Selborne to Preston Candover - 30 miles 1472 feet

I planned the route today into unknown territory, other than the starting point, which was at the car park in Selborne. (next to Gilbert White's House). John of course gave it the once over using the OS map before we left.(cos he doesn't trust me!)

We took ebikes today, since the route I planned was over 1900 feet, and yet the actual ride we did was 1472 feet. Not complaining! The difference seemed mostly to be the fact that we did not use our intended cafe stop at Four Marks, (Tree House cafe), which was a little off the route, and therefore shortened the ride a couple of miles AND knocked off quite a few feet of climbing. We stopped instead at Preston Candover at a nice village shop. We enjoyed at least 3 big downhill today, which means we did a fair bit of climbing in between.

It was a real gloomy overcast day, with pale grey skies, causing havoc with camera exposure at times.

route

Leaving the car park we rode left through Selborne and very soon left again down the pretty lane called Gracious Street with thatch cottages, and then started a gradual uphill (it's going to be one of those rides!)

Not far out of Selborne.

We cross straight over the A32, and later the A31, continued through Medstead, and onto Bentworth, where I spotted this lovely thatch.

Pretty Cottage for sale in Bentworth

With its matching garage and its cream post box

We continued along several quiet lanes, ups and downs, and surrounded by crop fields.

A nice big drop downhill after Burham, starting through these lovely woods.

Then a left turn and we soon arrive in Preston Candover, passing more lovely houses, then we spot a sign saying "CAKES. Slam on the brakes!! This is conveniently almost half way.

Candover Stores and Tea Shop

Sign of the times, but no Q today.

Watching the tennis while we have our snack

Turning off the main road from Preston Candover, we head to Upper Wield, and we spot some figures in a field, so stop a little further along for a closer look.

Detectorists!

We turn now towards Bighton, but turn off before we get there

Towards the end of another long downhill

Just starting to spit and spot, so we switch to a power boost to get us moving a bit quicker, along the next stretch of road. This is not too far from the Meon Valley and has that feel to it.

Photo by John

We cross the A32 again and start to climb, including under a railway arch, which John thinks might be an old branch line of the Meon railway? There were lots of logs piled up, and the rain had stopped so we spent a few minutes photographing here.

We came from the direction of the railway arch.

opposite the piles of logs.

on the woodland edge

We just get going again.... uphill a bit more, when we then spotted a partially planted sunflower field. So we have to stop, again! It's not everyday you see a field of Sunflowers round here.

Getting in close for the next macro shot

Next we pass through a pretty Hamlet called Colemore. According to Google this church is no longer in use, but is Grade II listed. A few more pictures in the Hamlet follow.