Fair Oak 40 mi, hilly

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Fair Oak, England, GB

Route Overview

Simon Slater

Road & Mountain bike routes

41 mi.

2,751 ft.

Circular ride from Fair Oak via Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill - fairly hilly!

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Route Details

**This is a 40 mile circular route from Fair Oak, Hampshire, taking in @point[Butser Hill](d,35527.41) and @point[Old Winchester Hill](d,22180.86) - they are both fairly steep and require a good level of fitness.**

The route starts from Fair Oak (there is parking around the village, but unless you happen to be in Fair Oak then I'd suggest parking in @point[the pub (The Alma) in Lower Upham](d,2870.61) or in the village hall grounds opposite the same pub.

The roads are generally good and reasonably quiet throughout the ride, but in the summer the small road up to Old Winchester Hill can be popular, so extra care is needed.

From Fair Oak, head up through the villages of Lower Upham, Upham and @point[Longwood](d,7924.45) before a long flowing descent takes you down to the watercress bed lined village of @point[Warnford](d,18624.08), on the A32.

From here the hills start!  Climb up onto Old Winchester Hill; stop at the top if you like, the views over the valleys on both sides (on a clear day) are fantastic.  Drop down into the lovely @point[village](d,27427.34) of East Meon before heading back out onto the smaller lanes again, a breif respite before the climb up onto Butser Hill, @slice[and this one is tough!](d,33441.35,35692.5)

You're over halfway at this point and the ride back is undulating, through small villages and on generally quiet roads until you reach @point[Swanmore](d,53526.83) and Bishops Waltham and from here it's only a few miles back to the start.

Some places of note along the way:
* @poi[The Alma Pub in Lower Upham](3242802)
* @poi[The George and Falcon in Warnford](3242803)
* @poi[Old Winchester Hill Nature Reserve](3242804)
* @poi[Butser Hill Nature Reserve](3242805)

# Important Reminders

The descents from Old Winchester Hill and Butser Hill, although on-road, are steep so please proceed with caution (and good brakes!) especially after rain as the roads can become covered with lose gravel from the banks

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Fair Oak 40 mi, hilly

Route Overview

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