Old Basing via Mattingley - 39.5 miles

on

The weather has finally warmed up! Yesterday I froze with plenty of icy patches on the roads, and today it was 10 degrees. How bizarre.  I met Daphne at Bob's Fish n Chips, Finch and we set off to cross Eversley Ford enroute to Old Basing. This is where the first layer came off.

I had done this route in reverse a few weeks ago, so was looking forward to some downhills today. Funny how that never quite works out. 😊

Route

We rode our usual route over to Plough Lane, Bramshill with almost no traffic on the roads. At Mattingly we crossed over to the road towards Rotherwick, where we stopped at the church for a few minutes.

Rotherwick Church with it's wonky fence.

Down to one layer.



The back of the church. Whilst taking this photo I lost
my NEW cycling glasses and never did find them. 

From Rotherwick, we turned passing Tylney Hall and enjoyed the downhill section, but there were still a few slushy patches, so took it gently. At the next junction, a right turn onto Newnham Lane, which we followed for a couple of miles into Old Basing, with a few pictures on the way.

Newman Lane

Lower Mill, Newnham Lane. Grade II Listed Watermill

We arrived in Old Basing  and took a little detour into Milkingpen Lane passing some interesting properties before stopping at a tree seat for a snack. (the tree seat was covered in bird poo, so we stood up!)  Then we dropped down Church Lane and had a nice view of the back of the church.

Rear view of St Mary's church Old Basing

A gap in the hedge and snowdrops at eye level

Now we pass the Old Bakery on The Street, which I knew unfortunately was not open on a Monday, but next time! Skirting the grounds of Old Basing House, we climb a little after we go under a second railway arch then right, where it flattens out into Bartons Lane. A pretty lane which evolves into a cycle path to join Pyott Hill. It's all uphill from here (which when I last came was all downhill )😉

After following the official cycle path through Chineham, we join Cufaude Lane, passing endless properties called Cufaude.... Manor, Farm etc. I searched a little, and find that Cufaude is a family name going back several hundred years and a mention that Henry VIII called at Cufaude Manor. 

As we passed three cyclists on Cufaude Lane, we laughed since this doesn't happen very often. Further up the lane there is an uphill section, and one of the 3 cyclists then shot past us shouting "this is a strava segment". We let him win.  

We could have stopped at Bramley shop next to the station for a takeaway cuppa, but in the last couple of days it was announced that a new Covid strain has been found in Bramley (South African) and I was not going to risk stopping. (Daphne agreed). Mass testing is to be done the next few days in an attempt to get on top of it here. 

Now we wiggle our way to Stratfield Saye and when I came this way yesterday there was a massive puddle on a corner, which I fully expected would have reduced... but it had grown in size. Daphne went through first.😏
 
Nr Stratfield Saye house on Trowes Lane

We came back today on Barge Lane, doing the dash over the A33 and back to Swallowfield. We used Swallowfield Lane to Arborfield, where we parted company, Daphne heading down School Road and me on Mole Road for the second time in two days... since its closed to traffic.

Views on Mole Road nr Arborfield Cross

I have to admit feeling a little weary by the time I got home, having clocked up almost 40 miles. Daphne did a similar amount of course from Crowthorne.  It was so nice to feel overheated today for the first time in weeks! Spring must be on it's way.