A few weeks ago I had been in touch, via the NGS website, with the garden owner of The Thatched Cottage, Upper Farringdon to ask about a private visit? They said they would be delighted, and that his neighbour's garden could also be open, if we wanted to see the two. Tea/Cake would be served at The Thatched Cottage. I asked around as to who would be free on today's date, and so we were a group of 9....6 ladies and 3 men.
I suggested we meet at Lower Froyle and do a round trip of 25 miles. If anyone wanted a longer ride, they could of course just meet us there. As it turned out, just Karen and Kay did a longer ride (around 40 miles) starting at the Barley Mow Pub. Well done ladies. Karen had done an epic MTB event at the weekend, but she has recovered enough to join today.
Since it was the best part of an hour to drive there, it was already on our mind about a loo stop, and not knowing the garden would have any facilities, we agreed to stop at The Chocolate Frog cafe, which most had not been to before.
Route
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| Or meeting point in Lower Froyle |
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| Views at the meeting point |
We drop down immediately through Lower Froyle (which is on hill!), to pass under the A31, and very soon we arrive at river level where the pretty Isington Mill is located. Always a photo stop!
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| Isington Mill |
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| The River Wey at Isington Mill |
From the Mill, about a mile of gradual climbing now to Binstead, and at the top some views across to Froyle Park ( I think).
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| Views to Froyle Park Hotel from Binstead |
All easy going for a few miles now as we ride on Oakenhanger Road, and turn left to the Chocolate Frog.
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| Bike racks at the back of the cafe. |
Linda H on her maiden ride on her new Oro bike! Very nice. A change to the route which John and I previously rode, to miss out the double hairpin road, which meant skirting the edges of Bordon, which is not so scenic, but just for a short section. Soon we pass the pretty church and war memorial in Blackmoor.
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| Blackmoor War Memorial. Not the best light today unfortunately. |
We loop around to now pass the road to The Chocolate Frog on our right, and take the road on our left. flattish to start with then uphill for around 1.5 miles. I had done this once before and knew what was coming. As the others went ahead, I held back to wait for Cathy who was walking a bit of it. The bonus of stopping is that probably no one else saw this pretty view over the gate to my right.
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| View part way up Hartley Mauditt hill. |
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| Regrouping at the top of the climb. And now downhill! Wheee. |
Left at the end, (we would turn right on our way back), then straight over the B3006 Selborne Road, heading to Upper Farringdon.... which is pretty much all downhill. At this point my phone rang, so I stopped to answer it. It was the garden owner wondering if we still coming?! Oops, we were an hour behind schedule, having stopped at the cafe. After a slightly awkward arrival, he soon warmed to us and made us very welcome. He suggested we visit his neighbours garden first at Berry Cottage, then have tea/cake in his garden later.
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| The Thatched Cottage |
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| Berry Cottage |
Photos now of Berry Cottage....
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| Karan, John, Dave and Nigel |
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| Linda H admiring the Stipa and Allium Christophii |
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| The garden owner had latched onto Karan😂 |
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| A peak of the top of "Massey Folly" tower in the background |
And now, around 1.15 we are all STARVING! And head next door for cake before we look around. We are offered a good selection, and some have second, and even thirds.
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| The front garden of Thatched Cottage has a good view of Massey Folly |
Photos of the Thatched Cottage. The ducks and dogs were very entertaining. The owner has sadly fallen and broken her hip recently so couldn't walk too far, but left us to wander around their amazing garden.
Just before we set off on our return trip, a quick visit to the 2000 year old Yew Tree in the church opposite the cottages.
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| Linda coming out of the churchyard |
A quick detour around the village, all very lovely, and then back up the way we arrived (a gentle climb) to cross the Selbourne Road once more. Gentle undulations as we pass through West and East Worldham then downhill into Wyke. Finally, dropping right down to river level once more to cross back over the River Wey, with a cheeky climb up to cross the A31 at West End Flower Farm. Up the next hill now to Froyle, passing Froyle Park with the enjoying downhill through the village with one final push to climb up to Lower Froyle and back to the start. Kay and Karen continued on their bikes whilst the rest of us loaded up our cars for our trip back home. Having spent 2 hours at the gardens, it was now almost 3.30!
Everyone was very appreciative of a lovely day out, which made it all worthwhile, and in a relatively small group so nice to get the chance to mix up and chat to everyone. Thanks everyone for joining me. It was great to see you all. Tomorrow John and I are off on a cycling holiday in North Norfolk so now need to pack!
