CTC ride to Whitsbury via Alderholt

Firstly an apology for there being no accompanying map or details for this entry. This was due to a technical hitch or maybe operator error with Stava this ride. So when it comes to the distance and the climbs you'll just have to trust me!!

The ride was down to start at Moyles Court the other side of Ringwood so Kathy and I set off at 0800 to give us plenty of time to cycle the 14 miles to the meet point. The mornings are definitely starting to feel a little chilly if not autumnal so arm warmers and a second layer was the order of the day. We cycled to Ringwood via the now wonderfully resurfaced Matchams lane and met up with Derek at Ringwood and cycled together to Moyles Court. Surprisingly we were only joined by three other members but I suppose Moyles Court is not the usual meeting point but it does make a pleasant change.

We enjoyed an uneventful run through the forest to Alderholt going via Ibsley and Ibsley Bridge on our way passing a series of gravel pits which is all that remains now of the WW2 RAF and USAAF base at Ibsley. The base operated between 1941 ans 1947 and was primarily a home to fighter squadrons. The American 1st, 48th and 367th fighter groups all spent time here flying Lockhead P38 Lightnings and Republic P47 Thunderbolts on sorties from the base. As today is the last day of the Bournemouth Air Festival it seems right to remember the brave men who flew these planes and lost there lives. One can only imagine what it must have been like to live in this part of Hampshire and be able to watch the aircraft in the skies above.

Old control tower

P38 Lightning

P47 Thunderbolt

Onwards via Harbridge and North End to our coffee destination the Sticky Bun at Alderholt where our numbers are swelled considerably by riders who have made there own way to coffee.

After coffee the group splits into two those of us who want to do the hillier route and those that don't - guess which group was smallest?

So off we go with  the smaller group and double back to fordingbridge and detour to Stuckton and then left up the climb through Winnals Wood to rejoin the Southampton Road and on past Sandy Balls (why does that always make me snigger? - school boy humour I guess!) and on to the Fighting Cocks where we turn left to find donkeys queuing to get into the village hall and waiting for the bus.

Is it bingo today?

Am I too early to use my bus pass?

From here we choose to take the climb up Castle Hill and are rewarded with the stunning view at the top before descending into Woodgreen and on past the mill at Breamore where we cross the main Salisbury road for Breamore village.

view from Castle Hill

.......... and the view back to the hill

 We cycle past the entrance for Breamore House which was completed in 1583, five years before the Spanish Armada and looks today much as it would have done to its’ original owners. From here we climb out of Breamore and onto Whitsbury for lunch. Lunch is at the church and to reach it requires the negotiation of a long gravelly track. However, the views from the churchyard are magnificent especially in this late summer sunshine.

on the road to Whitsbury

Lunch stop Whitsbury Church

View across the valley

After lunch the group splits again with the vast majority heading back towards Wimborne it leaves Derek,  Kathy and I to head back to Ringwood and then on to home. On the way home we cycle past Hurn Airport and watch the RAF Blades display team do a quick impromptu display before landing and watch a Spitfire take off to go and do its display at Bournemouth. I must admit we had chased home hoping to see the Vulcan bomber but unfortunately like my Strava app it was grounded due to technical problems.

The Blades

 We arrive home 56 miles later having enjoyed another amazing days cycling in great company, what could be better - well we could have seen (and heard) the Vulcan I suppose!

CTC ride to Martin

CTC ride to Martin

The group meets today at Wimborne Recreation Ground ready for our ride out to Martin via Cranborne for coffee. Derek has rung the cafe and warned them to expect 12 for coffee, there are 17 of us already!

We head out under overcast skies but we are not worried there is no forecast for rain and it might be a bit chilly now but it will brighten up later. We British and our eternal optimism with regard to the weather.

Remedy Oak - sadly could
not fix a broken spoke

We head off through Gaunts and up to Horton where we turn to go via Woodlands and Edmondsham on an undulating route that passes the Remedy Oak Golf Club and the Remedy Oak itself. The golf club is one of the UK's premier clubs and annually holds qualifying tournaments for the Open. The Remedy Oak, the tree the course takes its name from is and ancient oak said to have healing powers. Unfortunately its powers did not stretch to fixing a broken spoke that happened just as we got to it. Fortunately Derek does not carry his golf clubs while cycling as we would have lost our leader to the golf course. He would probably have had to sell his hand built carbon bike to pay the green fees and I don't think lycra is 'de rigeuer' for the course either!




From here it is onto coffee at Cranborne Manor which is the home of Viscount Cranborne, the eldest son of the 7th Marquess of Salisbury. Cranborne Manor has a long history the original Manor house was built as a royal hunting lodge for King John in the 12th century. Cranborne Chase was a royal hunting ground from at least the time of William the Conqueror until the 17th century. In 1604 the Manor and its surrounding land was acquired by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to Queen Elizabeth I and James II. 

