and turn
at a
. Continue along the road (the path runs parallel to the left-hand side of the road, but is best avoided if there are walkers) for 1km, then turn
off the road and go through a gate at Wind Farm; turn
following signs for the SDW. Continue
along a track to Lomer Farm then dogleg
then
then
again to pass through the farmyard and exit along the SDW. Continue along a track before passing through a gate onto a country road. Turn
(
along a road and continue to a parking area by an area of woodland.
The SDW divides into three variants here – both bridleway routes are open to mountain bikers. The quicker, easier main route is described first: the longer, harder variant follows below.
5 At the parking area, turn first through a gate onto SDW/Monarch’s Way bridleway variant. Descend through woods, pass through a gate and continue to descend along Wheely Down, passing through a couple more gates before turning through a gate and then to descend on a track to Wheely Down Farm. Turn onto a road and continue to a with the A32 at the SW edge of Warnford. Turn into the village then take the first RH turn off the A32 onto Old Winchester Hill Lane. Climb steadily along the lane for 2.75km before arriving at a gate just beyond a LH turn.
Variant via Exton and Old Winchester Hill
1 At the parking area, bear along the road signposted for Exton. Turn sharp at the first junction and keep () at the second. Descend steadily at first, becoming much steeper, along a narrow road known as The White Way. Shortly after the gradient eases, the road bends sharp right; continue to a with Allen’s Farm Lane, turn then again after 200m and continue to a . Turn onto Beacon Hill Lane and follow this road through the village to the A32 (at time of writing there were signposts for the temporary SDW route through Exton). Cross over the A32 and continue along Stock’s Lane for 500m, keep at a fork then turn onto a bridleway (SDW) along a wooded dismantled railway line. Continue for 1km before turning to drop off the dismantled railway line and stay on the SDW bridleway route. Emerge from woods and turn along the field edge, then before beginning to climb fairly steeply up the western flank of Old Winchester Hill. The path levels before climbing more steeply. Turn sharp and descend a short way along a track then turn sharp . Continue for 700m before turning sharp and climbing very steeply for 200m.
2 At the top of the climb, the path bears right and leads round to a gate near the summit of Old Winchester Hill. Go through and turn along a bridleway track. Follow the track around to a gate by Old Winchester Hill Lane but don’t go through. Instead, turn along the bridleway, which runs parallel to the road for 500m before it crosses over just before a car park and runs along the other side of the road. Arrive at a gate near a fork in the road.
6 Go through the gate, descend a track across a very steep escarpment – control your speed – and pass through a gate at the bottom. Continue on a track to Whitewool Farm, turning past a large barn and continuing through the farm and past Meon Springs fishing ponds, before turning along a farm road at a . After 500m, turn along a concrete track and soon begin climbing quite steeply to a ridge. At a turn on a tree-lined track along the ridge. Cross over a road at Coombe Cross to continue on a bridleway and soon begin climbing very steeply along a path up Salt Hill, which is very slippery when wet. At the top, the path continues along a field edge and passes a radio mast before emerging onto Droxford Road. Turn and continue along the road. At a bear then keep over two more s to continue along track. Continue and climb almost imperceptibly
