|
Stage |
Description |
Facilities |
Classification |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke Canal (Fleet, Hants) to River Wey, via Tongham and Seale and NDW | Leave the Basingstoke Canal at Blackwater Valley viaduct at the west end - head south on Blackwater Valley path. This section is flat gravel and tarmac. Fairly busy road section through Tongham - quiet country lanes through Seale, head towards Puttenham. Turn right onto Totford Lane to join NDW. Track is very bumpy with large stones (150mm) embedded in sand, for ~1 mile. Track then generally compressed earth / sand, quite passable on a mountain bike. From Puttenham track is very sandy in parts and can be very muddy in winter. Cross B3100, then 1st ← to Ferry Lane, continue down to River Wey. | Convenience store, bakery, pub and fish and chip shop (Tongham) Manor Farm Tea Room. GU10 1HR (Seale) + Wyndy Millar Bikes. Drinking water tap at Seale (0.2 mile from NDW) The Good Intent Pub. www.thegoodintentpub.co.uk ECO camping barn at Puttenham www.puttenhamcampingbarn.co.uk | Blue – Couple of moderate hills | 4.5 miles on road, 10.5 miles off road to River Wey |
| Downs Link, starting at the River Wey to SDW | Turn right on River Wey by Pixie Bridge (pic 1) - River path is flat, sandy in parts. Go 1.5 miles down the river and join old railway. Go up to the bridge, keep to your left, and join the Downs Link, primarily flat and firm track way. NB. One easy to miss section is where it doubles back on itself over the old tunnel. Leave track (Pic 2) - Turn left over bridge then left again (Pic 3). This section involves a steep track. Continue on flat track way. Easy to miss turning, other side of Southwater Bridge (Pic 4 – note butterflies on bridge). Need to keep left of village surgery opposite (Pic 5). Continue on Downs Link. Short road section around Bramber( easy to miss signs). Cross the A28, then ¾ mile to the SDW turn →on to SDW. | Stan’s Bike Shack, corner of B2135, (Pic 6) Partridge Green, RH13 8EQ | Blue - Primarily flat - gravel and compacted earth. | (31.5 Miles), 28.5 mile off road 3 miles on road |
| SDW to Cocking | Join the SDW at Botolphs, turning → by bridge and head West . The SDW comprises rough chalk, loose gravel and large stones and rocks on pathway. >200m accent out of Boltophs ~600m total accent to Cocking. Expect to average <6 MPH unless very fit. Would be very slippery if wet. As you descend toward Cocking you come to a farm yard and barn (water tap) turn right leaving SDW to Cocking | Moon Light Tea Room, accommodation only. BB, Bunkhouse and camping available GU29 0HN 01730 813336 (pics 7 & 8) | Red | 25 miles off road |
| Cocking to Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP) | Very steep gradient from Cocking. Two other major hills to climb. Track is Chalk, gravel, & dirt, some largish rocks. Chalk very slippery, even if just damp. Need to be a fairly hardened off roader Photos 1&2 views from SDW | None | Blue /Red | 10.8 miles all off road |
| Part of Shipwrights Way, from QECP to Bentley Station. Sections 7 to 1 on the Shipwrights Way. www.shipwrights.org.uk | Leave the SDW at Halls Hill (Photo 3).QECP. Head to Buriton. Starts with a dirt track through woodland, quite hilly at start. Buriton to Petersfield, Established gravel tracks and road. B3070 a fairly busy road. Petersfield to Liss. Quiet lanes, several are ‘no through’ for vehicles. Liss to Bordon, Mostly off road, quiet roads through Greatham. Bordon to Lindford, mainly back streets. Lindford to Bentley Station all off road. Section through Alice Holt Forest, very wide gravel track, suitable for children. | QECP info centre, cafe & loos. Deers Hut, Liphook.GU30 7PD. Alice Holt Visitor Centre, Info, cafe & Loos | Blue. Green through Alice Holt | 22.4 miles on Shipwrights Way. 9.4 miles on road, 13.0 miles off road |
| Bentley Station to Basingstoke Canal (Fleet, Hants) | Shipwrights Way terminates at Bentley Station. 6.8 miles of country lane, via Bentley, Crondall and Crookham Village to canal path at Poulters Bridge. Canal Path to Fleet. (Joins Fleet to NDW via River Wey route). | Exchequer Pub. Crookham Village GU51 5SU Plume of Feathers Pub and Convenience store (Crondall) | Blue / Green for road section. Some fairly steep hills on road section. | 1.8 miles on canal path. 6.8 miles on road |
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