Loddon Loop - Bramshill, Riseley, Stratfield Saye

22.11 Miles
Time 1.26   Pace 15.5mph

New route, partly inspired by Saturday's off road ride around Bramshill. Sunny and still but very cold. Narrow country lanes but all good surfaces. Not much ice to worry about. This will be a lovely Spring & Summer ride. Tomorrow I'll do this one backwards.

Ford Lane - Bramshill

County Boundary - Over the Blackwater River

Riseley

Underpass - Avoiding the A33

Old Mill - Stanford End

Red  Kite over Stratfield Saye

Route

Off Road on the 'Tank' - Bramshill Forest & Hazeley Heath

Hartley Wintney - Bramshill - Hazeley Lea - Hazeley Heath

10.13 miles
Time 01:02
9.9mph pace

Every now and again I get an urge to explore off road routes and having not been in Bramshill Forest for many years, I decided it was time I dusted off the MTB and explored. Phew, despite the plummeting temperatures this afternoon it was hard work through half frozen mud and the damp sandy soil of the forest tracks. Getting onto the smooth lanes of Ford Lane and Plough Lane was frankly a relief!
On Hazeley Heath stopped to chat to a charming lady out 'off roading' with her son, who gave me some useful route tips around the area.

Frosted Forest - Bramshill

Bramshill Forest




River Hart

 

Temperature drop - Hazeley Heath



Amazingly the Gorse flowers are out

Route - 1

Route - 2

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Route - 4



Raptor Ride - Basingstoke encircled 8th Jan 2012

Phoenix Green - Mattingley - Rotherwick - Sherfield on Loddon - Bramley - Sherborne St John - Monk Sherborne - Wootton St. Lawrence - Oakley - Cliddesden - Tunworth - Mapledurwell - Upp Nately - Greywell - Odiham - Winchfield.

36.39 Miles
Tm 2hr 21 mins
Av sp 15.5mph

Great to get out on a Sunday morning at this time of year in calm, clear and mild conditions. Lots of cyclists evidently had the same opinion!
Always plenty of Hawks, Kestrals, Kites & Buzzards to be seen on these routes in the Winter time.

Mattingley - not certain whether this was  a Buzzard or Peregrine Falcon.....not an expert

St James' - Bramley

The Vyne:  Tudor pile - All windows curtained.....must be having a Sunday lie-in.

Blue Horizon - Wootton St Lawrence - looking towards Oakley 



Rare place to cross the M3. Footbridge over to Cliddesden

 

Favoured lanes - The back roads are often the ones in the best condition - Tunworth




St Stephen's - Up Nately






Odiham High Street





Route





Winter (Hart) Warmer 7th January 2012

16.82 Miles
Av 15.2mph

Nice afternoon local ride in the sunshine around the Hart District including Hartley Wintney, Elvetham, Crookham Village, Dogmersfield & Winchfield. Sometimes you forget what is right on your doorstep.



New Church roof - Elvetham



Road to Rotten Green

Winchfield watering hole - The Barleymow

Basingstoke Canal at Winchfield

St. Mary's - Hartley Wintney

Route

Windblown Hart circuit

Hart Circuit - 18.93 Miles

Following the wind and rain overnight and through the morning, I ventured onto local lanes in the afternoon lull. Lots of debris on the roads to avoid and the occasional 30mph gust to deal with but a bit of afternoon sun helped. Camera not taken on this ride due to fear of a drenching but here's the route map.

Hart circuit