South downs Way, Winchester to Havant via QECP

After last year’s Amberley ride back along the South downs Way we had the idea of catching the train the other way to ride westerly end of the SDW.

On Friday 15^th November I set of on my bike to meet Paul in Southwick, I jumped in to Paul’s car and we both went to Havant Train station, this would be the rides ‘official’ start and finish. We caught the train which took us down to Fratton and changed for a train that went directly to Winchester, Chris, Greg and Si jumped on the train in Cosham,

Greg, Si and Chris waiting for a train...

At Winchester we made our way through the city to the start of the South Downs Way, here the green ribbon stretches all the way to Eastbourne 99 miles away!

I got 99 problems, but the SDW isn't one...

After crossing the road bridge you are presented with two SDW signs, one for walkers, one for bike, although we plotted our route on the walking path we took the cycle path. This led us around the road eventually getting off road for the climb all the way to Cheesefoot head. We crossed the A272 on to familiar ground, as we have ridden this section many times but always the other way.

We follow the track to the bottom and turn right, after the first decent there was a mud bath, Simon loses the front and takes a tumble, he is fine apart from his muddy left side!

Not 100 yards later I have the first puncture of the day in my rear tyre. Frustratingly it was the tube I fixed the previous night (puncture on the seam), so a simple tube swap gets us going again.

first puncture of the day goes to....

From here the Downs are undulating and we cross fields, back across the A272, then climb up to the Millburys Pub, where we elect to have a food stop by Wind Farm.

from the left, Chris, Greg, Si and Paul

After some photo’s and some home-made chocolate brownies (thanks Mrs J!) we sent off for the nature reserve at Beacon Hill. Here we have a decision to make, follow the SDW down to Exton and brave possible mud or do the Nature Reserve downhill and do the climb of Old Winchester Hill on the road. Everybody votes for the SDW to Exton.

the view from Beacon Hill is stunning

The down hill was fine but leads out to the road for a long tarmac decent, Greg and I have fun slipstreaming, gravity style! At the bottom you cross the A32 then jump on the old Alton train line to the start the climb of Old Winchester Hill.

Here the famous mud (more like clay) took hold and the bikes soon became un-ridable and the wheels stopped turning…. We push them out of the mud, and try our best to clear them. From here it’s a spin up to the top, electing to stay on the bridleway and after a slight de-tour we make the road.

Simon's clay wheel

Gregs San An, not looking happy

Another food stop and we press on along the road only for Simon to get's his first puncture… After the fix we press on to Butser Hill, then hammer down the grass slope to the café at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. We all have lunch and a cup of coffee and Simon has to repair yet another puncture...

Butser Hill with the A3 was blocked

We take the Staunton way to Charlton with the intention of following this to Finchdean. Here it is elected to road it to Finchdean to save time and pick the off road up from there, however we are not sure of the route due to a battery out on the sat nav, so we road it to Rowlands Castle. Here we pick the cycle path up which takes us back to the train station.

Chris, Greg and Simon head off on their bikes for home, I jump in with Paul who drops me of at the top of Pidgeon House Lane and I cycle home.

It was a long day, but good day, my knee’s are feeling worse for wear and I have a little cramp, but the whole team made it even if the end of the ride didn't go to plan. We started as five and we ended as five, job done.

Time 3:47:45

Elapsed Time:5:54:14

Max Speed: 42.5mi/h

Avg Speed: 8.7mi/h

Distance: 33 miles

Elevation: 1964ft

route profile

Here is the mapped ride with downloadable .gpx file 

Under the Bridge

This takes in as much singletrack as possible without heading in to QECP, there will be endless variations on this route such as stretching it out to Compton. Park in the back car park at the Country park just south of Buriton.

START.
Leave the car park and head EAST on the SDW as you reach the top of the first road climb look for 'V' gate on your RIGHT.

Head through the gate and climb up the path until it opens up on a fire road at the top of the climb in Head Down Plantation.

Look in the forest on your right to pick up the new Enduro trail, this trail runs parallel to the main fire road and will take you to the bottom of the hill heading SOUTH.



At the bottom take the LEFT track follow it round and go UNDER THE BRIDGE*, keep on the track by keeping to the left. Climb through the copse and pick up the SDW again at Coulters Dean Farm.

*When we did the ride last night the gates were closed under the bridge, if so just stay on the bridle way (marked orange) next to the train track all the way back to the SDW, then head RIGHT and pick up the ride.

Follow SDW EAST, once you cross the road (Sussex Boarder Path) to Forty Acre Lane, as lane climbs and curves to the left look for footpath on your RIGHT opposite the open sided barn. Take foot path.

The foot path is called 'Garlic Alley' by local riders due to the wild garlic that grows there. The singletrack twists and turns with some off-camber roots... until it opens up at its natural end.

galic alley from DanJones34 on Vimeo.

Take the field on your RIGHT, ride around the edge until you enter the woods on a defined path, take the left fork. Climb, keep left and pass through the gate on to the major fire road.

Turn right on to the fire road and climb, look for the major fire road on your LEFT, this is back on the Sussex Boarder Path. Follow SBP until you find the start of the singletrack at the junction where the main path turns right.

