RG25

Overton, North Waltham, Dummer and the lanes south

Deep lane country south of Basingstoke and about as far out as this patch reaches. Ten villages, none of them large.

The roads between these villages are narrow, hedged to the tarmac and full of blind bends, which means the practical problem is rarely the tyre — it is finding somewhere safe to stand while we change it. Overton has the steepest approaches and a river crossing at the bottom. Around Dummer and North Waltham the lanes run under the motorway and pick up mud from the field entrances either side. Preston Candover, Upton Grey and Farleigh Wallop are single-track with grass down the middle and flint working through the surface. Horsebox and tractor traffic sets the pace.

Blind bend with no verge: get out of the car, well back up the road, and ring. We will bring lights and cones for it.