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Top one looks like the bit just before Watership Down?? last time I was there though I was 10 miles into the Gibbet to Overton run and frankly views didn't really stick as I was concentrating on keeping the the breakfast down and trying to breath through all orifices 😀
Not sure if anyone would mind, but could share a PDF of the Gorrick route .. the woods are guess work without having done it or the arrows up but you'll get the idea. Do the first obvious bit down , climb back up on singletrack, lash it back down the other side .. you have about 2 weeks before it returns to nature (in parts) I'd guess. Was a good route this year I thought.
Yep, looking West towards the Down.
What a brilliant thread!
I've read if from front to back, and really enjoyed hearing the journeys people have been on, and the route discussions, and photos are ace!
I've just recently moved to East Hampshire (Petersfield), and just getting my bearings... it seems a fun and very pretty place to be, and so quite on the lanes etc.
Looking forward to enjoying the thread more, and hopefully providing some photo's and ride reports myself.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47667873242_edb094196b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47667873242_edb094196b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]Mikey[/url]
*Edit; This was last weekend, but I think this was just over the border into Sussex... does it still count?
Is that the bit from Idsworth up towards West Harting Down?
it's looking south onto Compton Down - I was later to be pushing up that hill in the distance
Ah, of course… same trail, opposite direction; I normally do it the other way round. I thought it didn’t look quite right 🙂
Ah cool, yes. Hadn't realised the other was was Harting Down - we arrived there from the Chalton direction (Huckswood Lane)... I'll put my ignorance down to still getting my bearings.
On a separate note - does anyone have good off road routes for getting out of Petersfield. I don't mind doing country lanes once clear of the traffic.
There seems to be lots of paths, but a distinct lack of bridleways for getting out of town. Not sure which paths it might be ok to be 'cheeky' on?
Depends where you’re heading.
The Causeway (with crappy painted cycle lane becoming a more acceptable separate path) takes you up to QECP.
Sussex Road (towards South Harting) takes you to Ditcham where you can ride up a barely-used dead end road to the SDW.
Or you can take Sussex Road and then turn right to Buriton, avoiding Nursted Rocks, and then head up the climb from the pond up through the chalk pits to the back entrance to QECP.
There is a footpath from Ramshill to Steep (from where you can get to the Hangers) which I’ve done with the kids but it’s maybe a bit cheeky for adults. The other footpaths out of town aren’t massively useful to be honest.
Cheers for the info Bez.
Going to head Harting way for a scout about I think.
then head up the climb from the pond up through the chalk pits to the back entrance to QECP.
That one will warm your legs up nicely!
At the top of that climb you can also hang a left and join a HCC way-warked loop (little bikes on blue and white signs). It's a really nice little right hand loop which goes roughly Ditcham, The Harrows, Chalton, QE park and makes a nice little bolt on loop to a ride at QE.
Phew... a had a ride down to Walderton and back with a mix of lanes and bridleways. Found a lovey bit of BW that was perfect for the croix de fer running down from West Marden to Walderton. But I think this is Sussex - I guess I need to head west soon to keep on topic.
Was disappointed that most of the pubs were shut on a Sunday late afternoon. That may be the reason I need to head west.
Garage-dweller, I’ll take a look at that loop soon.
It is lovely around the Mardens/Walderton/Kingley Vale but it is West Sussex not Hampshire!
Pub wise, on a Sunday the Hare and Hounds in Stoughton would have been open and I’m sure the Barley Mow in Walderton opens all day on a Sunday?
for info, the Barley Mow was shut, and I didn't make it to the Hare and Hounds - I turned left up to UpMarden before getting there.
Yeah fair point, I'll go quiet on the Sussex bits.
Hare and Hounds is a great pub, and is open all day Sunday. The Queen Vic at West Marden is decent, too. Haven’t been to the Barley Mow in years, not sure what it’s like these days.
@Littlenose if you can't find it drop me a PM and I'll see if I can find a way of creating a gpx or similar in OS maps app or from my Strava feed and send it or a link to you.
@Littlenose - Grew up there many moons ago. One good option used to loop west before going south: up and through Steep, left onto a byway up stoner hill (or longer but easier just keep on the tarmac and turn left at the top), along ridgetop lane, dwon the hill to stroud, then theres a byway or a lane depending on fancy towards ramsdean and from Ramsdean up can gp along byway/bridleway up the back of ramsdean down and onto Butser hill and into QECP.