Keep on the SBP, follow the singletrack to the bottom, there are a few natural jumps at the top, lots of roots and be aware for fallen branches and trees.

sussex boarder path from DanJones34 on Vimeo.

At the bottom turn right on the fire road at the end of the wooded area turn LEFT for the very steep climb up to Ditcham Park School. I have never known anybody to make this climb, if you do you are a HERO!

Keep left and follow the path to the road, at the road turn RIGHT.

Follow the road, look for path at the end of the field on your LEFT. Take path (lots of roots!), at the end of the path turn RIGHT. Follow track and take the first LEFT, at cross roads go straight over.

Your now on the long decent back down to Coulters Dean Farm, there is a gate halfway down the hill so send someone down first to open and close the gate for the rest of the group.

coulters dean from DanJones34 on Vimeo.




Turn LEFT back on to the SDW and follow all the way back to the car park.

FINISH

Pub wise you can head back in to Buriton or drive to the Red Lion in Charlton, the choice is yours!

map

South Downs Way, Amberley to QE Park

As autumn drew in we felt the need for a new challenge, with no September France trip or a trip to Wales riding motivation was low, what could we do? Well living on the south coast the obvious answer was to do a larger part of the South Downs Way! The plan was to catch the train to Amberly and cycle back to Queen Elizabeth Country Park, then road it back to Denmead, easy...?

On Friday the 16th of November I set off at 7:30am to meet up with Florance on top of Ports Down Hill, from there we rode down to Havant to meet Greg and Pritchard. The train bit was dead easy; one change at Barnham saw us arrive at a very murky Amberley.

We headed out of the station full of enthusiasm and swiftly found ourselves on the South Downs Way, and then we climbed... And climbed.... And climbed! The heavy mist gave us a 50ft bubble giving no indication of our location, and worse making it difficult to read the terrain and set a proper pace on the climbs. The ground was also incredibly wet, making the terrain very draggy and lowering the pace.

First puncture of the day went to Pritchard as we exited Slindon estate by Bell's Bench. 

We solider on and actually start enjoying the ride as we head down in to Cocking. Here we wait for Pritchard to catch up, it's been a while so Florance mans up and goes to look for him. When they both return Pritchard has thrown the towel in, he is beaten, and he has arranged to be picked up. It's a massive shame, we all new it would be hard and we really wanted to complete together. We now press on as a three...

Our next goal is Harting, an area we know well but getting there is hard. I notice Greg's front tyre is hissing but we press on and make Harting Down before it needs fixing.

As we reach the end of the down as massive wave of relief covers us, we are now on familiar territory, we know these hills, there is light at the end of the tunnel.Finally we reach QE Park, unfortunately it's just turned 4pm and the cafe is shut, so we push on to the Hampshire Hog for some emergency peanuts.

From here its road back via Clanfield, it now hurts so much I’m riding on auto-pilot and we get back to Denmead at 5pm.What a day, certainly not enjoyable like a summer evening blast. It was a challenge like no other, I can honestly say it was the hardest ride I have ever done.

Straight outta Compton

Ride time 1 ½ to 2hrs depending on track condition. When its dry this ride is fast... enjoy!
Start at the car park at the back of QE park.
Head east on the South Downs way all the way to Harting.
*Diversion, half the way from Foxcombe Cotages and B2146 look for the foot path on the right, this is the ‘Garlic Alley’ singletrack. Follow Garlic Alley until it finishes in a field, take the higher field (to the left) follow the edge around (it climbs to the left) until the gate, climb over and ride the road back to the South Downs Way.

Head east on the South Downs Way, climb to Harting.

Cross the B2141 rd and cross over to the viewpoint at Harting, cross the car park to the entrance and look for the path on the left side, you will have a gentle climb through the copse to reach it.

Start of the singletrack.

Follow the singletrack – very fast, routed in places but flowing – until you follow a field on your left with a barbed wire fence, at the end of the field cut back in to the right.
Cross the road, follow round to the left then pick up the main track on your right. You will go through a farm gate with a house on your right.
Follow the single track bridle path to your right until it opens up to an equestrian course.
Keep the field on your right and push on until you come to the cross roads.
Cross over and take the right fork, crank it up here for some speed!
Follow path until a T junction with a sharp right turn, the path then opens up to a road and we are at Compton.
For the brave there is the Coach and Horses pub stop here, the beer is superb!

At the pub head north on the main road ‘straight out of Compton’
Take the first road on your left then the first on the right for Cowdown Farm.
This road leads in to Cowdown Lane, more commonly known as ‘Gas Lamp Alley’. Keep on Gas Lamp Alley with the final descent down to the railway taken at maximum attack...
At the end of the track take the first right before the train track, this road leads to Ditcham Park School. When you get to the school keep left and ride the road around it, when you exit the school stay on the road.
Take the first left track you see around the edge of the field, this has lots of tree roots so good technique is a must, exiting the track turn right.
Follow path and take the first left, this will lead to a cross road, straight over.
This track leads down Coulters Dean, there is a gate halfway down so one of the riding group needs to go down first to open it for his or her buddies – by doing so the rest of the group can take the whole descent at maximum attack!
The track leads back to the South Downs Way, turn left on to it and follow back to the car park.