Mattingley to Odiham Recce with Jill and Sue - 25 miles

2 weeks from now, 3 Breeze champs are leading a group of 15 riders to Beechenwood Farm Garden on the outskirts of Odiham. I have been 3 times now, but Sue and Jill have never been. I thought it would be useful, since we will be riding in separate groups on the day, to familiarise them with the 25 mile loop from Mattingley. (Some of us will ride 45 miles from Wokingham on the day, meeting others at Mattingley).

Jill wasnt free until 1 oclock, so a an afternoon ride, picking her up in Finchampstead, to drive to Mattingley. Forecast..... hmmmm. We might get a bit wet.

Route link screenshot at end. 

Through Rotherwick initially, and then through the grounds of Tilney Hall. At the Newman X Roads, a right turn to drop downhill on Newnam Lane, and a quick stop at the pretty Mill House, on the river Lyde. 

Millhouse on Newnam Road

Next left into Pot Lane, and then just passed 3 houses into Water End Lane. What a mess after all the recent rain, but only one small flood today just before the bridge. (It was a lot worse last time I was here). This drops down to the dogleg dash across the A30, but today in fact there was no traffic as we crossed.  Passing Andwell Brewery, tracking the Lyde River, all nice and flat, until a rise over the M3 to a T junction.

Here we turned left, heading towards Up Natley, a quick drink stop at Up Natley Church, before a couple of undulations on our way in to Greywell. 

Deptford Lane, after a right turn out of Greywell. 

photo by Jill at the same spot. 

Continuing into Odiham we went right into Church Street, where a funeral party were just leaving. Through to the T junction (loos just left if needed on the day), we drop down Cemetery Hill, and first left turn into Hillside Road. The road conditions here were pretty awful with lots of gravel and potholes! A right turn then on the rise passing the pretty Oast House on Roke Lane. Plenty of Rape crop now in flower in the fields around the lanes here, brightening up the gloomy afternoon. We got wet a few times!

At the farm, a left turn, still called Roke Lane, and we cycled as far as the Garden before doubling back to the farm at the junction. Now they know where it is!

Garden Entrance on Roke Lane. 

All downhill for a while now passing my friends house, and around the sharp 90 degree RH bend. No flood , but what a mess the lane was here. Fortunately I had forewarned them. Since we were not going to the garden today for tea (not open), we stopped in at Crondal Vineyard. 

Views as we came into Crondall... and scent too. 

Pen Croft vineyard cafe on Croft Lane. 

A very nice cuppa and we shared 2 slices of apple and berry crumble cake. Yum. 

Through Crondall, and into the little path which cuts through to the A287 Farnham Road. Straight over into Crondall Road heading to Crookham Village. A little climb up to a junction here, where we branched to the left joining Pilcot Road, which leads into Dogmersfield. Sue now recognised the road from a previous local ride here. 

We now continued straight all the way,  climbing once more over the M3 on Taplins Farm Road, and a left turn on the edge of Hartley Wintney into Dilly Lane. Straight over at the lights (4 way temporary lights atm), and continuing past West Green House, we joined our familiar route via Hazeley Bottom (messey lane!).  At the juction where we often turn right to climb up to Shoulder of Mutton, we turned left to return to Mattingley Church. 

A little damp, but overall the rain was never too heavy, and not cold either. Thanks for joining me ladies, and hope that you enjoyed the route, and will now also feel confident leading in a couple of week time.... in sunshine!