If you are after pubs to stop off at make sure you get yourself to the Harrow in steep when it warms up enough to sit in the garden. Can be linked into a ride around the hangers easily.
We also used to head through durford wood and rogate common when going eastward, not all bridleways but back in the day wasnt an issue.
@Bez & @garage-dweller cheers... I'll try it out next time, my only worry about the pubs so far down that way, is that it's a long and hilly way back for me... have to say though, the pubs looked like my kinds of places.
@ferrals thanks for the pointers... I'll go exploring those, and probably push up Stoner Hill at some point soon. The Harrow - now this one I've found already - it's but a short walk from my house.
@bartimaeus I recognise that view 😉
The Harrow – now this one I’ve found already – it’s but a short walk from my house.
Lucky! Probably the best pub in the world. Keep an eye out for the beer brewed with elder flowers later in the year, used to be called village elder, think its called something differnet now, from the cheriton brewery, just the thing for quenching thirst after a summer ride 🙂
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/longshot-lost-garmin-sdw-near-winchester/
For the local folks - Spread the word, if you'd be so kind.
used to be called village elder, think its called something differnet now, from the cheriton brewery,
Its called Elder Ale, from the Flower Pots Brewery & Pub in Cheriton.
My (almost) local.
The "pots" is a nice pub.
Been over the border today to Walderton/Kingley Vale with my two boys.
Apologies to anyone who overheard our many variations of "I know a song/parent/classmate/sibling that'll get on your nerves" as we were riding along. It did a great job of keeping the younger one distracted from the climbing though!
Flasheart.
Thanks for the repost just to say it’s been found.
Good to hear!
Thanks @ferrals & @bikebouy for the heads up on the Elder Ale - That sounds like something I would enjoy. @garage-dweller I think I'll stick Cheriton on the list of destinations 😉
The weekend involved a couple of rides
- a bimble along the old Meon railway, which was pleasant but too closed in by trees on either side to enjoy many views.
- a quick blast around QECP blue.. enjoying those big berms
You ought to try their Spring Green they have on ATM..
Dear Lord, it’s astounding.
Hic🥴🥳🍺
Hopefully get a chance before or after BITB 🙂
I had a pleasant pootle around the Hangers behind Petersfield yesterday, instead of my usual ride around the Downs and QECP. Nothing secret, it's all signposted bridleways but you have to know how best to string them together. It's a fantastic time of year with the wild garlic and bluebells everywhere.
Anyway, an alternative to the Harrow is the Hawkley Inn, which always has a great selection of local beers. Can't beat a summer evening in the garden there with swifts whizzing around the church spire.
Anyone planning a late ride at QECP tonight?
Metoffice predicting hail at ~2200! 😮
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcp618npj#?date=2019-07-19
If you experience this, photo pics please!
Just come from a wet run there.. it’s a bit slippy 🕺
I bikepacked a massive 4 miles into the forest of Bere the other night. Know it well from dog walking so found a quiet spot.
A couple of beers, read my book then got my head down for 7hrs. Was back in time to get the little one ready for pre school.
I know (or think I do) most of the single track in a 6 mile radius. Now looking for good bivvy spots.
Any recommendations?
Hampshire Open Studios running until Monday 26th August and there's an awful lot of artists in the county. Plenty of painterists, some potters and jewellery makers too.
http://www.hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/
Ayone able to tell me if that lane across Hyden Hill and Tegdown Hill (between East Meon Rd and the top of North Lane close to Butser) would be madness to tackle on a road bike?
One of those lanes I've had on my curiosity list that I regularly pass and I keep thinking "one day I'll ride up here on the Wazoo in fat form to ride" but I've not been up in the South Downs on the Wazoo for ~2 years!
That's the SDW. I've been up it (towards Butser) and down (towards Sustainability Centre) on a road bike - it's perfectly doable but the flints get pretty big (fist-sized) for a stretch at the top end. The bit through the woods is fine. Road bike with 28mm is OK, gravel bike with 35mm is better. It's a handy short cut if you don't fancy the steepness of Harvesting Lane!
Cheers for the info, corroded!
Holy thread resurrection Batman...
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Out towards Up Nately
5 points to anyone correctly identifying the location.
Not the Test...
@ Capt - the Meon?
The Itchen? Wallop Brook?
Hmmm, Itchen - Shawford then?
No, no and no.
Oh. Have you crossed the border then?
Nope.
Definitely Hampshire.