Having parked at Sherfield on Loddon we headed out on Mill Lane to Fair Oak Green and through Stratfield Saye to the Wellington Farm Shop for late elevenses. The service was a bit slow, they had been invaded by a large group of cyclists who arrived before us, but was a nice place to stop.
After a break we headed of across the A33 to Riseley and onto quiet lanes towards Bramshill. At the end of School Road we tuned right onto Ford Lane and looking left was the ford across the Blackwater River that gave the road that name. The depth gauge was showing two feet! Continuing down Ford Lane was extremely pleasant with Bramshill Plantation on the left.
At the end of Ford Lane we turned onto Bramshill Road, a busy minor road, towards Heckfield eventually turning onto Laundry Lane, a narrow little used road with grass growing in the middle in places. We carried on through rolling countryside eventually turning off road down a track named Hall’s Lane towards Rotherwick. This bridleway is narrow and muddy in places and a bit rough. Shan’t use that again!
In Rotherwick we turned up The Street and retreated to The Falcon PH for lunch, old pub with a modern interior the beer, Hogsback TEA was OK and the food not bad if a bit pricey. Leaving The Falcon we started through the village when it started raining and we discovered a problem with one of the bikes so we retied to The Coach and Horses for shelter ant make the necessary adjustments. A much better pub selling Badgers beer so just had to sample the Fursty Ferret.
The weather had now changed showery as we continued up through the village then skirting Tylney Park to Newnham and Old Basing. We then headed up Pyott’s Hill to join NCR23 through Chineham and Cufaude to Bramley and so back to Sherfield on Loddon where refreshments were had at The White Hart before loading the car for the return journey.
A 26 mile ride through pleasant woodlands and rolling countryside.