Southampton to Ludlow route.

[godivatrailrider]

For my Wimbledon avoidance ride I'm planning on getting the train to Southampton and cycling home. This'll be first week of Wimbledon for early July, if that has any impact on routes / vegetation / trail conditions.
I've ordered nice weather though

Initially I'm looking at something like this .... https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47742687

However I'm after local knowledge along the way to make the most enjoyable route I can.
I'm not necessarily after loads more hills or climbing or distance.... but if there's a section on there that is rubbish or an absolute corker, please let me know.

I may yet reroute over the Severn at Chepstow and take the Wye Valley up to Ross ....

It's just in the planning stage at the moment.

Any thoughts?

[godivatrailrider]

This goes up the Wye from Chepstow https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49386020

[faustus]

What about swinging West first and doing the KAW that way round instead (looks like you've gone for the eastern bit of KAW instead), and getting to the Swindon area that way. I don't know the riding between Eastleigh and anti-clockwise to Hook, but I think it's less interesting and more built up than clockwise from Winchester? South of Reading I know is a fairly boring bit, and the wiggles around the edge of Farnham don't look so great. Whereas Winchester to Salisbury and then North is good. You won't get on much of the Ridgeway though. Also, getting round that bit of Swindon doesn't look so much fun - if you did the clockwise KAW route above, you could cut it out by leaving the Ridgeway at somewhere like Hackpen hill and cut a corner. Also, you could head West along the Kennet and Avon canal all the way to Bath and then find a way to get to the Severn bridge...?

EDIT: This might provide some Westerly alternative route inspiration. Although getting from Weston to Severn bridge is going to be...industrial. https://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/route-details/532

[godivatrailrider]

Cheers Faustus ! ... I have no great affinity for riding the KAW anticlockwise just thought it might be more interesting that Salisbury Plain... but I'm happy to be advised, hence the post
Will have a play with that routing instead ...

[Moff]

You're starting virtually outside my front door!

I'd head one of these ways out of town....both will bring you up to Cheesefoot Head

This gives a nice drop down into Winchester - nice cafe stop under St. Catherines Hill.


This one brings you up through behind Marwell Zoo overlooking 'African Valley', if you stop for a gander. The Ship in Owslebury in a nice stop.

Some of those bit's might not 'offically' be on OS mapping.

If timings work etc, I'd happily guide you out.

There are some options through to Andover which would be relatively pleasant and the north of there through Vernham Dean/Linkenholt area through to Hungerford or Marlborough has some good trails.

[godivatrailrider]

You're starting virtually outside my front door!

I'd head one of these ways out of town....both will bring you up to Cheesefoot Head

This gives a nice drop down into Winchester - nice cafe stop under St. Catherines Hill.


This one brings you up through behind Marwell Zoo overlooking 'African Valley', if you stop for a gander. The Ship in Owslebury in a nice stop.

Some of those bit's might not 'offically' be on OS mapping.

If timings work etc, I'd happily guide you out.

There are some options through to Andover which would be relatively pleasant and the north of there through Vernham Dean/Linkenholt area through to Hungerford or Marlborough has some good trails.

Excellent ! I might do SSUK too ! Any more route advice gladly accepted!

[Moff]

I'll use my thinky and see if I can come with some more options..... but in return a 'might' will have to become a 'will'!!

[godivatrailrider]

I'll use my thinky and see if I can come with some more options..... but in return a 'might' will have to become a 'will'!!

You'll be inundated ! We've run it 3 times and it's fine... just don't make it stupidly hard, short laps = good

[godivatrailrider]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49426843

This is the latest version .... I have routed to collect a few BCQ points up around Hungerford. Loads of variety of terrain and riding.

