Hampshire Riding

Thanks Andy 🙂 a view from QECP before starting the blue climb

An 'interesting' ride yesterday that started off so promising with my first crossing of the A303 and within 500 metres 3 roe deer were startled by me. One was resplendent in its Summer coat, the others were so last season with their Winter coats. 😀

Thought I spotted some singletrack in the rather large and desolate wood so will be going back sometime to scope. Dropped into the valley for some road miles then climbed back up to the ridge and into the wood for a second time when some drizzle appeared. Jeez it's lonely in there!

Navigation error saw me take the wrong track exiting the wood to cross the A303 again. Believe it or not there is a bridleway that runs alongside (not easily rideable due to very long grass) but it actually changes sides! 😯 Bloomin' frightening when lorries went closely past and left there asap for a quieter pedal.

What have you been up to?

Had a beaut of a ride today! North through Kingsclere, towards Tadley, lots of bimbling around through Wolverton, Charter Alley sort of way on road and track before heading back to the 'hood.

Perfect weather, dry trails and fast roads. Perfect, really. Found some lovely linking bridleways, one of which (SE of Hannington) was a glorious chalk and flint flyer, more than enough to keep things fun on 30mm tyres!

Village was packed with cyclists when I got home, all looking very happy. There was one family that looked very STW.....Chap in a POC helmet and allthegear(Not sure about idea!) and his wife/other half with their kids on Islabikes. Looked like they were having a super time of it!

Happy, happy, happy.

Original plan of Sat am at QECP had to be modified and did an XC ride today from the mouth to the "source" of the River Hamble. Weather better than I thought it might have been, mix of everything, fast and dry to boggy, wide open to nettle frenzies. A day where the reality exceeded my limited expectations. 26km in 2hrs is rapid for me 🙂

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By the way CFH, Poc helmet, all the gear and no ... for a moment I thought youd spotted me !

anyone know the forest well?

[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bournemouth-decent-mtbing-near-by ]help a brother out[/url]

any recommendations for bike friendly B'n'Bs in the area?
Hoping to do a week or so road tour of the area in July and just can't face camping for that long- these old bones need comfortable nights and good food for anything over a weekend trip!

any recommendations for bike friendly B'n'Bs in the area?

Which area? It's a big old county!

Yes, and I want to see it all...
But seriously, planning on 7-10 days riding with no real plan yet so figured on finding decent places to stay then work out a route

Only live next door in Surrey so first stop probably Winchester(ish) or Salisbury(ish)

Would be thinking north of the county, not coastal or the forest

Although Salisbury isn't really Hampshire 😳

A look at a map this time suggests train to Southampton then vaguely follow the Test Valley in a meandering sort of way home

I've been doing a Roadie Randonee for my Club, expanded my more normal roads by taking in some lovely less travelled lanes and have ended up with a real classic 90k and an extra 35k for the more spirited on mind and legs.
We're all gathering late June and when we're out you really will not miss who we all ride for 😆 and what Club we're in, I'm not giving anything away but for sure some of you who know where I ride will spot us lot from some distance...

As for somewhere to stay BnB, well have you tried Meon Springs Fly Fishery at West Meon ? They've just finished building Yurts and they look fabulous. Some of my lot are staying in a large one (sleeps 6 with wood burner/BBQ/beds and sofas with added luxury you can bring your bikes inside).. Try them, very friendly indeed. It's situated at the bottom of the valley just over Old Winchester Hill on the SDW the other side of West Meon.

As for CX'ing well now the nettles and brambles are out it's certainly getting a little itchy and scratchy, the path hat runs N/S along the Curbridge side of the Hamble that Jambo's done ^^ is getting more overgrown each day. Bottley Woods and Bere Forest are too becoming overgrown, so hacking through is now becoming slower paced as I'm weaving my way along the teeny single track.

As for the Meonstoke railway (Wickham Lines) I've managed to get a couple of KOMs going North now the railway lines we all know and love and have an opinion on have been hard packed with gravel. It's running fast and in parts a little loose but it's bedding in well. It's a track I use a lot for heading either way on the SDW as a training loop and it's proving more popular with other riders too.

