RIDING at your own pace, this route takes you from the shadow of Romsey’s historic abbey through beautiful unspoilt countryside and villages.

This 31 mile route is for those with experience, but wanting a leisurely ride in the countryside. Refer to: OS maps 185 and 184.

• Start outside the old magistrates’ court, now Romsey Social Service, and proceed towards Palmerston’s statue and the Cornmarket, then into The Hundred towards Winchester. Straight on at the traffic lights but take the first exit at the roundabout.

Continue past the mini roundabout and take a first left into Cupernham Lane and the first right into Woodley Lane Take the first right into Woodley Lane. At the cross roads turn left into Braishfield Road. By this point you will have covered 3km.

• Go straight on at the cross roads. You should be passing the Dog and Crook public house at this stage.

Turn right at the Wheatsheaf pub before passing Lower Slackstead Bear right where there is a sign post for Winchester/Hursley

• You should have covered 9km before you turn left at the A3090 then immediately left again where there is a sign post in Farley Mount/Sparsholt Fork. Continue through Farley Mount Country Park towards Ashely which should be a narrow road with blind summits and potholes

• Take a left at the T-junction with signposts for Kings Somborne /Romsey In Kings Somborne at the T-junction turn right into Church Road

• Turn left at the T-junction by the Crown Inn onto A3057 Go right into Horsebridge Road with the sign post “Horsebridge ½ mile Houghton. Go right at sign post Houghton 1, then second right at the sign post “Broughton 2/East Tytherley 3 ½ Fork left at the sign post East and West Tytherley

• At the cross road go straight on but exercise caution cross the busy road Turn right at the T-junction to West Tytherley, then left at the T-junction to Turn left at the sign post Romsey/Lockerley to East Dean, Lockerley n Go right at the T-junction Romsey Road with a sigh post Romsey At the garage, turn left at the signpost Mottisfont 1

• Go through Dunbridge, and turn right at the T-junction at the sign post Romsey/Awbridge B3084 Go left at the sign post Timsbury/Kimbridge, and cycle through Kimbridge

• At the T-junction, turn right onto the A3057 or sign post Romsey/Timsbury – but beware of fast moving traffic and use the cycle path. Go through Timsbury. Finish by turning right at Poppie’s Tea Room