Fish 'n' Chips in Winchester
70 Miles 112 Km
Fancy a Summer late afternoon/evening’s Fish ‘n chip run? 70 miles – allow 2 hours plus stops.
You’ll be surprised how empty the roads are!
Just put the GPX file in your Satnav and go -
or if you would like to know a bit more about where you’re going read on…
I prefer this route when the weather is set fair to enjoy the late summer sun and a fish ‘n’ chip meal in the afternoon/evening.
If you’re not an evening rider, (or don’t like fish and Chips) and prefer a daytime ride you will find a choice of pit stops along the way at The Departure Lounge Alton, The Pathfinder Café at Blackbushe Airport, The Iron Bull Roadhouse Hook. If you’ve never been to Loomies Moto Café you could take a deviation and get back on the route later. (Opening hours can vary so best to check first).
Suggest you start at The Hogs Back Cafe
You can pick up your own start /finish points to suit – I’ve picked the Hogs Back café layby on the A31 as start and Blackbushe airport as a finish – giving you close access to the M3 to get home quickly. Although some of the roads at first appear to be major A Roads, the M3 and A3 take nearly all the traffic. (I did jump on the M3 for one junction 7-6 to avoid Basingstoke).
The Hogs Back, part of the North Downs is a long hill ridge in Surrey, that runs in a straight west-east line between Farnham and Guildford, reaching a height of 505 feet above sea level.
As you skirt around Farnham and head for Odiham, the road rises and falls overlooking a view of Basingstoke in the distance. You then drop down past RAF Odiham – home to three RAF Chinook Squadrons,
Follow the old A32 now renumbered as B3349 to Alton, winding through some rolling Hampshire hills which always remind me of Teletubby Hills.
The A31, largely deserted these days is a series of single/dual carriageways taking you into Winchester.
Winchester is steeped in history and merits a day visit of its own. In 871 at the tender age of 21, Alfred was crowned King of Wessex and established Winchester as his capital. Home of King Arthur's Round Table
Shoal Fish and Chip restaurant is situated at the end of the Guildhall - their food is consistently good .
Parking is not difficult -
try https://goo.gl/maps/vwTEq9vh2DMAkWo3A for a solo motorcycle bay if you're stuck.
Leave Winchester on a route signed Kings Worthy. As you ride in splendid isolation back up the A33 a huge sun will glow over your left shoulder from the West. In this 12 + mile section you may see 3 other vehicles if it’s busy.
Near the end of the A33 take a bimble through Dummer. But slow down as the sign asks - to allow any ducks crossing the road heading to the cute duck pond.
The tiny village was once home of Fergie – not the erstwhile Man Utd, manager, but the Duchess of York.
Dummer Church
I use the M3 between J7 and J6 to bypass Basingstoke and then enjoy the empty A30 - once a major coaching route, now only lightly used.
Ride safely and enjoy.