[Closed] Micheldever Wood / Black Wood near Winchester - worth exploring?

Did Black Wood again yesterday (3rd June), a fantastic summer's evening, and the trail was nice'n'dry. I'd just been for my first visit to proper mtb centres last weekend, and unfortunately Black Wood was rather dull in comparison!

Just a wee update: I eventually rode around Black Wood today and what a surprise it was. Hadn't expected to see so many beech trees!

I followed some singletrack and found some bombholes, one of which was rather large. I was riding around there for ages, couldn't believe how much singletrack there was. GPS was switched on, so uploaded route later and discovered I had only ridden half of the wood!

Didn't see another soul but was quite shocked at the amount of rubbish that had been dumped.

Another visit needed me thinks. 🙂

I've never seen any rubbish up there!
Plenty of big bombholes, though.

Hmm. I've got to get down there and have another look I reckon. Last time I went it was boggy, I got lost (and rained on) cycling home and ran out of food.

it certainly won't be boggy now.
let me know if you need a tour guide!

Thanks for the offer! I have no idea when I will get time to go at the moment though 😥

So is there more than one large bombhole then? Found a small one too. Had a half-hearted attempt at the big one but felt, being on my own, I needed to be sensible! Actually it was jolly difficult clambering back up!

The rubbish was actually on the bridleway, obviously used the opening from the 303 to access.

Could anyone make an evening ride up there? There is space to park for around 6 cars.

Trail center plans on hold, as FC are a royal pain in the $@$£ and especially Nick Hazlitt, the area manager. Ian Warby and I are trying to think of ways to gain funding, as the FC will then listen, but we are now being treated like a flea on a flabby elephants behind!

Any ideas anyone.

Anyone up for a bit of Guerilla trail building?

I guess you need to play the PC game and sell it on that basis. Cynical? Moi?

On a serious note, I am still not convinced that the soil there is suitable for mtb'ing.

Edit: am assuming this is still Farley Mount.

AndyRT - I might be interested in trying to help out. I have had some dealings with Nick Hazlett before (and other FC guys) when trying to get something going in Lordswood. We go approval for some 'erosion control' and 'weed clearance' but because the woods are leased not owned we couldn't take it further.

What sort of funding levels do you need?

We managed to get the FC to provide some drain piping and wood when required. We just provided the labour. We had to give written explanation of what we planned. Get it approved. Do the work. Get it approved. Repeat for each section of work. Bit of a drag but it was doable.

Email me if you want to discuss.

What's up with the soil? Is it sustainability you are worried about?

Anyone up for a bit of Guerilla trail building?

As long as it doesn't annoy the FC so they throw their toys out the pram...?

Chalk base.

Size depends on your perspective! There are two bombholes that you will really struggle to get out of on some aspects (don't forget this route was for motorcyles) and there are numerous other bombholes that need commitment to escape.

Would be up for certain evenings. Allow 2 hours to complete it. Gets gloomy under the trees by late evening, even at this time of year, so lights are useful.

Plenty more parking at the railway station (costs two pounds) - there might even be a pub by there, I seem to recall.

Large bombhole gave you two attempts, first one had a couple of stumps as it descended followed by a rooty finish. That led to second attempt which looked easier. Really needed quite a fast run-up but soil was not particularly grippy, ie more loamy.

Early evening would be best as I don't have lights!

I am in the UK next week and wouldn't mind joining you guys if that is okay. I can pick up and drop off 1 person and bike from Winchester is swap for directions if that helps.

Any evening

Would it be okay for me to come along too. I'm trying to incorporate Black Wood, Micheldever and Farleigh Mount into one big ride so being able to map it with some local knowledge would be ideal. 🙂

I think I know the one you mean - you immediately double back and hit it again. Yep, the first escape is the worst (I have heard someone has done it, so it is possible! But not me.) Second escape I did after several attempts, and plucking up courage to take a little speed into it.

Yeah the soil can be loamy - but soft if you wipe out 🙂

How about a 6pm start? You should be OK, especially on a sunny day. Otherwise just take it a bit slower towards the end.

6pm

Which day/date - I am free all week I think

Who wants a lift, I am heading up from Southampton?

If next week... Wednesday?

6pm Wednesday 14th.

Gears, SS or fixie?

I only do gears, don't think I should advise!
Gradients tend to be long & gentle.

Possibly, have got a delivery due that day but will know 48 hours beforehand whether it's am or pm.

Obviously if that's OK for everyone, go for it!

Thanks Brian for being our guide. 🙂

Otherwise, Monday is OK for me. Tues & Thurs not. Friday unknown.

