Winchester, South Downs

Distance 38.1km (23.7 miles) Climbing 780m (2,559ft) Time 2hrs 30mins to 4hrs

Route summary A wonderful mix of flowing trails over rolling countryside, from hedge-lined singletrack, through weaving woodland trails, to ancient, scenic hilltop tracks.

Start/finish Garnier Road car park, Winchester (postcode: SO23 9PA, grid ref: SU 484/280)

1

Ride out the back of the car park on Itchen Way. After 750m turn left on the Pilgrim’s Trail bridleway, keeping right at the fork, around St Catherine’s Hill. Cross the M3 bridge and turn right. Descend to a track crossing and head right, next to a golf course. Drop to a road and go left, alongside it, to Twyford. Take the second left (Bourne Ln) and follow it right, to a T-junction.

2

Go left on the road for 600m, then right by the waterworks, on the Monarch’s Way, to a road at the top. Turn left onto the singletrack beside this, downhill. Rejoin the road, climb to a T-junction and go left. Past some silos, turn right on the Pilgrim’s Trail. Climb, bearing right at the end of the trees, then quickly go left. Follow this narrow trail to a crossing from earlier.

3

Turn right, uphill, keeping ahead to cross the road. Bear left beside the field’s edge then head right across it and down into the woods. Join the tarmac past the church. Follow the road left to a junction, then go right on the South Downs Way (SDW). Climb on the road and make a left at the top, then follow the SDW right at the fork, along some field edges.

4

At a track crossing turn left, on the SDW, across a field and the A272. Descend to a farm track crossing and go right. Cross a minor road and, after a descent and climb to a gate, follow the permissive track diagonally right, across the field.

5

At the far side, keep ahead and descend to the road. Cross it carefully and pass the farm. After 500m, go right at an offset track crossing, leaving the SDW. Descend to a road junction and turn right, to a crossroads. Go left here, signed to Owslebury. After 500m go left on a bridleway that crosses the road (with double metal gates) and follow it to the right, along the field’s edge.

6

Fork left (it’s a footpath ahead), then descend to a road. Go right on this, to a crossroads. Turn right here, signed to Morestead. When the road descends, join the Allan King Way bridleway on the right, in the trees. Climb and then descend across a field. Go over the road, downhill, in the trees.

7

At a track crossing keep ahead, uphill, to a wide track (Warren Lane). Go left on this, up to the trees on the left-hand end. Turn left on the Ox Drove bridleway. Keep left when you emerge by some houses and descend on tarmac to a crossroads. Go right, uphill, on this straight road for 1.25km.

8

Go left just past a double metal gate. Follow this trail down to a junction, where you were earlier, and turn left, descending past the height barrier. At the track crossing, turn right to retrace your steps back along the Pilgrim’s Trail and around St Catherine’s Hill, then right, back to the car park.

LOCATION DETAILS:

The South Downs are a range of chalk hills covering 670km2 in South East England, providing a wide of variety of good riding in some beautiful countryside. While the rolling downland drains pretty well, it becomes extremely slippery, and can also get very muddy in places when wet.

GETTING THERE:

Exit the M3 at junction 10 and head west, signed to St Catherine’s Park & Ride, on Garnier Road. Keep ahead and, immediately after going under a bridge, turn left into the car park. Parking here is free, but there’s a height limit. An alternative car park is available at Cheesefoot Head, on the route, west of Winchester on the A272.

MAPS & BOOKS:

Ordnance Survey Landranger 185: Winchester & Basingstoke. Mountain Bike Rides in & around North & South Downs by Max Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).

FACILITIES:

The Handlebar Cafe at the start/end of the ride is brilliant (www.handlebar.cafe). In Twyford, The Little Kitchen Bean & Bar is very nice too (01962 711353, www.thelittlekitchencompany. com), but comes early on in the ride unless you save this loop until last. There’s sometimes a food van in the Cheesefoot Head car park. Stay at Holden Farm campsite (07599 553740, www.holden farm.co.uk). For food, shopping and more places to stay, head to Winchester (www.visitwinchester. co.uk). The Premier Inn (off junction 9 of the M3) allows bikes in rooms, offers easy access, and is comfy and affordable. Hargroves Cycles, near the Premier Inn, is excellent (01962 840707, www. hargrovescycles.co.uk).