A very late decision to ride today, Monday, since we were due to see friends either today or tomorrow for lunch, and finally opted for lunch tomorrow. John riding with Dave as usual, but I had made no plans, so was going to tag along with the boys, but then decided last night to ask Gill if she was free? She was, so all 4 loaded up our bikes and we were off in the van to start a ride from Oakley. New area for Gill, some new for Dave, and I had done bits and pieces of this ride with John, but mostly in the opposite direction.... always confusing! Also, I had only ever done this area on my ebike before. Eeek!
Route
We parked at our usual spot at the village hall in Oakley, and crossed over the B3400 Andover Road, to enjoy the downhill of the tree lined Malshanger Lane. Always lovely with the shadows of the trees across the lane. After the almost perfect 90 degree left hand bend, the road levels out, and on the next bend, we went straight on today. (right turn would take us uphill to Hannington).Then soon the right turn just short of the railbridge, and a gradual uphill to Ashe Warren. I stopped to photograph these horses next to the farm whilst the others carried on.
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| Harrow Way on route to Ashe Warren |
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| Gill continues, and now I need to catch her up. |
A fast downhill section to a junction and as we are about to cross over, we spot John and Dave next this gate. This is where the "poppy" field was last year. No poppies this year, and sadly the farmer has now closed the field since too many visitors were trampling over the crops. Such a shame.
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| Ashe Warren XRoads at the "poppy" field. |
Now we are heading to Overton, and an undulating couple of miles crossing the railway bridge, which bring us into the village on Station Road, over the River Test. Straight over here for a tour of the village, rather then ride the main road. But this route has a sneaky tough uphill into Greyhound Lane, which swings around to rejoin the main road again. We emerge facing this garden wall with its pale green gate.
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| High Street Overton, where we turn left. |
This next mile or so is a stretch we haven't done before, which is the London Road, to Laverstoke. It's got a hill! We spread out a bit to allow the traffic to pass more easily, and eventually turn left at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, into Laverstoke Lane. (I have come out of this junction before to turn left for the short stretch to Freefolk... which will do later on our return journey.)
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| Bombay Sapphire Distillery, where we turn left |
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| Interesting tramlines on Laverstoke Lane |
I have only done this next few miles the opposite way, which I always enjoyed since it's all downhill. Which meant that today it was all uphill.😖 Who planned this!! We turn off Laverstoke Lane into Micheldever Road, where Gill and I pull over for a moment.
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| looking back to Laverstoke Lane from Micheldever Road |
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| Just inside the field. Thankfully not yet harvested. |
The boys are ahead, but we all regroup after the climb on Micheldever Road. John waiting with is camera.
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| Neck in neck up the hill |
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| Crops cut waiting to be baled |
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| This little MG appeared and passed us |
Now through Whitchurch. The Silk Mill, on the River Test is a favourite place to stop for tea, but not open Mondays, so we didn't pass it today. (Gill, you must go back to the Museum and cafe). We leave Whitchurch on Winchester Road and need to negotiate a junction to pass under the A34. It was fine, but seemed slightly clumsy in this direction. The right turn is into "Nuns Walk" which had we continued on this road, is the pretty lane that goes all the way to Longparish. Too long a ride today to go there, so we turn next right into Paper Mill Lane (B3048), passing through Hurst Bourne Priors, then under the railway viaduct, soon arriving in St Mary Bourne.
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| Almost at St Mary Bourne. |
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| The Doves at this cottage in St Mary Bourne |
We will turn right at the "Dove Cottage" next to the car park, into Egbury Road, but since Gill not been here before we continue on a short tour of the village. I take a few more photos of course.
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| The Strawberry Farm, just outside St Mary Bourne |
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| The Strawberry Farm, aka children's playground |
The boys set off as Gill and I waited to use the ladies. We would catch them up. Initially up hill (again), then a nice downhill section to a junction where we turned second left on a slightly strange junction... and a tough uphill section. "Do a U turn" said the Garmin. Damn. Came up that hill for nothing, and turned back to take the 1st left into Harroway... to climb the hill again, but not quite so steep. Spotted this crop field at the top and like the barn in the distance.
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| Harroway |
Harroway crosses over the A34 and also Newbury Road, and we turn right onto Kingsclere Road for just a few yards before a left turn, and we are back on Harroway again. We come to a nice downhill section, where a horse is tied up on the grass verge, and I recognise this from a previous ride (the opposite way), and sure enough, there are several old fashioned gypsy caravans just a bit further on. Then THIS! We caught them up.
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| Dangerous Dave has been a bit too dangerous and got himself a puncture. |
We decide to leave them to it, and continue uphill once more. Soon we pass this very impressive house, called Harroway House.
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| Harroway House |
My Garmin gets confused at this point, just as we pass the house, and after a minute or so riding back and forth decide to ignore it, and take the second right into Watch Lane. (since I recognise the name of the lane, which will drop us down to the Almshouses at Freefolk). It's a steep descent, and much more enjoyable than coming up it.
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| Freefolk Almshouses. Carefully excluding the 4 trampolines on the front lawn! |
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| Freefolk Almshouses |
We are now back on the B3400, passing the Bombay Distillery on our left this time, and continuing on the main road towards Overton, where we turn off left on Southingston Lane, and stop for a moment as we cross the River Test. Plenty of brown trout in the crystal clear water, as a couple are feeding bread to them.
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| River Test Overton |
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| River Test Overton |
Right into Silk Mill Road, a pretty lane, and finally into Overton, to pass through the crossroads, and pass the Honesty Cafe on our left. (It seems to be open). It's a bit of a climb out of Overton, and we stop for a moment as I tell Gill about the field of Buffalo I had once spotted. They are there.
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| Buffalo on Waltham Lane, leaving Overton |
After endless undulations, passing through Steventon, we see a sign for Oakley 2.5 miles, as we turn left... uphill. Since I had no key for the van, no point getting back before the boys, so Gill and I sit in some shade next to this field, and have our snack bar.