BIgBikeBash....all help is welcome.

Sparsholt College want to help too.

I am at a loss to understand the FC's lack of interest, as the site would be perfect. Ian is really excited by it, just need to find a funding body with loads of cash, so we can do it properly.

In regards to soil type, I think intelligent trail design will solve most issues, and using hardcore just below the surface would render the chalk a stable substrate I think. I have dreams of creating a dual slalom course, which would add a bit of spice in an XC ride, and a stealthy approach to the footprint of the trails, so once bedded in, other users of the woods wouldnt be aware they are there.

I can dream...

AndyRT, are you talking Farley Mount or Black Wood?

Andy - How much is 'loads' of cash? Clearly unlimited funds are preferable but as a starting figure are you thinking £500, £5,000 or £50,000?

Cinnamon_girl, I don't mind starting later if that helps with your delivery. How late are you happy to cycle under the trees without lights?

I'm moving to Winchester in the next few months and would like to start investigating the riding around there, so do you mind if I join in on Wednesday too?

Would also be interested in helping out with the trails and FC...

Thanks,

Pete

BBB: as much as we can get!

BoW: West Woods at Farley Mount

Brian - thanks but should know on Monday whether it's morning or afternoon. Please don't delay start time on my account.

AndyRT - Drop me a mail with a rough idea of what you are planning. Minimum, Okay and Dream options with best guess estimates of what is actually needed - Timber, Hardcore, Power, Water etc. I can sometimes act as a facilitator with these things.

Pete: all welcome!

6pm Wednesday 14th - Tick
SS or geared - Tick

Location to meet?
Does anyone need a lift from between Southampton and there (room for 2 more inc bikes)?

I suggest parking by the industrial units on the south west edge of Black Wood. Grid ref SU 53200 42260. (Follow the road north from West Stratton until it dead-ends.) Plenty of parking space on the access road here.

Starting the ride here gets the uphill stuff out of the way early on, while legs are fresh.

c_g ???

No, it's OK! Had posted a link to parking area but then saw you had posted directions, so just removed it.

Edit: apparently planning permission is being sought for building holiday chalets in Black Wood. 😯

Ooh ooh! me me! Halfway between work and home? Sounds ideal!

Work finishes at 6pm but I could try and chip off early and stand on the throttle to be there for about 6.10.

I've been beaten to a night out by my wife, so I'm on baby sitting duties... 🙁 Hopefully you guys do this again and I can make it...

Enjoy the ride!

Inspired by today's postings I went to Black wood for the first time this evening, and had a great time! Very impressed with the trails indeed, we ended up being there for a rather long time, and did get a little lost, but will certainly be going back! Depending on work I may even see you next Wednesday for the group ride- I always plan to go on them but I never get around to it! Rigid SS here, the ground at the start was quite hard going but past that it was perfect for 32:16 🙂

It may be worth noting that we were advised that the gate for the industrial estate will be locked when the lady whose name I've forgotten leaves in the evening, however we didn't leave until about 7.30 and the gate was still open. The chap that worked there was more than happy for us to park on the industrial estate, so shouldn't be a problem during office hours 🙂

I made a GPS track of the route too, and am happy to share it if somebody can advise the best place to host them now that bikehike no longer allows routes to be saved?

I was thinking of parking on the access road, which is not gated, rather than actually on the industrial estate. Plenty of room.

Re. the holiday cottages - I thought that was a few years ago and came to nothing. I hope there is not a new plan. The woods are such a quiet place at the moment, I'd hate to see that lost to over-development. Who wants to go on holiday to Micheldever, anyway?!

bikewhisperer - see you there!

Podman - I put the gps logs on bing.com maps, much as I hate the microsoft empire, bing maps allow everyone to view the routes on OS 25k and 50k maps. Unfortunately it does not appear possible to post the direct links here. (see page 2 of thread)

I just got a marketing email from memory map advertising their new trail viewer service: trailzilla.com. On quick check, it seems you need to have to register and log in to be able to view trails over OS 25k & 50k, which ain't so good for everybody.

Just in case I'm unable to make Wednesday, am hoping to pop over there on Saturday morning purely for the singletrack.

Is anti-clockwise still the preferred way? If I don't make Wednesday, you may well find me unconscious in a bombhole from Saturday!

podman - sounds as though you enjoyed it! You can always save your gps route as a gpx and send to folk with mapping software. 8)

I'd go for anti-clockwise first time you do the full thing. I've never tried the other direction (except a little section that was not on the 2009 route) but I have been told it's not so good clockwise.

