Mattingley to Upton Grey via Crondall - 32 miles 1700 feet

Monday again.    Daphne away still, surrounded by family and no doubt "lost in France" whilst Linda surrounded by visiting family in Finchampstead.  We have a few days free between visiting grandchildren and parents arriving. 

Another heatwave forecast over the next 3 days, so cycling was actually a good move to give us a bit of a breeze, even although it was almost 30 degrees forecast. 

Route link

We both took our road bikes today, and picked up Dave and started our route in Mattingley, planned by John.  He sent me the route just this morning, and at a quick glance I had interpreted it the wrong way round, so I was thrown when we immediately passed Dipley Mill instead of heading out through Rotherwick.😂

We got behind a horse not far from our turnoff to West Green Gardens, and the rider speeded up to a trot. Not normal to see that. They always seem to by just walking at "horse pace" down the lanes.  Thankfully  she continued straight ahead, as we turned right.  No roadworks on this road to Phoenix Green traffic lights for the first in months.... or maybe even years! 

Leaving Hartley Witney behind, we rode on Taplins Farm Road over the M3, and it was enjoyable to be heading downhill for a while, since I more often climb up this road in the opposite direction.  A tight turn  soon at "The Hurst" X Roads, and onto Station Road, in Wynchfield direction.   A female cyclist overtook us at this point, and took off at speed, so didn't see her again. 

Under the tunnel to the Odiham Canal, and up the High Street, turning into King Street.  

This property as we turn into King Strret has a sign which I thought
said Queens Almes House.

But close up its Queens Arms House.
An old pub presumably.  Queen and King in the same address.

A left turn into Hillside Road, where we normally soon take a right turn into Roke Lane, to pass the Oast House. But at the junction today (which had a ROAD CLOSED sign) we went straight one.  (We also passed that lady cyclists who had shot past us back in Winchfield. She had stopped to chat with someone). 

I used to ride this road in the opposite direction with Breeze many years ago, but not for a long time. The road WAS closed, with about 8 vans of tree surgeons and electric cable engineers ready to start work. We walked our bikes past on a grass verge.  It's closed for 8 days from today.  So after years of never riding on this lane... typical that we should choose today! 

   

View to the left of Hillside Road

Hillside Road.

A  right turn eventually into Roke Lane, which near the end passes Beechenwood Farmhouse which opens for NGS. 

Roke Lane, with open views to start with.....

.....Roke Lane becomes a dark tree tunnel, but nice and cool!

We pass our friends house, which may not be their's for much longer since they are selling up. 

Roke Lane A big contrast in the landscape today of almost white
fields and dark green trees and hedges. 

Closer look. I have photographed this barn
a few times over the yeas sometimes with Rape Crop. 

On the edge of Crondall, on Swanthorpe Lane, Dave spotted a hare dashing across a field, and as we stopped for a jeep to pass on a bend, I took the next shot looking up to where the Hare had been. 

Corner of Swanthorpe Lane.

The jeep continued into the extension of Swanthorpe Lane, which goes to the vineyards, whilst we joined Well Road and were able to see the Vineyards elevated from a distance. 

The vineyards of Penncroft Wines

A cheeky little climb to Well, where we turned right, just missing out seeing the well today. At last a downhilll on White Hill for a few minutes,  as we headed into Long Sutton, and passing the front entrance to Lord Wandworth College.  (This is always a surprise to me😂)

Lord Wandworth College entrance. 

Just passed the pond in Long Sutton, I was keen to check out the sunflower field I has seen about a month ago. I dropped down the hill, whilst the boys waited at the top. There was no sign of any sunflowers!! So I climbed back again, with no photos. 😖

All easy going now to drop down to cross the busy Alton Road, continuing over into Ford Lane. My garmin showed a left turn coming into Little Dean Lane, a name I was not familiar with. (We would normally continue to Bidden  Road about half a mile further, to turn left to Upton Grey. )

It was a 5% or so climb on Little Dean Lane, and I mentioned to Dave that I had never ridden this lane before. "I've done it a few times" he announced.  But not according to John who had never ridden here before either! 😍😂

Top of our first climb on Little Dean Lane. 

The field edges with crops for green manure, and also wildlife including the 
blue "Fiddleneck"  crop, Phacelia. I believe the farmers
get a bonus these days if the include a band of these along the field edges.

As we dropped down to face our next uphill on Little Dean Lane, the surface was terrible with lots of loose gravel. We all put a foot on the ground to get through it, which was annoying since lost all the speed gained on the downhill. 

A project? On Little Dean Lane, with the next climb ahead.

Here comes Dave. You can see the undulations of the land behind now. 

Although I had never ridden that lane before, I could picture that it would emerge to join the road which links Upton Grey to South Warnborough, called Lees Hill. 

Lees Hill as it drops down, then up again before we reach Upton Grey.

We sat indoors at the shop in the air conditioning! Bliss!!  And when we came back out, our Garmins read 48 degrees in the sunshine.  

A climb now to leave Upton Grey to head towards Tunworth, undulating all over the place, and stopping to let a few cars pass in the very narrow lanes. I have a lady on a recumbent bike joining me this week on a ride, and it does concern me what she would do in these narrow lanes, where we get off our bikes or need to pull right over to let cars through. 😓

Through Mapledurwell, and a late decision to change the planned route to shave off a couple of miles, and not return via Andwell. Instead we crossed the A30 at Millers Ark animals and climbed up to Newnhan Cross Roads. (hate that climb!) 

Green bits of grass! As we pass through Tilney Hall golf club.

And finally through Rotherwick back to Mattingley.  A hot day, but fine when moving, and plenty of shady lanes helped.  No big climbs, but they totalled 1700 feet, so not that easy.