King Alfred's Way: Winchester to Old Sarum

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In this ride, I cycled the first section of the KAW from Winchester to Old Sarum near Salisbury. Here's a map. (Distance 25.5 miles on the KAW to old Sarum, and 2.5 miles to Salisbury station.).

This part of the KAW uses the old Roman Road, which I tried to cycle in summer 2014. At that time, sections of the Roman Road were either totally overgrown and impassible, or very rough. I was pleased to find that the situation has improved considerably: it is still a tough off-road ride, but the surface seems to have been improved somewhat, and vegetation has been cut back. Many of the tracks are enclosed by tall trees and hedges, which I don't normally like as it obscures the views, but on this very hot day, I appreciated the shade.

(NB There is an alternative route for the KAW which includes the excellent Farley Mount  monument and viewpoint, which I also visited in the aforementioned ride in 2014.)

Here is the story in photos.

I took the train to Winchester from Basingstoke: bike space reservation not possible, and I have never had a problem

Although it is the official end rather than start of the KAW circuit, I felt I had to visit the statue of King Alfred at the top of the High Street.....

......before making my way past the Cathedral........

...to the official start of the KAW at Westgate.

King Arthur's Round Table is displayed in the adjacent Great Hall

The first off-road scetion branches off from Dean Lane near Sparsholt

Moor Court Lane provides easy traffic free cycling

The village shop in King's Somborne

The various branches of the River Test are crossed near Horsebridge

Track from Houghton to Broughton

Occasional sections are heavily rutted, so care needed!

Nice flowers

Track to Broughton

Stream in Broughton

The brutal ascent of Broughton Down

Start of the off-road section of the Roman Road at Buckholt Lane

Roman Road near Firsdown

Roman Road between Firsdown and the A30

Roman Road byway on left is still totally overgrown, but there is an unofficial path along he field edge

Mind your hat!

Welcome cuppa at the Harvester at Old Sarum

Cycle path into Salisbury (NCN45)

Train back from Salisbury to Basingstoke. Nominally, bike space reservation required, but I got on no problem, despite ticket office saying there was no bike space