North Hants CTC

Basingtoke Rides: August 20th, North Downs off-road epic
Rooksdown to Rivar Down and back.

Setting off from Rooksdown on the western fringes of Basingstoke we followed the byways and bridleways that trace the northern edge of the downs. Heading west we skirted Hannington by way of Plantation Hill, then passed over Cottington Hill before dropping down to the car park on White Hill. Then it was onto Watership Down and Ladle Hill. Passing under the A34 just north of Litchfield we picked up the Wayfarers Walk and continued, climbing just north of Ashmansworth and on out to Walbury Hill, Combe Gibbet, Inkpen Hill and Ham Hill. At the far end of Rivar Down and some four hours later we took a brief break while a slow punctured tube was replaced, before heading back the way we had come. We took lunch back at Combe Gibbet, under the soaring hang-gliders and para-gliders in the skies above.

From there we backtracked as far as the De Haviland Flight memorial by the A34 before an over-the-bars tumble bought the ride to a pemature end. Get well soon Keith.