A revist today to an NGS open garden just outside of Odiham, called Beechenwood, which I had ridden to starting from Mattingly, last summer. (25 miles). A friend had said it was also a lovely spring garden, so a trip today with a few friends to take a look. We all decided to ride from home, which for me was going to be 44 miles, and a bit more for Gill. Since the garden opened at 2pm, I suggested we start out at 11ish, and have a light lunch enroute, at a pub in Rotherwick, which opened at 12.
It was another disappointingly chilly day! Can't decide what to wear atm. (wind still persisting in coming from N/E). John joined us and opted for shorts.... he was frozen! Gill's husband John joined us too, and was cold for much of the ride even with long trousers on.
Route
Gill and John rode to our house, and we liased with Debbie and Louise at Blagrove Lane. Cutting through California Park, we rode along Nine Mile Ride, where today (at noon), the roadworks which have been going on for many weeks, were to be officially finished. We got there at 11.15, and it wasn't looking hopeful, but at least we could squeeze through barriers to get onto Park Lane (which had been blocked).
Over Eversley Mill, and since the ground is bone dry, we went through Bramshill Forrest Track.
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| Bramshill Forrest Track. |
Straight on passing the Shoulder of Mutton and I was a bit worried we were just a few minutes early for the pub opening, so a short detour to pass Dipley Mill, then a left to Rotherwick.
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| Dipley Mill |
I checked the time as we pulled up at the Coach and Horses pub. 12.00. Spot on 😉
We pushed our bikes into the rear garden, which is south facing, and I had hoped we would be basking in sun, since that was the forecast two days ago. Trying to open the back door to the pub, which was locked, the barmaid did come to open up, explaining that she hadn't expected anyone to sit outside today. (we spotted some blankets in a basket, so these were to come in handy!). We prefer to sit with our bikes in view.
There was a very good lunch menu, but since we were riding for cake later, most of us just wanted something small. As we ordered, she asked for our table number.... the place was empty.... she would find us.😅
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Having ordered, I nipped to the ladies, and this picture made me
smile, thinking of the miserable barmaid. |
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| Great Location. Views at Coach and Horses. |
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| I opted for Tempura Veg. Great selection. |
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| We were all a bit chilled sitting for lunch, so time to go and get warmed up. |
We cut through Tylney Hall grounds, then dropped downhill to the Xroads at Newnham. We could have done with some uphill to warm us up. Brrr it was cold. A right turn at the Xroads, then more downhill, turning left into Pot Lane then Water End Lane, to dogleg across the A30 to Andwell. Following the edge of the Lyde River, we climbed over the M3, and at the junction a left turn towards Upnatley and our chance to warm up on the climb.
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| I waited for Gill to catch up, at the top of the hill as we now drop down to Greywell. |
I thought we might be a few minutes early if we stuck to the planned route, so another short detour to drop down to North Warnborough, crossing the canal, and the two bridges at the fords crossing the Whitewater River.
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| Cute puppy as we crossed the canal in North Warnborough |
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| Highland Coos North Warnborough |
A bit of a climb now back up to Odiham High Street to get back to our route. Round the back where the church is, and a loo stop at the public loos. Not far now as we leave Odiham behind and ride on Roke Lane to the garden. (It's uphill!). We pulled up at the garden entrance at 2.00pm. 😊
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| Getting our priorities right. Tea and cake first. |
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| A large part of the garden is a flower meadow and works really well, with mowed grass paths. |
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| Fritillaria amongst Cowslips, daffs, blubells |
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| Camassia Leichtlinii |
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| We had the place to ourselves. |
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| Loved these, and looked them up. Think they are Tulipa Burgundy Lily flowering tulips. |
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| Also loved the bright pink ones in the more formal box ball garden area. |
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At the far end, this is a raised rather rickety platform with views back to Odiham.
A Chinuke was flying in. |
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| The girls, taken by John. John C was hiding in the greenhouse trying to get warm |
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| Beautiful Peony |
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| White Tulips with the orchard beyond. |
At almost 3pm, we left on a mission to get warmed up, and get home at a good pace. Or return route through Roke Hamlet, passing Barry and Monica's house, into Crondall, straight across the busy A287 Farnham Road, and continuing to Crookham. A left turn in Crookham to Dogmersfield, and over the M3 to the edge of Hartley Witney. A left turn and then straight over to Phoenix Green to pass West Green Gardens. The remainder of our route was the reverse of our route out, climbing Plough Lane and across the Bramshill Road back in to the forest track.
We arrived back at the junction of Park Lane/Nine Mile ride, expecting it now to be fully open, but the workman said still "half an hour". John and Gill left us here for their route home via Mountain Trax bike shop, and the rest of us retraced our route to California Park.
Home at 5pm, but a grand day out. Our average speed for 12mph for much of the return trip, when I finally got warm, but is a little fast for me and Gill, but I finished at 11.7 mph. Phew.
Thanks all for joining me today. Nice to do something a bit different.
