LINFORD BOTTOM near Ringwood (ref SU 182 072) (What3Words – memo.rats.skillet)
If you are coming from the Southampton direction, take the A31 westwards all the way to Ringwood. At the bottom of Poulner Hill you take the slip road off and turn back towards Southampton, get on the eastbound side of the dual carriageway and go back up Poulner Hill again. When you get almost to the top of the hill, there is a nursery/garden centre on the left. Go past this and then take the next turn left onto a narrow side road to head towards Hangersley and Shobley and ultimately to the car park at Linford Bottom. The routes available are across Rockford Common, Linwood, Ibsley Common and on towards Abbots Well or perhaps southwards via the underpass at Picket Post towards Burley Street, Dur Hill, Bisterne Common and Holmsley.
A dry period will give you a mixture of rutted horse-hoof stutter or dry sand that challenges directional control and needs a good push on the pedals whereas a wet, soggy period will give you a squelching, slippery track surface or a gritty grinding paste guaranteed to make you rush to the shop for new brake pads next morning. You will also need to pedal with a bit more vigour over this terrain. At this time of the year there is no guaranteeing which way the dice will fall.
Hopefully, the bluebells will still be out as Farley Mount is famous for them.
There are some terrific tracks in this area. Parnholt Wood has a great downhill run which leads to Kings Somborne. From here it is possible to take the Test Way up to Stockbridge and circle out around Crawley almost reaching Wherwell not far from Andover before heading back via Sparsholt and West Wood. For anyone looking for a shorter trip, you could do worse than ride around the many trails in West Wood itself perhaps linking up with some sections of the Clarendon Way.
This will be a day ride starting from the Lymington ferry terminal and starting on the Island at Yarmouth and it will be a fun day out. Whatever happens, the choice of riding is excellent, the views from the ridges are stunning and the pubs are friendly and welcoming. Remember to bring loads of money for the ferry, the pub, the catering facilities on the ferry and most importantly, a selection of coinage to feed the meter at the car park.
Check the forum/facebook for lunch arrangements nearer the time.
9am ferry please be ready to load at 8.45 - people have missed the ferry! (You can use Tesco vouchers for the ferry.)
Parking is £9 for the day but you can park in Lymington for less (£5 Long Stay car parks) or you might find some on-street parking without restrictions on a Sunday. (Allow time to get to the ferry!!)
The map reference given is the centre of the village. Park on the road and meet at the main junction in the middle off the village. The general plan is probably to head northwards to the area bounded by West Tytherley, Pitton and the Winterslow villages and discover the bridleways and woodland tracks.
This ride can be reached either by driving all the way to Corfe, or in the past some members have parked in Poole and taken the Sandbanks ferry and ridden the short distance to the start point. Whatever your point of origin, the ride will start officially from the Norden Park and Ride facility just near Corfe Castle and that is the map reference given above. Please note that there is a car parking charge payable at meters in the Park and Ride facility. The start time will be the usual 10.00am roll out of the car park. Please allow a bit of extra time to get to the start as the roads may well be busy if the weather is good and the tourists will be out in force.
Last year some of us camped near the start of the ride and did a coastal walk and sea swim on the Saturday. The plan is to do something similar this year. Keep an eye on the forum/facebook for more info.