This cycling destination had been in the diary for weeks, since it was the first Monday that the 3 Monday amigos could get together, due to holidays getting in the way. The Gardener's World 2for1 brochure had Upton Grey Manor Garden listed, and yet I'd never heard of it. It's a Gertrude Jekyll designed garden, renovated by the current owners of the property, using the original plans. So I was expecting a good planting scheme!
From the website...
Gertrude Jekyll designed this important historic garden in 1908. John and Rosamund Wallinger bought the almost derelict property in 1984. What we did not realise was that underneath the jungle were the foundations of a very special garden, designed for a house belonging to Charles Holme, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. The work on this garden’s restoration has been an exciting and rewarding adventure of discovery.
The Garden is now acknowledged to be the best example of a restored Gertrude Jekyll garden in the world. The plans (originals are held at the University of Berkeley in California) are dated 1908 and are on display. We have visitors from all around the world. From 1993 onwards we are included in nearly every Garden Guide published.
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We left Odiham towards Long Sutton, and opposite the pond, turned into Copse Lane.
The start of our gradual climb. |
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| The 3 ahead as we drop down sharply, before the 11% uphill. |
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I stopped a second to take this landscape, and John appeared retracing his
steps since he thought maybe I had come off on the gravel at the bottom. 💕 |
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| At the top of the steep climb. |
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| Need a moment to recover here. Very hot already. |
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| The next section on Froyle Road levels out, with some great views towards Odiham. |
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| Daphne enjoying the views, whilst Linda keep on peddlng to get ahead. |
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| Great to have the shade as we continued to cross the Alton Road at Golden Pot X, |
Now a couple of miles through Shalden Green and passed Lasham Airfield, before a right turn to quiet lanes once more, and our climb to Herriad on Back Lane.
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| Back Lane and a gentle climb to Herriad. |
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| Left here towards Weston Patrick |
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| Magnificent Cedar Tree in the field at this junction. |
A BIG downhill now, which I didn't recognise, towards West Patrick. That's because I am usually slogging UP this hill! Easy to miss a left turn on the way down, into an unnamed lane, where Daphne screeched to a halt to point out something which caught her eye.
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| Daphne spotted a deer in the distance. |
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| It wasn't going anywhere.😂 |
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A little further, before a climb up to Tunworth. Again I couldn't place this climb
since I usually do it the other way round, but immediately recognised the view at the top. |
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| Daphne steaming ahead today after her 2 week break from cycling! |
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| Me and Linda not far behind her. |
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| Strange pose Linda! |
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| Quite a climb looking back. |
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| Good timing, as we were just about to set off again. |
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| A natural frame. |
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| Now a nice drop into Mapledurwell area. |
We followed Tunworth Road until we came into the X roads of Mapledurwell,, with the pond on our right. (There is a track goes of to the right at this junction, but since it goes uphill, we decided to leave it for another time. Straight over onto Frog Lane, to join Greywell Road at a T Junction.
