I toyed with calling this ride report 'Egypt, And Other Villages', or 'Sprat And Winkle', before reverting to the prosaic.
Today I went on a ride to Goodworth Clatford in Hampshire. Goodworth Clatford is on the River Anton, a couple of miles South of Andover. It is on the old Sprat And Winkle Line, the Andover to Redbridge railway line, axed in the Beeching Cuts in 1967 (gone, but not forgotten).
There was no particular reason for choosing Goodworth Clatford as a destination; I wanted to explore the area between Petersfield and Andover, following quiet lanes along the banks of little rivers (the Anton and the Dever), and crossing them on narrow bridges. Goodworth Clatford just happened to be a convenient place for a lunchtime stop.
This is the route that I took:
![]()
I went along the A272 as far as West Meon Hut (Loomies Café), and then went on little country lanes through Gundleton and Bighton to join the B3046 just North of Old Alresford. Then along the B3046 to Northington, and along little lanes again through East Stratton and Micheldever. Today was East Stratton's village fete, and there were marquees and bunting and such being set up as I rode through. It looked just like a scene from Midsomer Murders!
After Micheldever I followed the course of the River Dever through Stoke Charity, Wonston, Egypt,
Egypt! Whaaat? No, not the
country; Egypt is a little hamlet, not much more than a row of cottages, on the outskirts of the village of Sutton Scotney. Old maps (eg: the OS 1st series of 1817) show an 'Egypt Mill' on the River Dever at this point. Maybe the hamlet is named after that mill?
From Egypt, I rode North. That's a sentence I never thought I'd write! North to Norton, then West through Bullington to Barton Stacey, then through Bransbury and, leaving the River Dever, up to the A303. I only stayed on the A303 for 2½ miles, then went down Cowdown Lane to Goodworth Clatford.
I had wanted to take some photos of the old wooden water tower in Goodworth Clatford, but it was surrounded by scaffolding. Evidently it
is as ramshackle as it looks! Here are a couple of old pics instead:
![]()
![]()
I had lunch at the
Royak Oak in Goodworth Clatford. A pint of Clatford Best; the pump sign referencing the Sprat And Winkle Line:
![]()
and a sausage and onion baguette. Both the beer and the baguette were pretty good.
The Royal Oak:
![]()
![]()
![]()
Goodworth Claford:
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Here are some old pics for good measure, the River Anton in Goodworth Clatford, the first showing the ford that gives the village part of its name:
![]()
![]()
This is my return route:
![]()
Up Barrow Hill to the Fullerton Road, and along that road to Fullerton, with a little diversion to ride through Longstock Park. I stopped in Fullerton by the bridge over the River Anton.
I parked the bike up by this little cottage:
![]()
This is the bridge over the river:
![]()
![]()
The old mill downstream of the bridge:
![]()
![]()
![]()
From Fullerton I went through Wherwell and along the first 3½ miles of the A272, then along Down Farm Lane to the River Itchen, which I followed through the Worthies (Headbourne Worthy, Kings Worthy, Abbots Worthy, Martyr Worthy), Itchen Abbas, and Ovington, then past Alresford to Ropley. From Ropley, along little lanes through West Tisted and Privett to rejoin the A272 to home.
The bike played up a bit on the way back: the idle hanging way high. It was a bit intermittent, sometimes worse than others. After filling up at Petersfield, it was pretty much back to normal, getting better as I rode on towards home. I think it was stale gas from the bike sitting for months (health issue: could hardly walk, never mind ride).
Total distance 123 miles.
A good ride, outbound especially. The return ride wasn't as much fun as it could have been, due to the issue with the bike. I'll just have to go on another ride soon to make sure that the bike really is OK now! :D
