Cycling UK Forum

Any suggestions for a route from West London (Heathrow/Hounslow) to Portsmouth?

Is there a hard shoulder on the A3?

Other people will post but just to say keep off the A3 but look for the old A3 - lots of it good. Take the other road to Godalming and Haslemere, back on the old A3 to Liphook (not the bypass!).

Hi Horizon,

Try this route - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1174993
Mainly quiet roads and pleasant scenery. Suggested Cafe Stops are Manor Farm Craft Centre in Seale (29 miles), and Ye Olde George Inn at East Meon (57ish Miles).

The final section into Portsmouth on the A3 may be avoided by using the Pilgrims Trail cycle route if you prefer.

Desbnet wrote:Hi Horizon,

Actually it was for the OP . But yes, a good alternative. I was trying to stick with the A3 becasue it was the classic route to Portsmouth (obviously), although maybe not from West London. But I was also trying to say that parts are still OK where thye have been by passed by the new A3. I've cycled the whole A3 carefully with a view to getting to know it well but it was some while ago and in any case we would have to consider it bit by bit. So thanks desbenet.

Thanks desbnet, I shall load that route into my GPS and follow it. I'll let you know how I get on!

James

Try this:

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Ports ... e-926.html

Done it (London - Portsmouth) a couple of times on the way to catch a ferry to St Malo to continue tour. Very cool - arguably better than subsequent days in Brittany and Normandy. Takes several hours - can be a bit of a slog over the hills. There's a climb out of a place called South Harting that nearly killed me.

For trips like this I use www.cyclestreets.net

It can give some weird routes sometimes, but it's always got me there! I dump that into bike route toaster and from there to my Garmin 800, not perfect, but at least I don't get lost anymore

I can ask my Garmin 705 to get me anywhere also....but when set on 'bicycle' routing, it sometimes sends me all over the place....it's a compromise between staying off busy roads, but without increasing the mileage too much.

I asked on here to see if anyone had a tried and tested route!

Followed desbnets' route yesterday. A nice ride once I'd got out of London and over the M25.....after that it just got better and better.
70 miles from Hounslow to Waterlooville (just north of Portsmouth). Not the shortest route, but the last 30-40 miles were very nice cycling.
Highest elevation topped-out about 650ft..........roughly a total of 3000ft of climbing for the day.

[quoteDone it (London - Portsmouth) a couple of times on the way to catch a ferry to St Malo to continue tour. Very cool - arguably better than subsequent days in Brittany and Normandy. Takes several hours - can be a bit of a slog over the hills. There's a climb out of a place called South Harting that nearly killed me.][/quote]
No need to leave the B2070 at Liphook but keep on it to Petersfield. This is the 'old' A3 and is now a nice cruise for cyclists. Head for Buriton after Petersfield and turn right up a short steep climb to the top of the South Downs and then its "downhill all the way" to Pompey past Rowlands Castle (where you can stop for a tea break and meet other cyclists). This alternative avoids the the climb out of South Harting.