Easter Sunday Odiham to Lasham via Alton 31 miles 2000ft

I wanted to check out this route I have planned for Wednesday's Breeze ride to see the blossom at Shalden Church. We went last year, but rather than repeat the route, I completely changed it. Since Gill will miss the ride on Wednesday, I invited her to join us today. (normally ebike Sunday, but took my Orro to check how I felt about the hills without power! 😂)  The planned "route" elevation was 1,424 feet but the actual ride finished at 2,000 feet. How does that happen!

Route link screenshot at end.

Gill peddled down to our house and we travelled to start in Odiham. 

First stop always in Odiham 😂

We left Odiham to head for Long Sutton down Long Lane and Wood Hill Lane. The view ahead looking fabulous with the first of many Rape Crop fields we saw today. 

Long Lane swings around to the right.

In Long Sutton, a right turn to carry on straight to cross the Alton Road (B3349)  into Ford Lane. A half mile or so later, we almost doubled  back into Gaston Lane, to begin our first bit of elevation of the day, to bring us into South Warnborough, where we crossed back over the B3349. 

Gaston Lane, enroute to South Warnbourgh

A few yards further. Lovely to see the white blossom hedge along
with the Rape Crop. A good sky  helps too!
(those clouds were whizzing today thanks to Storm "Dave")

In and out of South Warnbourgh, with a steeper climb on Froyle Lane, with bluebell woods on both sides.  The road undulates a few times, eventually arriving at a T-junction. We turn right, half way up a steep climb to "the field with the horse",  (11% I think), Phew. Short and sharp, and we stop for a rest at the horse. 

We are fairly high here, and enjoy the next 1.5 miles whizzing downhill into Lower Froyle , turning right to then undulate a bit more, dropping downhill to climb again to Upper Froyle, on Ryebridge Lane. 

Dropping down Ryebridge Lane, between Lower and Upper Froyle

They're off!

I also stopped for this photo part way up the climb to Upper Froyle.
 The Old School house, opposite the church, where the bells were ringing. 
Quite a few cars arriving for Easter Sunday Service. 

Another steep drop down now, to the Hen & Chicken.  A dash across the A31, and quiet, narrow lanes, around the fields, before we turned right at a X roads, to drop under the A31 into Holybourne.  A few spots of rain at this point, which came to nothing, but some dark clouds around. 

A quick detour to Holybourne Church, and pond since Gill not been before. 

The next section is the main reason I wanted to check the route today since it took us through Alton initially the opposite direction I have come before, but also we branched off once through the main part of town. Through Alton was fine, and eventually in the pedestrian area, we turned right into Market Street. 

This soon joined Basingstoke Road,  where the B3349 also meets it.  There was a bit of traffic, but not busy, so it wasn't a problem.  (I noticed a footpath on the RHS once we passed the next junction, so may look out for that on Wednesday. But then we have to cross to the left again, so probably not worth it). 

A CLIMB, came up on the garmin, as we turned left at a signpost for Beech, and where we also joined a quiet 13% climb on Snode Hill, to Thedden. Phew, that was tough, but we did it. John up first of course. 

photo by John who was first up the 13% climb on Snode Hill
and where it flattened out.

Soon a right turn, and back on familiar territory, but in the opposite direction  from our normal route around here. The road surface was pretty bad in places. We undulated, (still on Snode Hill) before a big drop down to swing to the right, into Well Lane Lane.

Looking back towards Alton, from Snode Hill

Snode Hill, as it drops down steeply to join Well Lane.

A dogleg over the A339 next, to a gradual climb of about 5% on Shalden Lane up to the church. Gill and I had to stop for a tractor, as John went ahead. 

First glimpse of Shalden church, from Shalden Lane. 

Shalden Lane.

Beautiful White blossoms, with quite a few petals blown
off already.  

the pink blossom coming out, and with a few sunny days ahead
I am hoping that by Wednesday they will be out along with the white.
(as they were last year)

Bikes left at the gate. 

photo by John as Gill arrived just behind him 

A few minutes enjoying the peace and the shelter out of the wind in the churchyard, before our climb continues through Shalden Hamlet, to ride 1.5 miles along The Avenue to Lasham Gliding Centre cafe.

BIG clouds over Lasham Gliding centre
and very blustery, so we assumed no flying today?

Gill very kindly insisted on buying our drinks and cake. Thankyou.  Then we spotted a small yellow plane pulling up a glider. Then another, and another!  The gliders were really struggling not to hit the ground as they wobbled in the wind to take off!  We must have seen about 8 or 9 set off, and also a couple of  gliders "with engines", whatever they were.

Once we finished our drinks, we went out next to the grass runway for a closer look. It was really windy and cold too!  There must have been well over 20 gliders all set up to take off today. 

Almost opposite the entrance, we joined Back Lane to Southrope, where there were bluebells along the verges. 

A massive downhill to Upton Grey, (5 miles until our next turn off).  I often turn off at the pond through Upton Grey and Greywell to return to Odiham. But to ring the changes,  we stayed on Bidden Road.  It undulates! But not too steeply. 

Views to Greywell from Bidden Road,
which runs sort of parallel to Greywell Road. 

Back into Odiham all downhill to the end of course at the Canal. 

Nice to have you along Gill, and hope you get that squeak on your back wheel fixed on Tuesday. (it sounds like the piston was sticking, holding the brake on which doesn't help at all!)

Quite happy with this route to use on Wednesday, when no one will have any clue where they are anyway! 😂 I won't tell then that its 2000 feet until the end... by which time they will know!!