Just 3 Amigos today. Daphne had no transport, so we met her at Finchamptead and drove to Mattingley. I planned today's route trying to shake up some familiar lanes, with one AMAZING stroke of genius, on a track I used about 10 years ago when I got lost. Let's see how that goes down? 😂😉
Garmin route screenshot at end.
Heading down Bottle Lane, Mattingley we were going to link to Rotherwick Lane at Lyde Green, with my cunning plan.
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Bullrushes and Willow on Bottle Lane Not far after the left turn at "the green triangle" a footpath sign onto this gravel track.  Oops! not so good. John was about to disappear into a swamp, so Daphne and I switched to the right hand side.  A few wet areas, but not bad.  Looking behind me. Its a pleasant enough scene, and car free! 😁  Eventually, just beyond the farm building...... tarmac! This is the bit I remember from many years ago.😃 |
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| We emerged opposite these stumps on Rotherwick Lane. (half way between the entrance/exit to Mill Lane, Lyde Green)  |
Soon we passed through Tilney Hall, with a wonderful display of daffodils.
At Newnham X Roads, we turned right, but then backtracked to visit the Church which is down a dead end lane off the X Roads.
St Nicholas Church, Newnham
Daphne was chatting to this old gentleman. A funeral to take place soon, so we cleared off.
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| Just weeds, but they looked nice anyway. |
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| Our way back out to the Newnham X Roads, where we turned left and down the long hill to pass the old Mill House on Newnham Lane, which sits alongside the Lyde River. |
We often turn off not far passed the Mill House, into Pot Lane, to go to Andwell, but today my route continued straight all the way to Old Basing. Not done this for ages, and Daphne not sure if ever. (But I bet she has. )
Into Milkingpen Lane, Old Basing and soon down Hatch Lane to cross at The Hatch pub on the A30 and onto the cyclepath behind it to safely connect us to Greywell Road and over the M3.
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| Old Basing... I think. |
Through Mapledurwell centre ie the pond, and a right turn to climb out passing the farm. By now Daphne realised she was overdressed, so we stopped for a huge faff. I also changed to my fingerless gloves.
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| Still faffing. |
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| View from inside the field at the gate. |
A gentle climb now to join an unnamed section, which at a sharp turn, becomes Tunworth Road again. Then a climb up further to a right turn into Longroden Lane. (Tunworth Road carries on here and we meet it at the next X Roads).
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| Longroden Lane, Tunworth , where it now drops down to pass a church, with a sharp left to climb up to "the Bench", and the old school house 😇 |
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| We know this bench! |
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| And the Old School House, Tunworth, with its unusual weather vane. |
Dropping down to the XRoads we usually turn RIGHT to climb up to Weston Corbet but today's route is a variation on a theme, so we go STRAIGHT over, still uphill (7% gradient!) and soon we arrive in Upton Grey at the Manor House.
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| Views from Tunworth Road as we climb into Upton Grey. Very sandy looking soil. |
The shop at Upton Grey have had some patio stones laid last week and are going to have more outside seating at the side of the shop. They also now have a wooden "bike rack" but it was positioned too close to a fence, so didnt work. (I demonstrated the issue, which they can address easily by loosing some car parking space.)
Down to the pond, and dog leg over to climb UP 11% gradient in the direction of South Warnborough. Felt that on the legs straight after our break! But lovely at the top of Lees Hill. This road continues to South Warnbourgh, but another cunning plan today was to take a left turn into the track called Little Dean Lane. John and I did this a few months back with Dave in the opposite direction. It was very gravely and John said he's never do it again...... surprise! Lol it was fine. But first.....
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| Mum saying baaaah |
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| Baby saying baaaah |
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| Goose saying oink! |
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| The curious lamb came closer, accompanied by Mum. And just stood and watched the camera. |
A farm worker advised us that the lambs were a few months old now, so will soon be "leaving". He thought the farm building was 800 years old.
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Off we go down the track, to climb up again |
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| I stopped again to look back. Loved the layers of land and the recession. Quite hazy today. |
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| And John now coming to the top. |
Just beyond here, a few signs of bluebells in woods, but still sparse.
A right turn now at the junction with Ford Lane, across the Alton Road, and a climb around RAF Odiham.
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| Junction with Alton Road. (photo by John) As Daphne and I approached the left turn in Long Sutton, we spotted an Oast House, which I haven't really noticed before, since foliage will hide it in summer. Once we turned into Wood Hill Lane, it was on our left.  Oast Kiln House, Long Sutton.  Views from Wood Hill Lane, Long Sutton. I seemed to put on a burst of speed on Long Lane into Odiham, and couldn't see John or Daphne behind me, so pulled over next to some bluebells, as I came up Cemetery Hill.  |
Over the K&A canal, then under the tunnel to leave Odiham to now head for Whitehall, and into Potbridge Road to take us under the M3.
Totters Lane, to cross over the A30 and into Borough Court Road to Hartley Wintney.
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| Totters Lane. |
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| 7 or 8 deer bounded across this field, then stopped to stare at us, at West Green. |
When I planned this route, I needed to add one more loop to get 30 miles, which meant a final climb as we headed towards HWitney, UP Arrow Lane, then DOWN Hazeely Bottom, back to the start. 😂
A nice route, easy to start, an undulating middle section with coffee stop, then an easy few miles to finish.
