Hartley Wintney via Heckfield - 34 miles

on

A Monday ride with Daphne & Linda B. Where to go?  I had not been to Hartley Wintney for a while, and the others were happy to go that direction.   To do this route the "normal" way round, would get us to HW after just 9 miles, from Finch,  which was much too early for a tea stop, so having plotted the route,  I just reversed it, with the tea stop at 20 miles. 

Route

It was a beautiful morning, if a bit gusty,  as we met at Linda's and went out to Arborfield along the Greenway.  I had in my mind that we were going to go over Observer Way footbridge to join Swallowfield Road.  Garmin kept telling Linda and I that we were off course, so we just ignored it... I knew where we were going.😊 

Having got home and checked the route Garmin was right😂. I was sure I had planned to go Observer Way, rather than over Farley Hill! 

No matter, it was a beautiful morning, and an easier option for Daphne, who was unfortunately still full of cold, with a hacking cough, still hanging on since pre Suffolk tour. She did well to come out at all. 

Views as we climb Observer Way footbridge

Linda and Daphne nearing the top

Left now, to Swallowfield Road (ignoring Farley Hill), so an easy downhill most of the way now all the way to Swallowfield Village, where we turned left into Part Lane. From here we turned left into School Road, then first right into School Lane, where we had to pull over for a tractor. He then turned around so we pulled over a second time! Not arguing with him.  Then straight on at the Devil's highway crossroads, and we didn't meet any other cars at all. We continued on this Lane all the way to Heckfield, a gentle up hill in this direction.

Autumnal under carpet on School Lane
as we ride around the perimeter of Wellington Country Park

At the junction with the main road (Odiham Road),  a left turn, then left at the roundabout, where soon Laundry Lane is on the right. Except that with Linda leading at this point, she went passed it, thinking it looked more like a track.  A quick turnaround, and down Laundry Lane, which after a couple of days of very high winds and rain, was a bit messy to say the least.

Reflections in the puddles on Laundry Lane

Crossing the B3349 at The New Inn, Heckfield, we had the lanes to ourselves pretty much. Not sure what this lane is called, but might be an extension of Bottle Lane?

Beautiful colours in the ferns on Bottle Lane.

We kept left, at the "green triangle", into Bottle Lane which allowed us to loop to cross the B3349 once more at Chandlers Green, to pass Dipley Mill. Approaching HW, we turned right to pass the entrance to West Green Gardens. Crossing the London Road at the traffic lights, we took first left into Mitchell Avenue, then I had spotted a cut through on the map, which I hadn't used before. It was a good surface, and a useful link to bring us out with HW common our left, St John's Church on our right.

HW Common. Always impressive looking.

Glorious weather as we left the church cafe.

We returned using our normal route ie Hazely Bottom to Bramshill. We decided to stick to Bramshill Road after the heavy weekend rain, and crossed the ford at Eversley. At this point, a rain shower, but nothing too heavy. 

Nine Mile ride is open again from TODAY, after many months, which is why I opted to return this way today. Finally, through California  Park to Heather Close where we parted company.

Considering it's 1st November, it's very mild, but a blustery breeze at times. (A hurricane was reported yesterday on the news with loads of trees down up and down the country. I encountered a closed footpath on Woosehill as I set off, due to fallen branches).