Months ago, pre Covid, on a chilly winter's day, I drove this route accompanied by my friend Jeanette, to check out a tea stop called West End Flower Farm at Upper Froyle. By the time the weather improved, Covid struck and tea shops had to close. Finally this one re opened recently, by only from Wed - Saturday
Another friend, Linda, had planned a 60th birthday gathering a couple of weeks ago, but with numbers now restricted to 6, it got cancelled and she asked if I could plan a bike ride instead. So, I decided to do something different, without telling Linda where we were going... but the other 4 new. Then it got rained off. We are going to try again in a couple of weeks time, but with today's forecast looking so good, I suggested that John and I go out and so we did this route at last.
We parked in Odiham at the Canal, then under the A287 and soon turned right into Bagwell Lane
route
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Bagwell Lane
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passing St Mary's Church, Winchfield
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Then a right towards Dogmersfield, where we cross the River Hart
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Cottage next to the bridge over the River Hart
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Once into Crookham a right turn into Crondall Road, and we cross a wider section of river.
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Crondall Road, Crookham
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Through Crondall, and a climb starts as we leave the village heading for Well.
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| views between Crondall and Well |
We pass a recumbent bike, saying what a lovely day etc, then they catch up with us when I stop for a photo of a field with yellow flowers. Turns out John has met this man before on a ride a while ago.
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| Chatting with the recumbent cyclist who was heading for Four Marks to meet friends |
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A late crop of Rape
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The climb to Well was not as bad as I had remembered from a while back. Am I getting more fit?
A nice ride now to Lower Froyle.
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Lower Froyle not far from here
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Then on to Upper Froyle, and we stop at the church for a few photos.
Now we drop down to the Flower Farm. They are serving brunches indoors, but for tea and cake you get a takeaway and sit in the Tippee!!
Flowers grown for commercial purposes
A couple of dogs are there to meet us, very friendly.
Having dropped down to the Flower Farm, we need to retrace our steps and climb back up to Upper Froyle. I had dreaded this, but its only 5% gradient, so not a problem. BUT the climb continues for a couple of miles... had forgotten that bit! Took a breather a couple of times, so not too bad.
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| 5 shot Panorama |
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Now heading to Weston Patrick
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We cross over at "The Golden Pot" except that it's now an Indian restaurant or something. This is called The Avenue, and is a main road passing the airfield at Lasham, then a right turn. The climb continues, getting a bit challenging occasionally, before the route undulates off and on, climbing from Upton Grey to Greywell. My planned route was wrong a couple of times (suggesting tracks) so we ignored the Garmin and worked around it.
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Approaching Greywell,
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From Greywell, we take a loop through North Warnborough, over the Canal, then across a couple of bridges over a stream. (had only walked this one before).
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crossing the Basingstoke Canal, North Warnborogh
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Crossing the ford on River Whitewater,
North Warnborough |
A bit of a busy section of main road for a short climb back to Odiham, then all downhill through Odiham to the canal where we parked.
Lovely ride, in fantastic weather. The autumn may be more colourful in 2 weeks time when I next do this ride, or it may be grey and miserable, so it was a good chance to stop for photos when out with John.