Hampshire is stunning, I'm loving it 😀

Salisbury still counts! (I may be biased, though....!)

Keep an eye on The White Hart in Overton. About to re-open, under Upham Ales, and will have rooms. Should, also, be bike friendly. If not the latter, I suspect I could find a local STW member or two willing to store your bikes overnight! 😉 Might cost you a couple of beers, though.

There are a few in Stockbridge to look at. IIRC, the Three Cups will take a bike or two, and does great beer too!

The Bush, in Ovington, has superb food, a glorious location and rooms.

3 Cups does look tempting 🙂

I'll offer a recommendation for the Fox Goes Free nr Singleton… OK it's not quite Hampshire, but it is just off the South Downs and we had a superb stay last summer when doing the SDW, complete with starlit roast in the garden. You could put together some vey appealing riding in Hants and the west of West Sussex.

Can't say I am a Hampshire riding expert (25 years a Surrey/NDW resident FYI) but I would base a 7-10 day Hampshire riding trip around something like the following with accommodation arranged after, mix of Hampshire and Sussex

South Downs Way - Winchester / QECP (pub in x does B&B I think) / Bignor Hill Hostel / fun in Stamner Woods / Whitways / Storrington Pub B&B / onwards to Eastborne. Then a way back to Portsmouth (train?) for a day or two on the IOW finish with ferry from Yarnouth to Lymington. A day in New Forest or straight to Poole/Piurbecks for a day or two there.

Pub near QECP with rooms is the [url= http://fivebells-buriton.co.uk/ ]Five Bells in Buriton[/url] You can ride into the park and onto the SDW right from the door

All good suggestions, thanks - I'll be riding on road (this time) though so won't be venturing onto the SDW or QECP 😉

Hoping to do a week or so road tour

A week of road riding around Hampshire, seems a bit dull to me but I am MTB only. How about getting a train out West (eg Plymouth) and riding back, wind should be behind you that way. Then a loop of the IOW, New Forest but I am struggling to think of a weeks worth of ideas.

Yes, some may find it dull but my few rides around Hampshire have found delightful backroad riding with leisurely lunch breaks.
Add in some overnight ale stops and it would be my idea of near perfection 🙂

Not keeping up with this thread!

hilldodger - have you decided what areas of Hampshire you're visiting? I do remember throwing some suggestions of areas at you a while back.

..have you decided what areas of Hampshire you're visiting?

well allowing for stretching the boundaries a little I'm looking at a triangle of Southampton-Salisbury-Winchester

hilldodger - that should be really pleasant but a shame you're missing out the Northern Test Valley as there is some stunning scenery. 🙂

... a shame you're missing out the Northern Test Valley

Hopefully summer will be long enough for several visits 😀

My sister does plenty of road loops from Kings Sombourne, the area is popular with roadies and I think one group meets in the pub at Horsebridge

Hopefully summer will be long enough for several visits

Fingers crossed for you! Hampshire is a big county. 🙂

jam - The John O'Gaunt suffered a fire recently but, yes, it's popular with cyclists. Have eaten there too at lunchtime.

Witterings about routes and waymarking across SalisburyPlain ...

The NCN (north/south) route across Salisbury Plain is no longer marked as such on the latest OS Explorer map, nor is it marked on their 'get-a-map' product.

Different story though on the Sustrans website where it's still shown as an (off road) NCN and it becomes interesting where the rights of network has been extended on the Plain. The new rights of way are shown as 'on road' routes which is totally misleading as they're actually off road.

Dullest post of the day?

😀

Possibly 🙂

Hey john, just when you thought it couldn't get even duller. 😉 Look away now!

Been on the Plain today and did not see any NCN signs. The track however now resembles a motorway. 😐 Goodness knows what's been along it, a tank perhaps?

Tanks aren't dull. Pics of tanks would be even better.

