes that have hidden electric motors hidden within the frame. If it’s true, and I have my doubts, it must be the best marketing tool for electric bikes ever! Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE&feature=player_embedded

Arthur Lamy is a freelance writer and tourist guide. www.arthurlamy.com