Cycling from Guildford to Winchester

In this post, I describe a ride along the westernmost stretch of the South Downs Way, from Butser Hill to Winchester. This time, I decided to try to ride direct to Winchester from Guildford .

I started the ride proper from Wood Street Village sports ground and used the Christmas Pie Trail to reach Farnham (see description in this post). I was glad to find that the Trail had dried out after being flooded in parts by the heavy winter rains. I climbed out of Farnham on busy Crondall Lane, but left the heavy traffic behind when I turned onto quiet lanes at Dippenhall heading for Long Sutton. This road climbs gently to give good views over the surrounding countryside. I decided to avoid going through Alton, and stayed well to the North, crossing the B3349 at the wonderfully named Golden Pot and descending past the glider airfield at Lasham to Alresford, with its quaint Broad Street, lined with shops and houses dating back to the eighteenth century.

To get to Winchester, I now followed National Cycle Route 23, which parallels the old Pilgrims Way (called St Swithun's Way west of Farnham). The route out of Alresford passes by the watercress beds adjacent to the A31, then follows the River Itchen valley: probably the best part of the journey, on quiet lanes shaded by avenues of trees. Mr Darcey would not feel out of place at the elegant house in Avington Park (Jane Austen lived for several years at Chawton in nearby Alton). Avington and Easton are classic Hampshire villages: the road between them was signed as closed due to works, but fortunately was passable by bike. The NCN23 approaches Winchester on a country lane closed to through traffic, but, having crossed the M3 by subways, returns to the modern world with a somewhat hilly and circuitous route into Winchester through the local council estate: I recommend you just stick on the main road, Easton Lane. At the bottom of the hill, Water Lane (closed to through traffic) takes you to the Cathedral and the centre of town.

After looking round and having a cuppa in the Cathedral refectory, I made my way to the station for the train back to Woking (the train was delayed by an hour by "signalling problems at Southampton Parkway"). All in all, an excellent day's cycling.

Road to Long Sutton

Broad Street, Alresford

Watercress beds, Alresford

Avington Church

Winchester Cathedral Refectory is a good place for a cuppa