Bike ride from Totton to Beaulieu and Lyndhurst

 Tuesday 22nd August with Harry.

Another beautiful day, sunny not too hot, with a noticeable breeze in places.  After coffee we took the bikes out for a leisurely ride to Beaulieu and back via Lyndhurst . Mocha swirl ice cream at Beaulieu, and a dried up orange near the lake.

 

We returned via Beaulieu Road and Lyndhurst, where we stopped for sandwiches and a pot of tea at The Greenwood Tree.

Just over 20 miles in all.

Short cycle ride to Hangers Farm and Calmore Road

Four miles with Harry. Partly to check our route from yesterday’s walk, partly to test drive my new padded inner shorts. Satisfactory on both counts, especially since we had the ice cream we missed yesterday.  A gentle pootle, bimble or bike stroll. 

Totton, Eling and Testwood

 Tuesday 15th August 2023. With Harry. Just over 10 miles.

A mix of suburban streets, wooded walkways, mini seaside, reed-beds, and rural surroundings .

The original plan was a stroll to Eling for coffee at The Anchor, with its views over Bartley Water, and across to St Mary’s church.

Along the boardwalks through the reed beds and wooded paths. Lots of white butterflies and a speckled wood or two.

We emerged at Eling cemetery and St Mary’s churchyard, another place full of wild flowers and butterflies.

We retraced our steps through Eling and across the park, over the main road to Rum Walk, following Bartley Water and the Test Way into Totton Town Centre. It was time for another coffee and a decent tuna sandwich and salad at Aroma Cafe to set us up for the afternoon.

As the weather was so good we decided to walk through the park, past the Great Testwood Gatehouse

and the Salmon Leap pub to join the Test Way boardwalk across the marshland. We had a fleeting glimpse of the orange of a tiger moth, which played its disappearing trick so effectively we couldn’t identify it (garden or Jersey). Blackberries are ripening well.

We followed the Test Way as far as Mill Lane, where we turned left towards Nursling Mill.

By now phone batteries were running low, so there are few photographs, as we made our way to the southern end of Testwood Lakes, where we paused for a rest and thought of ice-cream. We had to make do with snacking on blackberries though.

Then back to base along the pathways.

Totton to Testwood Lakes

 

Thursday 25th August

After coffee we set off towards Testwood lakes,

walked round,

and to the hides near the Scrapes and Meadow Lake. Heron, lapwings, and later swallows and a couple of green woodpeckers, one of them calling and flying in typical green woodpecker fashion.

Return via Nursling Mill, over the now restored footbridge (see last year), to join the Test Way as it goes back along the river and across the salt marshes via the boardwalk into Totton.

Today this involved herding a group of young bullocks along a narrow path.

Sandwich and coffee from Greggs, which we ate near the library before walking the final mile home. Somewhere between 9 and 10 miles.

By bike from Totton to Beaulieu

 Wednesday 24th August 

The weather has improved hugely.  After coffee, around midday we decide to take the bikes for a pootle - to Beaulieu via Deerleap Road and Isley Cross, where the junction has been altered and looks much safer.

We turned off at the Beaulieu House car park entrance, and had to go back on to the main road for the village .

A longish Ice cream stop in the shade today. Everyone seemed chilled out.

Returned via the same route with a detour on foot close to Ipley Cross, where the crossroads have been made much safer recently

- no lizards although it looked a possible place.

18 miles in all, the furthest I have ridden since March in the fens near Boston.

Totton to Eling and back

 Sunday 21st August

Just under 5 miles) 

After coffee we walked down to Eling

and drew a bit, then walked along the board walks through the reed marshes by Bartley Water,

from close to the Toll Booth.

Returned to Tide Mill Cafe for a substantial sandwich and salad, and a rather weak and watery pot of tea.

Then Harry went to draw the church.

We walked back by footpath with Bartley Water on our left as far as the big recreation ground, then we followed Rum Walk until the end on Lackford Road and back.