Any hacking around Curdridge (Bishops Waltham) Hampshire???

[Lyndale]

Hi,

Looks like we will be moving to the SO32 area, and with it we will be able to have our horses at home What I'm not sure of is what the local hacking options are as the Botley Road into Bishops Waltham is fast, and whilst we spent some time yesterday on a lovely ramble along footpaths in the area they weren't really suitable for hacking. Clearly there are a fair few equestrian facilities in the area, so I'm guessing there are some options that wouldn't involve the need to trailer to 100 Acres every time?? Been studying the OS Explorer maps, but as we all know they don't always tell the full story, so I'm looking for some local knowledge here!

Any hints, tips or indeed people to speak to locally would be a big help.

 

[galaxy]

There are very few bridleways in that area I'm afraid. The equestrian centres ride round their own land, hack round the lanes or box out.

There are many places to go if you trailer out. Rohay, mar well, cheese foot head, Winchester hill etc etc

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

There are a couple of bridlepaths, another you have to pay for, plus lots of quiet lanes around the Durley area. In my experience it is generally possible to avoid the fast roads, so if you don't mind hacking on the roads it's pretty good. I've done miles and miles round that area in my time. You need to pick a yard where you can access the quiet roads easily though. There's a yard on the road between Botley and Park Gate, can't remember the name at the moment, which has lovely facilities but you would dare to leave the yard on horseback.

 

[Dollysox]

Waltham Chase is a better area for hacking. Roads are fairly quiet and you can get to a fair amount of off road hacking from there. Durley is okay too.