We drove today to start a ride at Avington Park, Nr Winchester, on the River Itchen. We went there last May and it was a beautiful area. John planned a new route, which other than the first few miles, and one section at Ropley, was all new to us.
Route
The River Itchen weaves its way through the first few villages and meanders along the roadside.
We pass through Ovington, cross the A31 to Tichborne, through Cheriton to Kilmestone.
At the junction here in Kilmstone, we turn left and start a climb towards Hinton Ampner. Its pretty steep and at the top the Garmin is not happy, so we double back downhill again to retrace our route and take the turn that we missed. We apparently have been to NT Hinton Ampner, although I need to look that one up! Bit of climb now to Brockwood, where you get a good view at the top.
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John heading down, whilst 2 cyclist on the way up.
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Continuing to West Tisted, plenty of crop fields, and great clouds today.
On the look out for somewhere to have a seat for our snack, we never find one, so hover a few minutes at a gate, next to this wheat field.
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Photo by John at our snack stop.
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Soon we will drop down a substantial hill into Ropley, so this is another view "at the top", looking in the general direction of Winchester in the far distance.
We dropped down here last year, and I remember, that we straight away had a bit of a climb on the other side of the A31, to the engine sheds of the Watercress Line.
From Ropley we continue to Bighton, which is a lovely quiet road with open views and where last May we saw the amazing fields of Flax. Then we drop down to Old Alresford, passing "Old Alresford House" a very imposing building.
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Old Alresford House
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Left then shortly a right fork to Abbotstone Road, where we pass some Watercress beds. Passing those, we come to this view which is on the map as having watercress beds, but a "change of use" planning application was on the gates. So no more.
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Abbotstone Road
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A little further and some hay bales, so a must do photo stop! And then we see some more just further along the road, so stop once more.
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photo by John
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Finally, into Northington Road, for our return to Itchen Abbas, and the grounds of Avington Park, where this impressive Gate House is to our right.
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John arriving at the gate house inside Avington Park
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We had brought a picnic today for the end of our ride, and found a bench (plank!) just a few yards from the car park, and overlooking the main house. Not too shabby. Some pretty wild flowers and bullrushes edge the lake.
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Me taking the next photo
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A very pretty area, with a few steeper bits, and since we are both cycling again tomorrow, opted for ebikes today.
