A week near Sandleheath - more cycling than walking

'Hampshire July 2014

Arrived Friday 25/7 Ate at Damerham pub with its hippy enterprise feel but good food, altho' they seem to think vegetarians eat less.

Saturday 26/7 we met Jenny and Esther at Bursledon station car park and walked along the river Hamble to Manor farm Country Park and back. Then went to Esther's for evening meal.

Map etc

Sunday 27/7 Esther did a 70 mile sportive from Waterlooville. We did a 20 mile ride to Cranbourne - stopped for large lemonade at Damerham. Map etc . Later over to Esther's.  Quick visit to the allotment.

Monday 28/7 - we met Esther etc at Moors valley Country park.

We drove there the back way, via Verwood. Ate at the Ship in Fordingbridge.

Tuesday 29/7- lazy morning, then ride into Fordingbridge to get b'day card for Aneurin. Onwards and up to Whitsbury and almost Coombe Bissett via byway, then returned via Rockbourne. Map etc.Tea and scone in Rose and Thistle. Not cheap but good.  About 20 miles in all again.

Wednesday 30/7 - went to Alderholt G C for coffee, then to Mockbeggar via Harbridge and ibsley. up the hill past Red Shoot and almost to Fritham, returning via the top road and down through Godshill and Fordingbridge. around 28 miles. Map etc.

Then to Esther's for dinner.

Thursday 31/7 - a lazy day, more reading than anything. Then to Esther's for a meal.

Friday 01/8 - returned home via Salisbury, and called at Crofton Beam Engine on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

While we were away we saw various birds, including reed bunting, a kingfisher, and some wheatears, we believe, flying from post to post ahead of us as we cycled on a byway.

A week in Devon - with a few photos

Ten days or so on the move - overnight in Bristol,
a couple of days with Jenny at Hope Cove,

Through the cloud to the cliff-top path

  a few days outside Tavistock, exploring Dartmoor,

and then two nights in Southampton with Esther's family.

We walked a bit - lots of short walks, and one longer one, and cycled a bit, mostly off-road and on decent tracks.

Cycle ride - The Granite Way from Okehampton to Lydford and back - in rather wet conditions! About 22 miles.  Coffee stop in the pub at Lydford helped us shelter from some of the downpour!
Shorter off-road cycle route - part of Princetown Railway - this was rather rough and I wasn't sure of the route - I did about 4 miles in all.

The granite tramway

Longish walk - 7 miles of the Yarner Wood Loop from Haytor including part of the Templer Way - a decent walk, partly along an old tramway made of granite!
For most of it I lost satellite reception. I'll post a few pics later.

Through Yarner Wood

Wide, if misty views

Following the road back to Haytor Visitor Centre