THIS week’s ride is just over 6.5 miles/11 km and takes you off-road for a majority of the route, (forest and open heath tracks), so mountain or trail bikes are the best choice for an enjoyable day.

Starting at the Royal Oak, Fritham (A), as we did last month, this time we do part of the previous ride in reverse order.

Head off through the trees and down the hill towards Eyeworth Pond (B), turning right along the car park track. With Eyeworth Pond on your left, move through the trees and out into an open valley called Howen Bottom (C).

The track continues to the B3078 (D); turn left onto the main road and continue down the hill and up the other side, climbing Roger Penny Way for 3/4 of a mile or so, taking a left turn at the top of Bramshaw Telegraph, just after the car park (E), around the vehicle barrier.

Continue along the track over Studley Head, keeping Islands Thorns Inclosure and Studley Wood on your left.

The track takes you across open heath (F) for a couple of miles.

Just after Coopers Hill and Crock Hill, keep to the left fork. Now heading for Amberwood Inclosure, the track (G) comes to a T-junction, where you should turn left along the tree line.

You are now heading back to Fritham.

The track takes you through the trees for a mile or so and you should be able to see Eyeworth Lodge’s grounds as the track bears to the right (H) and sweeps to the left through another sprinkling of trees – the area is known as Gorley Bushes.

After another half-a-mile climb, you are back to where you started, and ready for refreshments.

Andy Puntis