We were drawn back to Hampshire again today to park at St Marybourne, but this time to a village with 3 NGS Open Gardens, so no need to worry about where the tea stop would be 😁. John planned the route, and with ebikes in mind, the start of our route took us sharply uphill out of St Marybourne. That was the biggest climb today, but only 5% so normal bikes would have been fine..... but we often feel like a lazy ride on a Sunday.
Route (photo of route at end)
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After our first climb we passed through this Hamlet. No road name but on the
edge of the Trimly Estate
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| and a couple of horses amongst this field of buttercups, opposite the big house. |
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| We went right here, and John and I swapped sunglasses for him to try mine. |
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This cow "formation" amused me. They were like a machine!
(I think near Charlton Down) |
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| So funny how the cows were all moving forward in an organised line. |
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| Beautiful day and thankful for plenty of shady lanes. |
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We came out at a junction opposite this unusal church at Hatherden.
Since we were a bit early for the open gardens, and not far away, we stopped for a few minutes. |
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| Fox and Hare thatch in East Cholderton. |
And then we arrive in Amport, at one of the gardens which is open today. We are about 20mins early, so cycle through the village, then to the village green to buy tickets.
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| Bridge Cottage, Amport |
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| The front elevation. |
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| Lovely village centre. |
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| Marque for teas on the green later. (they were not opening till 2.30) |
As we bought our tickets, the news that 1 of the 3 gardens was not opening due to illness.😞. First, we peddled back through the village to this house called Corner Cottage. Back garden very simple with Box and Alliums mostly, and the front a riot of colour in the sun.
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| Front garden. Thankfully not busy! since its one way in then turn aruond. |
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| The front was mostly Knautia. And just peaking this week. |
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| Liked this block of white alliums in the back under a tree. |
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| Back Garden |
Then to Bridge Cottage, and as soon as we walked into the garden John announced "we have been here before....a long time ago". A news to me| 😂
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| The garden starts narrow, along the stream.... |
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| Then gets wider.Its a long garden. |
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| Looking back to the cottage and Iris Siberica. |
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I love Candelabra Primula, but cant grow them at home. These are in the stream,
not just along side it. |
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| John photographing something. |
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| A nice little scene, but the lake very green. |
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| Not every day you see a Hare with glasses on, and smoking a pipe. 😅 |
Our return route seemed to mostly up hill, but not big hills, but we were peddling into the wind which had picked up. So annoying. We went under the A303 once more at Weyhill, then headed to Penton Mewsey. A short distance of repetition of our outward route to cross th A.343 then to Little London, and finally around the other edge of Trimley Estate, and to St Marybourne via Middle Wyke.
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A nice long descent back to the start to St Marybourne.
( John a dot in the distance.) |
We got back to the carpark at around 4pm. A lovely day out, seeing some more bits of countryside in Hampshire.
