Help with London > Bournemouth - or part of it

Thigh_burn

I have to go to Bournemouth for a social thing. I don't want it buggering up my Ride London training, so have figured I'll ride c80miles and meet the Mrs.

I'm coming from North London. Does anyone have any tips on roads and routes - I don't know the area at all.

I'd love to try to incorporate Box and Leith Hills, just to get them under my pedals. I know they're further South than West.

Thanks for any help.

marcusjb

Bournemouth is a little further than 80 miles from N. London? I'd make it more 100ish.

From Richmond, I've ridden to Poole, the New Forest etc. - never to Bournemouth though looking at my heat maps.

I'd probably do something like this (from Richmond):

Chertsey
Chobham
Elstead
Churt
Alresford
Sparsholt
Kimbridge
Fordingbridge
Sopley (this is where my knowledge starts to run out)
Bournemouth

Some proper lovely lanes and the new forest bit is nice (if not a little windy at times).

marcusjb

I must make amends and ride to Bournemouth at some point. Looks like one of the very few seaside towns on the south coast I haven't ridden to!

topcattim

marcusjb wrote:

Bournemouth is a little further than 80 miles from N. London? I'd make it more 100ish.

From Richmond, I've ridden to Poole, the New Forest etc. - never to Bournemouth though looking at my heat maps.

I'd probably do something like this (from Richmond):

Chertsey
Chobham
Elstead
Churt
Alresford
Sparsholt
Kimbridge
Fordingbridge
Sopley (this is where my knowledge starts to run out)
Bournemouth

Some proper lovely lanes and the new forest bit is nice (if not a little windy at times).

I live in Winchester and occasionally ride down to Bournemouth. From me, I go via Hursley, Ampfield, Hilliers Arboretum, Timsbury, Shootash, Blackhill, Fritham, Linwood (south of Fordingbridge), Rockford, over the A31 at Ringwood, Kingston, right towards Hurn before Sopley, and then your route down into Bournemouth will depend on which part you want to get to. I'ts a lovely ride!

Occasionally I ride up to Box Hill, it's about 75 miles the way I do it (not the shortest route, so you could do it in about 65 probably). It's about 45 miles to Bournemouth by the way I've just set out. I'm happy to send you gpx files of the way I'd go if that is of any help.

surrey_commuter

Google thinks that central london to Bournemouth is circa 100 miles (another 20 twenty to north london?) if you do Box and Leith you will be adding another 20 miles

topcattim

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Google thinks that central london to Bournemouth is circa 100 miles (another 20 twenty to north london?) if you do Box and Leith you will be adding another 20 miles

I wouldn't recommend the route that Google recommends by bike from Winchester to Brockenhurst. Not dangerous, not dual carriageways, just urban roads that could easily be avoided in favour of nice countryside. However, it does recommend a good route from Odiham through to Winnall/winchester. Beyond that, I'm outside of my familiar riding area.

Thigh_burn

Thanks all for the answers. Sorry post wasn't that clear. London to Bournemouth is definitely more than 80 miles, it's about 120 from me.

What I'm trying to do is do c80 miles from home and meet my wife somewhere. She'll pick me up in the car and drive the remainder of the journey. Apologies for lack of clarity.

The above tips are helpful however. It looks to me like meeting in Winchester is about the right distance.

Topcattim, if you wouldn't mind sharing them, that would be great. Thanks

topcattim

Thigh_burn wrote:

Thanks all for the answers. Sorry post wasn't that clear. London to Bournemouth is definitely more than 80 miles, it's about 120 from me.

What I'm trying to do is do c80 miles from home and meet my wife somewhere. She'll pick me up in the car and drive the remainder of the journey. Apologies for lack of clarity.

The above tips are helpful however. It looks to me like meeting in Winchester is about the right distance.

Topcattim, if you wouldn't mind sharing them, that would be great. Thanks

I've just tried to pm you but bizarrely the notice board tells me you don't exist! Can you try pm'ing me with your email and I'll reply with the gpx

Brakeless

Have a look at the 3 Down Audax Route. The route it uses down to the New forest is really good.

https://www.strava.com/routes/2054043

You'll have to head a bit west from London to Join it though, but probably nicer than heading down through London.

davidof

topcattim wrote:

I live in Winchester and occasionally ride down to Bournemouth. From me, I go via Hursley, Ampfield, Hilliers Arboretum, Timsbury, Shootash, Blackhill, Fritham, Linwood (south of Fordingbridge), Rockford, over the A31 at Ringwood, Kingston, right towards Hurn before Sopley, and then your route down into Bournemouth will depend on which part you want to get to. I'ts a lovely ride!

I do the same route as you - I've ridden London / Bmth and reverse a few times. Box was on my route but I was heading to Bromley, not sure I'd take it in from N.London.

Thigh_burn

Thanks for all the advice and offers. In the end I bottled it as it would have meant setting off at silly o'clock in the morning.

spearmint_wino

davidof wrote:

I do the same route as you - I've ridden London / Bmth and reverse a few times. Box was on my route but I was heading to Bromley, not sure I'd take it in from N.London.

Davidof, what's your route out of London to Winchester? I too am SE London and planning a London - New Forest - Dorchester - Exeter. Those Surrey roads all look big and busy.