Swinley for me this morning, love,y weather and no falling off. Was told to be careful as I start a new job next week so kept the wheels firmly on the ground despite some peer pressure from Mr Tall. Great ride and great company.

To the Clatfords for a spot of tea this afternoon. Utterly lovely ride, taking in Longparish, Wherwell, and more. Then, on the way back, some lovely stuff around Barton Stacey (Including riding past Gravel Hill, I should add! 😀 )

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There was some interesting looking singletrack heading off in to the woods on the track to the South of Bullingdon Lane out of Barton Stacey. Just before the water works thingy (?) heading North back towards Bullingdon Lane. Might have to go back on the [i]proper[/i] off road bikes!

Oh, and there was cake. Oh yes, there was cake! (Home made lemon drizzle in case you were wondering.)

john - there's plenty of tanks there, rusting ones but too far away for my camera. Bet Swinley was heaving though!

Cap'n - I recognise that track! Have you used the Roman Road, it leads eventually to Bransbury Common. This should only be ridden in the dry and with full body cover. Can't remember if I've used the track on the opposite side of the water.

Yep, know of the Roman Road. Second pick was at the end of that, just before heading left (NEish) towards Cocum Farm. There was a little unexpected pavé like surface at the end, a couple of hundred yards behind the bike. Came at it a teensy bit too fast! 🙂

Earlier in the day, I took in a BW to the East of Tufton Warren Farm. To say it was overgrown is an understatement!

There's always been shooting when I've been past there. Hope you're OK though?

Yes, trails are getting overgrown and thank goodness for my knee length socks and long sleeves! Saw loads of poppies today in Dorsetshire, very colourful.

Range wasn't firing today. Thankfully!

CG - we got there at about 8.30 and here were loads of free parking spaces, not one car in the overflow which surprised me. When we finished about 11.30 not a space to be had. Saying that the trails were still pretty empty.

For the Cap'n: RoW repair in PC, specifically Oak Hill Lane. What a bloomin' mess. 😯 There was nothing wrong with that track so why on earth did they have to fill it in and chuck gravelly stones/whatever everywhere? Can't imagine the horses like it either!

PC? (Sorry, didn't see this earlier!)

Anyway, on to fresher things. Took a day off today to go for a ride. Gnarmac from home to the parental pile. They have a pool, so that was the obvious destination on a day like today! Only took one photo on the way back, Beat 10 at Longstock.

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Got it now! Preston Candover!

Anyone at all interested in a forum ride out from New Alresford ?

Would be a 28mile loop and be roughly 3 1/2hrs

Parking isnt usually a problem ,trails need to be dry as alot of the bridleways do get constant horse use.

Can do pretty much any weekend in July .

nice spot for a social afters as well 😉

pm me or reply on here . flexable on dates so can do whatever suits the majority. cx friendly too. ( mostly )

Yes, yes I'd do that.
Not around this w/e but back home w/e after and the one after that too.
Sat or Sun ? Either is fine by me.

CX'er bloke here 😀

Beat 10 at Longstock

Did you use the nearby facilities to re-hydrate?

Nice pic Cap'n! Yes, Preston Candover although I probably should have said Moundsmere. Couldn't resist riding some old trails on the way to an appointment at Lasham Gliding Club. Plenty of outside seating where you get a good view of the action.

CG, if you were over at Lasham, you should have dropped me an email and come over for a coffee or something! 🙂 Hope all's well since the move, BTW.

Mefty, assume you mean the Shovel at the top of The Bunny? Didn't stop there this time.
Had a puncture coming down off King's Elm in to Barton Stacey. Only showed itself as I got to the crossroads, by the village shop. Something lovely about fixing a puncture on a picnic seat outside a village shop, surrounded by hanging baskets, drinking an ice cold drink! Good timing!

Cap'n - thank you, most kind offer. 8) Riding new areas which is always good. 🙂

Will have to get over there and try it out some time! Gnarmac, HT or Bouncy, though?

(Might be in a well known Sarum velocipede shop on Saturday AM if you're around!)