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Cycling UK has recently launched a new cycle trail, the King Alfred's Way around what might loosely be described as 'Wessex'. There is as yet no signing on the ground, it is a virtual trail, and a GPX file for the route can be downloaded from their website. The Way comprises the Ridgeway in the North, and the South Downs Way in the South, with the two connected by bridleways and quiet lanes to make a circuit. One part of that circuit is from Farnham to Reading (around 36 miles) and I gave that a test drive. (Afternote: I apologise that I committed the cardinal sin of cycling the KAW the wrong way, ie anticlockwise instead of clockwise!)
In normal times, I probably would have done this ride in one shot using trains to Farnham and back from Reading, but in this time of Covid, I opted to do it over two days by 'park and ride' circuits. On the map, the KAW 'outward' route is shown in blue, my 'return' tracks in orange.
Day 1, I parked at Farnham Park and cycled to where the route passes under the M3 near Odiham, then returned with a couple of variations, most notably using the Basingstoke Canal towpath instead of a rather dreary road-ride between Dogmersfield and Crookham. The one-way route is around 11.5 miles.
Day 2: I parked at the Basingstoke Canal car park at Odiham and cycled to rejoin at M3 underpass and followed the KAW to the Thames at Reading, then retraced my steps to the outskirts of Reading, but branched off to stay on NCN23 to visit the Roman ruins at Silchester, and returned on quiet lanes cross country, to finish along the canal towpath from Greywell. This was around 24.5 miles one-way on the KAW, 30 miles on the return route.
My verdict on this section of the KAW is that it provides an excellent route between the two towns. Whilst this section cannot compete scenically with the more lofty parts of the trail, it crosses countryside which is more 'pleasant' than you might expect in such a heavily populated area. There is quite a climb over from Farnham to Ewshot, but otherwise the countryside is gently rolling. Some of the off-road tracks are pretty rough, but I managed fine on my hybrid bike, bearing in mind it has been very dry: expect mud after rain. The quiet lanes were really quiet, though that may be a feature of lockdown, and Day 2 was a Sunday.
The run into Reading follows a rough track beside the noisy A33, then picks up the NCN23 using good paths through landscaped business parks, and then on the towpath of the River Kennet to pass through the city centre (where NCN23 morphs into NCN4) to emerge where the Kennet flows into the Thames. The Thames towpath (NCN5!) is then followed for a short distance back West to where the KAW crosses the river at the impressive new Christchurch cycle bridge.
Cycling UK bills this part of the KAW as 'the last line of defence' because it roughly follows the Stop Line built during WW2 to serve as a barrier to a German invasion. There are apparently many pill boxes and other defensive structures still standing, but I must say they must be quite well hidden in the undergrowth and need searching out.
On Day 2, the excursion to Silchester, and following the path up to and over the now abandoned Greywell Tunnel on the Basingstoke Canal made for an interesting, if rather long, circuit.
Day 1: KAW Farnham Park to M3 near Odiham and back
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Farnham Castle, adjacent to Farnham Park
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| Old Park Lane bridleway ascending from Farnham is quite rough |
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Perimeter track round MOD access land A287/Beacon Hill Road
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Naishes Lane, between Ewshot and Church Crookham
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The Naishes Lane SANG =
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace 'improved' with money provided by developers
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New development at Church Crookham: quite well provided with cycle paths etc
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Bridge over Basingstoke Canal at Church Crookham. The KAW follows roads to Dogmersfield, but the canal towpath provides a traffic-free alternative
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| KAW passes through Swan's Farm near Odiham Common |
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The only pill box I saw on Day 1, on the Basingstoke canal towpath
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Day 2: Outward on KAW Odiham to Reading
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Silchester church
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Town walls
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Entrance to Stratfield Saye, Duke of Wellington's house
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Remains of the Basingstoke canal, West of the Greywell tunnel
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Bridleway over the abandoned tunnel
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Odiham Castle
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Basingstoke Canal
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Looks good Nigel. I will be having a play on this next month all being well. Good to have your usual high standard of route review!
ReplyDeleteWow, yet another inspiring blog; many thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour confusion in Reading is I think due to your picture being of the footway along the Kennet’s left (north) bank; the cycle-ways (e.g. ncn 4) are on the other side at this point. You seem to have arrived there after leaving ncn 4 earlier on. The preceding shot is from a local cycleway (R1) that follows the river’s left bank, whereas ncn 4 follows a less picturesque route on the other side of the river.