We however are not invited for tea with the viscount and must make do with the garden centre tea room. As soon as we get  our bikes parked and are in the cafe the heavens open. Now what was I saying earlier about it brightening up - now trust me it's just a clearing up shower! While on the subject of best laid plans we now find our numbers swelled to 27, so Derek was it 12 you told the cafe. I doubt they are complaining as 27 hungry and thirsty cyclists are good for business if not a logistical nightmare.

After coffee our numbers are seriously depleted, probably due to the rain, which has now stopped,  and we are down to 10 for the ride onto Matin. We take the slightly damp road to Damerham which rolls its way through some beautiful Dorset countryside passing through the hamlets of Crendell and Bull hill en route to our lunch stop in the church yard at Martin. Martin itself is a picture postcard perfect village that looks like it hasn't changed in years.

Church at Martin 

clock ...

..and explanation.

Please don't fee the animals!

While some of us stayed outside and ate our lunch others took shelter in the porch, it was so tempting to snap that pad lock shut!! (see photo)

Pigs on the hillside

Top of the climb

After lunch and the mention of a climb our numbers were down to 5 as the group split again. So Derek, Dave, Doreen, Kathy and I set off in search of the hill. I think that somewhere in the CTC rulebook it must  say 'lunch must be immediately followed by a climb'. We find our climb and it does not disappoint - 18% in places so can be classified as steep. The climb leads us via Boveridge back to Cranborne where we take the main road back to Wimborne and onto home having had a great day out, only having to don the rain capes twice and finish the day once south of Wimborne in beautiful sunshine!!

CTC Thursday ride to Fritham

CTC Thursday ride to Fritham

Its a Thursday and we have a day off so we can go cycling, how I love flexi time!! 

Today we meet at Hurn stores and it initially looks like a huge group until we realise that the 'Dawdlers' are also meeting here. Our run is taking us north of Ringwood to the tearooms at Hyde and we set off up Matchams Lane which since its resurfacing is a joy to ride. After passing through Ringwood we join roads that Kathy and I used to regularly ride pre CTC when we used to do our solo rides starting from Ringwood. The route takes us past the Alice Lisle pub at Rockford on through Mockbeggar, South Gorley and Hungerford before doing battle not only the stiff little climb before coffee but also 'white van man' who didn't seem to think we should be on the road!

The tea rooms at Hyde are a lovely place to stop and we meet up with

Tea rooms at Hyde

Alan and Ann who have come out to join us for coffee. After the usual chat we leave Alan and Ann who are heading home and set off for our lunch stop at Fritham a place kathy and I have often cycled past but never stopped at.

The route to lunch takes us out through Frogham Frogham is the location of the annual Frogham Fair – a traditional village fete which takes place on the afternoon of the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday weekend in the fields near Frogham crossroads.  A highlight of the fair is the wheelbarrow race up the exceptionally steep Blissford Hill; a hill that today we 'blissfully' miss (perhaps another day).From here through Allisford and on to the Roger Penny Way that rolls its way along the ridge line on the top of the heath. 

We turn right at the Forest Road crossroads and head down into Fritham  to have our sandwiches on the green before seeking refreshment at the Royal Oak. 

Green at Fritham

Royal Oak

Light refreshment

Asleep on the green

First outing for Kevin's new bike

Good to know the 'Royals'
are welcome ............

....... OK so the whole story!

Some interesting facts about Fritham: 

From the 1860s until the 1920s Fritham was home to the Schultze gunpowder factory.The factory specialised in smokeless powder for sporting guns and was established in 1865, it was at one time the largest nitro-compound gunpowder factory in the world, with sixty separate buildings and a staff of a hundred. It supplied three-quarters of the world's annual consumption of gunpowder for sporting purposes and often sent 100-ton consignments to the Americas. Little now remains of the factory except for the superintendent's and gatekeeper's houses. Eyeworth Pond, near Fritham, was specially created by the factory as a reservoir to hold water needed during the manufacturing process.

Four young men from Fritham went down with the Titanic in 1912; Leonard Mark Hickman, Leonard Hickman, Stanley George Hickman, Ambrose Hood they were all second class passengers seeking a new life in North America.

From Fritham we ride through Forest along the road that was once the air field runway north of Stony Cross and past Red Shoot Wood and back to Ringwood. Some of the group decide to stay at Ringwood for tea but Bob, Derek, Kathy and I decide to head on for home and choose to take the route to Hurn via Bisterne where we discover the annual Scarecrow Festival is taking place.

Tempted but we didn't stop ......

let the train take the strain ...

... anyone we know?

After enjoying the scarecrows on the main road Kathy and I decide to come back on Saturday for a proper look at them all. So it's on to home via Hurn Stores and a farewell to Derek and Bob as they load bikes back onto cars.

Another great ride, new roads discovered and as always in great company we can heartily recommend club and group cycling to everyone.

CTC ride to West Stafford

CTC ride to West Stafford

It's a meet at Merley Bridge and on via the usual route to coffee at West Holme. At West Holme we join up with a large group who have come directly to coffee but after the break we are still the same number that left Merley Bridge!

