Thanks to readers suggestions I have revised this route to take a more tranquil, but slightly longer route back to Winchester, avoiding a couple of fast, busy roads by going via Twyford. The maps, routesheet and GPX files below now reflect these changes. I am indebted to the readers who have made these suggestions and tested them on the ground.
Map (zoom in for more detail)
Download file for GPSDirections and GPX
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
TCX file (right click to download)
FIT file (right click to download)
Hello -is this route affected by floods at all? We might do it next weekend. I’m a little apprehensive about the main road sections as I’m not very confident on busy roads, especially in new places…
Thanks,
Lucy.
Hi Lucy, as far as I know this is not likely to be flood-affected. However, the final section from Beauworth down to Winchester does include some stretches of A-road, which are sadly unavoidable unless you go off road, along the South Downs Way, which at this time of year will be exceptionally muddy and not recommended.
An alternative for you would be to ride the route along the Itchen, through the Meons and as far as Exton and Beacon Hill (steep climb!). At the top, leave the book route taking the lane north and downhill to Kilmeston, returning to Winchester the route you came on the way out. It’s a truly beautiful ride along lovely quiet lanes and the run along the Itchen is certainly a ride that’s worth doing twice. That would be my recommendation anyway. Have a great ride.
Jack
Thank you very much, that’s really helpful and kind of you!
Great ride on 29 March 2014 – beautiful countryside and very quiet. Few cars and few other cyclists. Rivers very full but only one short section of shallowly flooded and easily passable road.
We drove and started and finished at Easton – so did not go into Winchester.
My fourth ‘Lost Lanes’ and probably my favourite.
Thanks Jack – we love your book. It is giving us much pleasure and we are now planning to do your Cotswold and Isle of Wight rides as 2 day summer expeditions.
Volume 2 please!
James
I live in this area and ride a lot of these roads quite frequently. This is a great route, except for the ending. I’m a confident cyclist but I don’t really enjoy that bit on A272 and the final straight run along the Alresford road (B3404) isn’t that great (IMHO!).
If I may, I’ll propose an alternative ending, maybe a couple of miles further but a much nicer way to finish off I think:
At the point you are about to join the A272 (marked ‘Lane End Down’ on the OS map) turn left and head down towards Owslebury. A nice road largely a gentle downhill run.
Cross the sometimes busy Morestead road and continue on into Owslebury itself (decent pub here if you need it!)
Leave Owslebury on the single-track road that goes off to the right and down a steep hill and keep straight on this all the way to the end.
At this point there is a bridleway heading back to Winchester, so if you’re on a mountain bike you could try, but I’ve no idea what it’s like! For everyone else turn left and head down into Twyford (local shop and pubs here if you need them!). Nice village but slightly marred by the busy road passing through it!
At Twyford cross the traffic lights and continue over the various bits of river to Shawford (decent pub here if you need it!)
Shawford actually has a railway station, just one stop on from Winchester, so if you came by train you could potentially finish and catch the train back here? (But its only a small local station so not everything stops there.)
To cycle on, carry on through Shawford, out and over the motorway and then head north towards the junction of the A3090 and B3335. You are actually now back on the NCN 23 route where you started out.
At that roundabout junction you can either take the B3335 (St Cross Rd) back into Winchester, or better still, for a perfect ending, follow the newly opened NCN 23 section which doubles back a little bit then uses a beautiful restored old viaduct and stays off road round the water meadows and behind Winchester College to get back into the city. (Take a look at the NCN 23 route map for details, but I think it is fairly well signposted.).
Awesome. A much better alternative. The Morestead Road section has quite a bit of fast moving traffic so this proposed alternative beats both the A272 and Turning right onto Morestead Road after the lovely Owlesbury section. Thanks!
Do you have adjusted route GPX file by any chance you could share?
If you still want it, here is a GPX with my suggested route ending. Not sure if the very last bit into Winchester is 100% correct as y map doesn’t show the cycle route – but you are on the NCN 23 at this point and it should be well signposted!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mxta0mad7dw55hn/14WW-Twyford.gpx?dl=0
Hi,
I’d love to try this route out. I have a Garmin edge 25. Would you know how I would transfer the route to it?
