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I'm planning a little tour of the south, taking in various museums and sights I've never got around to. After coming along via the Tank Museum at Bovington and the Motor Museum at Beaulieu, my next couple are in Oxford and then beyond towards Northampton. The bit inbetween seems full of A roads and a lack of somewhere interesting along the way for a stopoff. Any route suggestions? Quite a long day in the saddle or split it and pick up an attraction I've missed from my itinerary. Any suggestions?
Newbury back lanes to Wantage, b4011, then up to Abingdon way or stay left to Oxford.
Head on up to Blenheim palace, then overnight in Deddington there’s a hotel and pubs, curry house, fish and chips, and a Chinese.
Rural lanes but not very direct:
Upwards from Beaulieu across the New Forest (pick a B road or smaller and you'll likely be quiet) towards Fritham (the Bolderwood way has an underpass for A31; the Newtown way is shorter but you have to dash across, screaming (nice pub at Fritham if the weather's good, a bit off the route though unless you then do the gravel road climb past eyeworth pond - it's actually bike-legit), then Lover (or via Hamptworth for the "local" wonders of the Cuckoo pub),...
DON'T RIDE ALONG THE A36 - find a road that crosses it
...Newton, Whiteparish, over the mighty Dean Hill to W Dean, Tytherley, Broughton (take the back road next to the river up to) the Wallops (army flying museum - never been, and it is on an A road, or else pop over to Porton Down for some Monkeypox action), Grateley, Thruxton (maybe something to see), and then I assume some of the little roads towards Newbury and Weeksy's suggestions
Alternatively head a little west so you are west of Ringwood then head north past the west side of saislsbury keep heading north on minor roads and head east once past the M4, so where near Wantage
If you go near Newbury a visit to the little exhibit at Greenham Common Control Tower is worth while. Has a cafe too.
OK, you'd arguably be better on the A338, taking Newbury road out through Woodspeen, into great Shefford, then at the lambourne junction you can head down into Wantage. YOU then continue on the A338 towards Grove and Frilford, which brings you to the A420 at Oxford or do a right at Cothill if you want to take a quieter road into Oxford from the south.
It's quite a common bicyle road/route.
If you are looking for an off-road route you could use The King Alfred's Way trail. The section between Winchester and Salisbury is just north of the New Forest. Follow it clockwise until Wantage, from there you can use an NCR which runs thru Didcot and Abingdon and then into Oxford.
Check out the website - King Alfred's Way | Cycling UK
Scardey's route through the forest is a good'un. I've done Salisbury to Oxford, which could easily be linked to aforementioned route.
My ride passed up the Woodford valley to Amesbury (stonehenge etc) then Netheravon to Everleigh, west of Pewsey Great Bedwyn I think then onto Lambourne,over the downs to the flatlands between there and Oxford. Didn't really ride on a busy road at all.
Have you tried the Cycletravel site. Its a fantastic route planner to keep you off busy roads. Its always my starting point for road touring routes. Sometimes a bit round the houses but you can fine tune some of the twistier bits out depending on your appetite for cycling in traffic. It also works abroad.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2641514349
This is a route I did a while ago, nice mix of quiet roads and bridleways. I'm in Didcot so let me know if you want any further pointers from Newbury to Oxford.
That looks great Rob, could pick it up around Blackhill, NW of Totton.
I did look at cycle.travel initially, but my knowledge of the area is pretty limited, so some input from the locals gives it a good reality check. Still at the string on a map stage, and depending on work and family commitments, I might even just hop on the train and not ride that segment. King Alfred's Way is tempting, but that's for another day (or 5 days, to do it how I'd like to, stopping and looking around as I go).
How about the Army Flying Museum at Nether Wallop, fits in with the Tank & Motor Museum theme.
Beaulieu to Totton/Romsey pick up Test Valley way to Stockbridge then a couple of lanes up to Nether Wallop
Head towards Petersfield and head north via Bell Hill?
How about the Army Flying Museum at Nether Wallop, fits in with the Tank & Motor Museum theme.
Been there, done that. Went down with a mate who was taking his dad's log book and other papers for the Glider Pilot's Regiment archives. He flew into Arnhem for Market Garden, but unfortunately had to swim back.
As lesshaste says, if you fancied a slight diversion, I would recommend going via Amesbury and passing Stonehenge. Might be a nice place to stop and take in the site and use facilities at the visitor-centre for no charge before heading on.