The route from coffee takes us on a steady climb through East Stoke, Wool, Moreton and Woodford before reaching (via one of Bob's infamous short cuts) West Stafford.  West Stafford was originally known as Stanford, from the Old English for “stony ford”, perhaps alluding to a crossing of the South Winterborne which flows through it, or even of the River Frome just to the North.  Curiously, there are two manor houses in the village. The elder of the two, Stafford House, is considered to be one of the best examples of Stuart architecture in Dorset.

We take our lunch in the village playground  by the water meadows where we watch a pair of herons flying.

Shelter from the elements in
 the 'Wendy House'

Play equipment doubles as a cycle rack!

Or enjoy the sunshine on the bench.

After a refreshing lunch and a stop to repair Kevins first puncture of the day we head off towards Tincleton where we pass Pallington Lakes home to 'Sculpture by the Lakes' which reminds kathy and I to plan a visit over the coming bank holiday. Just past the lakes I have my second puncture of the day and we have the usual repair by committee scenario and all the 'helpful' advice that goes with it. We carry out a temporary repair to a small cut in the tyre using that universal save all - duct tape. New tyre  required when I get home.

Our route from here takes us via Clouds Hill (home of Lawrence of Arabia) and Lane End and on towards the A35.

Kathy,

Derek, 

Graham and Bob C

After a steady ride along the A35 and some very well mannered drivers we turn off at the Bakers Arms and head for the cafe at the Courtyard Centre for ice creams an cold drinks.

From here its time to head home and a refreshing shower to get rid of the dust from the road, although dust is fine as all to soon it will be mud!!

CTC ride to Corfe Railway station

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CTC Ride to Corfe Railway Station

Thankfully not a climb for us

We meet once again at Merley Bridge and enjoy a bit of banter with Derek about 0900 start times and that we are not meeting at Wimborne. Now an in joke after the discussion the previous week at coffee. We head off in the general direction of Wareham making for Bob's for coffee and toasted tea cakes and crumpets. We arrive at Bob's having taken our normal route and continue with the time honoured traditions as we set Bob's smoke alarm off while toasting buns!

Top of the climb
 - Derek and Kathy

After refuelling we set off for Corfe Station but by a more scenic and less direct route which takes in an interesting little climb at East Creech which rewards with great views out towards Kimmeridge. After getting our breath and making the most of the photo opportunity on another gloriously sunny day we head downhill to Church Knowle and onto Corfe Castle.

Kevin's bike and the view

Corfe Railway Station our lunch stop is a step back in time as it is on the Swanage Railway which is a heritage steam and diesel train service that really captures the spirit of times gone by. It's a real treat to eat lunch on the platform and watch the steam trains come and go.

Station Master

Lunch

Period luggage

Platform and signal box

not Thomas!

After lunch, trains and much reminiscing we head off back to Wareham via the Arne nature reserve where we stop at one of the hides to observe the wildfowl. I still really do think that was a penguin and I know I definitely saw an Eagle!

walkway up to the hide

View from the hide - the eagle has just flown out of shot
 and the penguin has dived for a fish ..................

At Wareham we head home in the company of Derek as far as Creekmoor before saying our goodbyes having enjoyed another great ride in good company and with steam trains too ................

Keyhaven and presentation ride

Keyhaven and presentations ride

Todays ride starts from Hurn Stores and takes us to Bashley for coffee, onto Keyhaven for lunch and back to Ferndown for club presentations - very mysterious! The ride today is being led by Dave  as Derek has other commitments but does manage to join us at coffee in civvies. You get used to the coffee stops as there are comparatively few places we actually go to. However, todays stop was enlivened by a passionate debate about start times for rides and start venues. I think Derek will forever regret asking for peoples opinions!

Lunch at Keyhaven

After coffee a small group of us head off for Keyhaven for lunch going via Downton (not the one on the TV!) and Milford on Sea. Keyhaven our destination for lunch is now a popular tourist and sailing venue but  was once a thriving fishing port. Its name means 'harbour where cows are shipped' as cattle and sheep were transported from the Isle of Wight to the water meadows of the Avon around Christchurch. We enjoy lunch looking out towards Hurst Castle and the Isle of Wight while watching the ducks and swans swimming past the harbour wall.

Hurst Castle and IoW

Family outing

After a fairly brief lunch stop it is time to get back on our bikes and head for Ferndown where a presentation is being held for some of the clubs notables. The plan is for us to get there before the people who are due to get the presentations, this is a tall order as it involves not only our group  but also the Inters and the Rouleurs. We make good time so stop for an ice cream at Barton on Sea before continuing on and arriving in plenty of time.

The presentations are made and all recognise service to the club and Certificates of Merit are awarded by CTC in appreciation of the service given. Awards are made to Terry Walsh, Bob and Joan Courtney and Peter Loakes.

Bob & Joan

Terry

..... and Peter (centre)

Six go mad in Dorset