Gravel Ride of the Week: Aldie, The Plains & Middleburg
We're back with another Gravel Ride of the Week blog post and video! This week's ride is all about showcasing some of the smaller towns in Northern Virginia. The route winds its way through both Loudoun County and Fauquier County, including the towns of Aldie, The Plains and Middleburg along the way. Even after the setback of not being able to complete the route on my first attempt (due to heat exhaustion from starting too late on an exceptionally hot summer day), I was determined to get back out there on my second attempt to bring you this exciting route breakdown. Let’s dive into the details to see why this gravel route is surely one that you will want to explore, be it in person for yourself or via my ride video.
Ride of the Week
The route kicks off in the historic village of Aldie. This small town dates back to the Civil War era and throughout town you'll find reminders of the battles that have been fought here. The Aldie Historic Mill provides the perfect backdrop for this ride and it’s worth stopping here should you ever travel through the area along Route 50. If you're planning to replicate this route, then be sure to snap some pictures here before you continue with the ride. Aldie might be the smallest of the three towns along this week's route, but it definitely does not fall short when it comes to unique places to visit. A perfect example of this comes in the form of the Aldie Country Store, where you'll be able to find plenty of food and other snacks to stock up on before or during a ride. Just outside Aldie, the route turns onto Snickersville Turnpike, a road that comes with loads of history, and is a sure favorite for road cyclists in the area. You'll even see some battlefield memorials and Civil War era stone fences as you cruise along this road.
The route doesn't follow Snickersville Turnpike for too long before it splits off to the south and the gravel fun begins. The route follows two gravel roads (Champe Ford and Bull Run Mountain), that when combined create the longest gravel climb in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties. The Strava segment listed for this combined climb measures in at 7.3 miles (11.78km), which is sure to provide a noble challenge, even to the most seasoned of gravel riders. On the way up this ascent, you'll find countless spots that will leave you amazed by the incredible scenic beauty of the area. Bull Run Mountain Road is a particularly entertaining climb that winds its way up the side of the mountain. During the summer months, this tree-lined climb can get fairly dense, creating a tunnel of green as you make your way up to the top.
The top of Bull Run Mountain Road sneaks up on you and before you know it, you’ll be speeding down a short, but steep descent onto Hopewell Road. This is a short stretch of paved road, leading straight into the next small town on our list - The Plains. It doesn’t take long to cruise through the entire town. But just before you exit on the other side, be sure to make a pit stop at Happy Creek Coffee shop. The sign in their window (“Coffee, Bikes”) is a sure giveaway that this is a perfect place to stop for a mid-ride snack or coffee. Conveniently, Haymarket Bicycles also operates within the same building as the coffee shop, so you can easily find some spares or mechanical assistance here, should you need it during a ride. Be sure to also check out our article about the Frostbite Gravel Series that took place here during February 2020.
On the other side of The Plains, the route turns right onto Whitewood road, which soon becomes a gravel road. The incredible natural surroundings in this part of the world is surely something to experience. In fact, it’s home to famed actor Robert Duvall, who’s wife Luciana describes the region as “the last station before heaven.” You’ll be greeted with wide open spaces, grass fields, barns and plenty of stone fences, as the route snakes along some spectacular gravel roads on its way to the last town on our list - Middleburg.
On my map, I listed the area around Middleburg as “horse country” for a reason. Horse riding and fox hunting are very much engrained within this town’s history and culture. On the town’s official website, you’ll notice how it’s described as being “the nation’s horse & hunt capital.” That means that you’ll pass countless horse farms and equestrian estates as you make your way into town. On the day that I recorded my ride, I even passed a horse and buggy on a casual cruise, as the owner soaked up the beautiful weather of the day - now how cool is that! The horse-riding culture of Middleburg and the accompanying wealth status is very noticeable as you cruise through town. The streets are lined with restaurants, equestrian shops, high-end clothing boutiques and fine art galleries, which definitely makes for some interesting places to stop during the ride. A great casual dining option is Market Salamander, a gourmet market situated on the main street, which offers some great food should you need a substantial meal while touring this area. In case you’re wondering, cyclists are welcome here, just check out our post about the Bluemont Connection + Rapha DC gravel ride that started and ended at this venue.
After all the incredible places along the route, you’ll be treated to two more scenic gravel roads (Parsons Rd & Carters Farm Ln) as you make your way back to the starting point in Aldie. A fast downhill along Snickersville Turnpike will lead you right back into town.
This is surely a route that offers loads of things to see and experience along the way. And the best part is that you don’t even have to cover a crazy distance to see it all! The total distance for my ride came in at 39 miles (63km), but the elevation gain (3156ft/962m) ensured that the route still provided a good challenge. You can find the full route breakdown as listed in my Strava file below.
Exploring new and interesting places, like the three towns listed, surely sparks the sense of adventure within me. Sometimes those adventures can happen right outside your doorstep and not even require that you venture too far from home. Hopefully this ride helped inspire you to plan out your own adventure, whether it’s on a bike or not, you’ll be amazed at what you will find, if you only go out and look for it.
Stay tuned for more ride adventures in the future! Leave a comment and let us know where your next adventure will take you.
-Wiehan