[faustus]

Looking good! I think that'll be a much more interesting route than following the eastern loop of the KAW. Using the Wayfarer's Walk is a good idea, as is turning off at Inkpen, as that last western bit of it is horrible to ride on as it gets really rutty. The Wayfarer's is quite a decent ride actually, I think it's tougher riding than the ridgeway, and definitely a path less travelled in comparison, so well worth it. You go past the real Watership Down and the views are lovely. Also, it crosses the A34: whatever you do DON'T try and cross the road, which is an option (there's no bridge or tunnel at that point, you have to scuttle across 4 lanes and central reservation!). I have crossed when it was very quiet, but it still terrified me. There is an alternative short detour that goes under the road on farm tracks and back up to the main path. Your current track goes straight across but the safer option is on the RWGPS map. Hungerford is a lovely little town to re-supply, and the route you've chosen towards Ramsbury/Savernake forest is a nice one - be sure to stop near Littlecote manor as there is a fantastic Roman villa and mosaic to view there just off the path (https://www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/busin ... la-mosaic/). Ramsbury has a good pub and is supplied by Ramsbury brewery

Going west on the north scarp of Pewsey vale will be lovely, and depending on your timing and plans, there are tons of good bivy options along the wayfarers, in savernake forest, and on the Mid Wilts Way/north Pewsey vale bit. Only mild things to be aware of are: some bits will have plenty of vegetations to deal with, and if it's been dry (which hopefully it will be!) then there'll be chattery hoof-print terrain in parts. As touched upon above, the routes near my neck of the woods are paths less travelled, and they don't always flow as easily as the ridgeway for instance - the ridgeway is the motorway to wayfarer's/mid wilts way B-road - but all the more rewarding for it I think.

Enjoy it! It's certainly better than watching Wimbledon!

[Moff]

Tweeked your route out of Southampton

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49433915

[godivatrailrider]

Tweeked your route out of Southampton

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49433915

Thank you ! It's that stuff that really help

[godivatrailrider]

Looking good! I think that'll be a much more interesting route than following the eastern loop of the KAW. Using the Wayfarer's Walk is a good idea, as is turning off at Inkpen, as that last western bit of it is horrible to ride on as it gets really rutty. The Wayfarer's is quite a decent ride actually, I think it's tougher riding than the ridgeway, and definitely a path less travelled in comparison, so well worth it. You go past the real Watership Down and the views are lovely. Also, it crosses the A34: whatever you do DON'T try and cross the road, which is an option (there's no bridge or tunnel at that point, you have to scuttle across 4 lanes and central reservation!). I have crossed when it was very quiet, but it still terrified me. There is an alternative short detour that goes under the road on farm tracks and back up to the main path. Your current track goes straight across but the safer option is on the RWGPS map. Hungerford is a lovely little town to re-supply, and the route you've chosen towards Ramsbury/Savernake forest is a nice one - be sure to stop near Littlecote manor as there is a fantastic Roman villa and mosaic to view there just off the path (https://www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/busin ... la-mosaic/). Ramsbury has a good pub and is supplied by Ramsbury brewery

Going west on the north scarp of Pewsey vale will be lovely, and depending on your timing and plans, there are tons of good bivy options along the wayfarers, in savernake forest, and on the Mid Wilts Way/north Pewsey vale bit. Only mild things to be aware of are: some bits will have plenty of vegetations to deal with, and if it's been dry (which hopefully it will be!) then there'll be chattery hoof-print terrain in parts. As touched upon above, the routes near my neck of the woods are paths less travelled, and they don't always flow as easily as the ridgeway for instance - the ridgeway is the motorway to wayfarer's/mid wilts way B-road - but all the more rewarding for it I think.

Enjoy it! It's certainly better than watching Wimbledon!

Thank you
A34 crossing duly modified !
I think this'll be close to the final route .... maybe modify around Bristol maybe, but it seems mostly on cycle paths even now.
As for Bivvy spots ... excuse the pun but tentatively looking at 46.5 miles for day 1 Patchbourne Woods there's a flat triangle (or other possible spots further into the wood.
Night 2 at about 93 miles Milk Hill looks fairly possible if a tad exposed a couple of miles earlier might work better ....so yeah somewhere along the Pewsey Vale bit
Night 3 will be near the Severn Bridge I think....
Night 4 North of Ross, maybe along the Wye ... ideally near the Cottage of Content in Carey Route is currently the other side of the river but I'm still looking at options...

I want to take it easy, sit and enjoy the views, look at the roman villa, have a beer or a tea & cake, not just head down following a fecking line.
It's shaping up really well