CTC ride to Breamore

It's our first ride since the Gridiron as I have been resting an injured shoulder. My top tip following this injury is to watch out for metal drain covers in the wet. I somehow kept upright using a mixture of luck, instinct and brute force the latter probably doing the damage! Anyway enough of that and on to todays ride and we wake up to sunshine but we've seen the weather forecast and and set out prepared for rain. We cycle from home to Hurn Stores with a wonderfully strong tail wind where we meet up with the rest of the group, not a huge number but more than enough for a sociable ride. 

All Saints

Ibsley Bridge

We head out along the Avon Causeway passing through Ripley, Sandford, North

Kingston, Poulner, rockford and Mockbeggar and  before crossing the River Avon at Ibsley Bridge. We pass through the water meadows to Harbridge and the Church of All Saints which rises proud above the flat flood plain.

From here we follow the river valley for a few more miles before making the slight climb to our coffee stop at the Sticky Bun at Alderholt. Here we catch up with a few more members who have ridden from Wimborne direct to coffee. I can recommend the toasted teacakes here and unless you have ridden very hard to get here I suggest you find someone to share with!

Leaving the cafe.

We are just coming out of the cafe when the heavens open and treat us to the first major deluge of the day. Most of us being older and wiser now put that hard earned wisdom to good use and stay under cover while this squall passes through. It's one thing to be out on the bike and get caught in the rain but quite another to set out in it, especially if you don't need to! As you can see from the photo the sun pokes its head out and we set off in a flurry of Hi-Vis!

Our next destination is Breamore and as there are still some very threatening skies above us we decide to take a reasonably direct route to lunch. Somehow we manage to dodge the heaviest of the showers as we cycle through Ashford, Fordingbridge and Burgate. Our destination for lunch at Breamore is the church of St Marys where there is plenty of room in the porch for most of the group while two of our group do their best tree elf impersonation inside an ancient yew tree.

Ayes to the left.....

.....and nays to the right!!

The tree elves!

The original church that stood on this site was built by King Ethelred II aka "the unready", so the site has real historical significance. The current church is built of flint and stone and is Grade I listed. It is probably the most important Anglo-Saxon monument in Hampshire and its cruciform plan with smaller, lower transepts is particularly characteristic of early Christian churches. The church is particularly striking architecturally and the inside doesn't disappoint either.  what remains is a virtually intact original saxon church with old english wording above an arch that dates it to circa 980AD. Also uncovered during restoration work is the remains of a badly damaged Saxon rood. Within the porch is a reminder of the areas more recent history and a relic that is particularly poignant at this time of year. it is a large memorial board which names the men from Breamore, Charford and Woodgreen who went to serve during the First World War. A lot of names for three small villages and note the 'K' and 'W' against the names, 'K' for  killed and 'W' for wounded.

Rush hour at Breamore

One other quick fact about Breamore and it was Derek who got me researching this one with stories of geese roaming free around the village. The fact is that on Breamore Marsh there still persists an ancient right to graze domestic geese and cattle on the manorial green. This is a rare example of this type of common land usage still being followed in the present day.




With the sun still shining but with dark clouds on the horizon we leave this beautiful church behind. We are now all in a race against the weather all hoping to get home without getting a soaking. My guess is that some will be luckier than others!! First stop is Fordingbridge for a comfort stop before heading back to Ringwood via Stuckton, North and South Gorley, Mockbeggar and Poulner. At Ringwood the group splits some choosing to stop for a cuppa and others, Kathy and I amongst them decide to push for home so we say our goodbyes until next time.

Kathy and I set a brisk pace for home but we don't quite manage to avoid the rain but on the plus side the breeze has dropped away and we make good time to home. Another great day out with the Potterers and good to be back in the saddle after my enforced injury break.