Winchester/Southampton area

stevepj
stevepj Posts: 38
edited April 2011 in Routes
I'm going to see my brother in Winchester soon and he wants to take the bikes out, i've never ridden with him before and i don't live in Winchester (he does) so i don't know what the area's like.

Are there any woods/forests etc close by where we can go, don't fancy following a map but happy to blast unmarked trails??

Cheers
Why are all the parts i've upgraded on my bike, now standard on the latest model!!

Comments

  • Nick Cod
    Nick Cod Posts: 321
    Hi Steve

    Winchester is where one end of the South Downs starts. There's some cracking trails can be picked up from Cheesfoot Head with a mix of singletrack and wide open spaces.

    I live just down the road and normally start around the Alresford area as there's some good tea and cake shops, picking up the downs via Tichborne. I'm in Yorkshire next week but back the week commencing the 11th of April.

    You haven't specified when you're coming into town but could possibly squeeze in a ride at some point on the weekend of the 16th if you want some guidance?

    Just drop me a line and let me know
    2016 Cube Agree C:62 SLT DISC
    2013 Cayo Evo 3
    2013 Zesty 414
    2002 Avalanche 0.0
    2018 Vitus Substance v2 105 Gravel
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    Lords Wood is good - just over the M27 from the Chilworth Arms (cross the bridge at 50.958828972613475 -1.4220039546489915 and turn right)... there was an article on this in the November issue of MBR. It's not easy to find all the good trails there and it's pretty easy to get lost - unless you have been shown round.
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    ... or ask in Hargroves in Winchester. They know the area, and I think they sometimes organise rides.
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building
  • stevepj
    stevepj Posts: 38
    Hi Bartimaeus/Nick

    I'll not be down 'till June but thanks for the offer, i read that article about Lords Wood (and it sounded ideal) but i don't know where the start/end points are.

    I reckon we'll just go for it and see what happems, thanks for your help.
    Why are all the parts i've upgraded on my bike, now standard on the latest model!!
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    If you are willing to travel a little further, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is 25 miles away via the A272... there's some great trails in the woods there (mostly unoffficial), and the XC around the South Downs Way and nearby bridlepaths is very good.

    Here's some guy I've not met yet, blasting down our '200m' trail near QE.

    Nearer Chichester there is Kingley Vale which is also good - and which has a small DH trail built in the woods (see this) which is fun on an XC bike.

    If you intend to head over to QE or KV sign up at the Kingley Vale Mountain Bikers and I'm sure we can fix up a guide for you.

    When I find somewhere to host them I'll send you a link to a couple of GPX for Lords Wood... but to be honest it's not that easy to find the way around!
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building
  • Nick Cod
    Nick Cod Posts: 321
    Bartimaeus

    Where in QE is the 200m track?
    2016 Cube Agree C:62 SLT DISC
    2013 Cayo Evo 3
    2013 Zesty 414
    2002 Avalanche 0.0
    2018 Vitus Substance v2 105 Gravel
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    200m is on Head Down rather than in QE itself... it starts at the 200m contour and heads down through Ludgersham Copse towards Ditcham
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    Nick... sent you a PM with co-ordinates
    Vitus Sentier VR+ (2018) GT Grade AL 105 (2016)
    Giant Anthem X4 (2010) GT Avalanche 1.0 (2010)
    Kingley Vale and QECP Trail Collective - QECP Trail Building

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