You can connect your Garmin to PC and just upload GPX file to New Folder if I remember correctly. Start Garmin and route should be there.
Has anyone cycled along the bridle path just beyond Owslebury (Monarch’s Way) which is on the ‘alternative ending’ route suggested by Tim?
Also, we are thinking of starting at West Meon and reversing the whole route… any thoughts on that suggestion?
Just finished this ride on Easter Sunday.
To answer previous comment, a little bit of flooding after the turning to Corhampton (mile 25). Glad I had my mudguards on.
Lovely cafe in the shop at West Meon. Very bike friendly with racks in the garden. Serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, cakes and coffee. Everything a cyclist needs. Also has a loo and water bottle tap.
Views from the top of Beacon Hill lovely all the way to IOW.
I did cycle the A272 and A31 with my heart in my mouth and was glad to be wearing a red jacket. Most motorists very respectful, just a few who thought they were at Silverstone not Chalkdown.
Three corrections to the route information.
It is Beacon Hill not Deacon Hill.
It is the Cricketers Inn at Easton not the Cricketers Arms.
Most importantly as you enter Easton bear left initially and then very shortly afterwards turn right by the pub.
Thanks Rodney. I’ll endeavour to make those changes in the ride notes.
Did this one today and it’s a really great route. Fantastic views from the high ground in the second half, and the amended final section along the Itchen Navigation is great. The Christmas market is also a must-see in December.
In parts there is poor road surfacing, often hidden under puddles and standing water, especially in the first part. No problems passing on road bikes but you just need to take care. There was also flooding under the old railway bridge just before Exton which was just about rideable, and if it’s any worse you can nip over the embankment to avoid it.
Overall a great winter outing, thanks Jack!
I fully concur with the comments that the A272 is not a suitable route. In fact the worst part is that the A272 brings you out on the A31, which is a nasty piece of dual carriageway leading up to the roundabout by Winchester Science Centre. There’s no hard shoulder, and vehicles are often trying to change lanes on the approach to the roundabout.
Today I cycled the alternative suggested above by Tim (https://lostlanes.co.uk/14ww/#comment-135), and it’s far more in the spirit of “Lost Lanes”.
What a fantastic ride. All but the last few miles are on quiet (really quiet!) lanes. A beautiful landscape to cycle through. A great route, thank you.
This route is my local Lost Lanes and I have done it several times.
The amendments made by Jack are most welcome and as I live north of Winchester I have changed and included to make it a route from home.
The Meons are truly stunning and after my initial ride I have returned often for family walks in this hidden part of Hampshire.
Did this today – the revised route! It’s a great cycle with a chonky but rewarding ascent and adrenaline pumped descent. Great views and must recommend the The Izaak Walton at East Meon for delicious home cooked food and friendly service.
Did this one today and it’s a really great route. Fantastic views from the high ground in the second half, and the amended final section along the Itchen Navigation is great. The Christmas market is also a must-see in December.
In parts there is poor road surfacing, often hidden under puddles and standing water, especially in the first part. No problems passing on road bikes but you just need to take care. There was also flooding under the old railway bridge just before Exton which was just about rideable, and if it’s any worse you can nip over the embankment to avoid it.
Overall a great winter outing, thanks Jack!
My first Lost Lanes ride and it was really enjoyable, despite the cold, grey weather. Will definitely do it again on a sunny day as no doubt the views would be amazing. One point to note is that as of 30 March 2025, the footpath toward Easton at the M3/A34 junction is closed until some time in 2026 for the junction improvement works. Not sure if a temporary path will be put in place, if not, it will be necessary to find another way to get to Easton – potentially go out of Winchester along the Alresford road and then left onto “Fair Lane”
Thanks Keith, glad you enjoyed it, and I really appreciate you leaving a note for other readers on the path closure on the way to Easton, and the recommended alternative route.
The ride out of Winchester has been heavily affected by the M3 roadworks. The National Cycle Route 23 crossing of M3 Junction 9 is now closed until (probably) the end of this year (till after 2026). Still doable so long as you’re aware of diversion. https://cyclewinchester.org.uk/campaigns/m3-j9-closure/