I could head over Saturday AM too, if you like, then you can go reckless in the bombholes! Plus that'd save me thinking somewhere else to ride. Maybe anyone else who can't make the Wednesday?

Thanks Brian. I will aim to get there Saturday morning, obviously hoping I don't oversleep! Should be around 10.00 am, if you can make it that would be great.

Should I park beside the industrial estate or in the pull-in?

Job Interview Saturday morning so can't make it 🙁

Still on for Wednesday though 🙂

My preference is to start by the industrial units, just to avoid finishing with the most uphill bits, but take your pick! (pull-in is off the A33?) 10am... likewise... should be do-able :O

Hmm, looks like the holiday chalet application has been resubmitted last month. ONLY 98 chalets this time, plus cafe, shop and associated amenities - including cycle hire! - there's mention of 'cycle routes' but are these just access routes on the roads, or family-friendly gravel tracks butchering what will remain of the singletrack?

There'll even be a 'forest experience centre'. Isn't the best forest experience to be out in the forest and not stuck in some pile of concrete where the forest once stood?

Black Wood ain't big, less than 3 square kms by my estimate, and this proposal destroys it, as this shows:

25% gets developed, the remainder flooded by tourists.

FYI, case numbers 09/01196/SCOPE & 09/01197/SCREEN
Anyone know what the scoping & screening stage is? Time to raise objections?

More details at
http://planningapplications.winchester.gov.uk/PlanningWeb/Results.aspx?ID=09/01196/SCOPE then see associated documents.

Ride Black Wood while you can! I'm gonna cry.

Don't cry Brian! As far as I can see the dates on those documents were from last year and the status of the proposal has not changed since 21st July 2009 when the Scoping Opinion document was sent from Winch council to Humberts Leisure.

I've no idea of the normal timelines invloved, but I would have thought that the Environmental Assessment and the Planning Application would have been submitted out before now if they were to continue with their application? The original application was refused on 18th May 2009 and the case linked to appears (to me!) to be for a proposed application less than a month after this date.

Forest Holiday's other locations also seem to be much more... foresty than Black Wood, hopefully they've found somewhere else, bigger and better able to sustain such development. I also really hope it's not going to go ahead from a totally selfish standpoint, it's about 25 minutes by car away from my house and from one ride I thought it was brilliant!

Bizarre! I found this news item, dated 10 June 2010:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8210855.Holiday_village_plan_is__threat_to_wildlife___/

When I searched the council planning site, I found those recent applications and saw the June date, and kind of missed the 2009.

Still, that news article says 98 chalets, and that last year's app was for 130. I wonder if they have now submitted a full planning application?

Will have to have another search of the planning apps...

Found it: 10/01077/FUL. The application has been resubmitted.

http://planningapplications.winchester.gov.uk/PlanningWeb/Results.aspx?ID=10/01077/FUL

Unfortunately the consultation period closed on 3rd June. Might still be worth a letter of objection, though.

98 chalets - lot of money involved in building etc. How can it be worth doing on such a small site?

Presumably there is no link to the development that was refused at Micheldever years ago?

c_g: saturday from the industrial units?

Just a little reminder for those who are unable to make Wednesday evening's ride - tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 10.00 am, SW edge of Black Wood. Grid ref SU53200 42260. Follow road N from West Stratton to industrial units, there is space here.

I could be up for joining you guys next week - pretty sure I'm free. Quite fancy trying some where new.

BBB - is there still space in your car for a lift share?

Yes Brian. I will be there, not sure whether my legs will be working but will give it a go!

Edit: will be riding a black Soul, unless it's got a flat.

blue/silver giant trance for me.
see you there!

Who's up for Wednesday, then?
So far, looks like bikewhisperer and BigBikeBash are definites.
Maybes are cinnamon_girl, podman, DT78 and Mulletus Maximus (please confirm if you are coming!)

The ground should soak up any rain that comes between now and then. Although there may be some sharp showers, they will be filtered out under the trees - so you get slowly dripped on.

Bring lights if you have them. Start ASAP. Could take a bit more than the 2 hours I originally thought, and with grey skies it'll be gloomy by the end.

Re. the holiday chalets... the council planning site is showing representation letters coming in well after the closure of the consultation period - so if you want to object, it looks like you still have a chance. Posted mine on Saturday.

Going to have to miss this one now. Out on a club ride tonight so won't be able to get a pass for two days in a row plus missus is now working late tomorrow so I won't have a car.
Enjoy the ride. Hopefully I can make it another time.

I'm still not sure if I'll be there; both myself and my mate who'd be coming with me have tomorrow off work (it's my graduation day!), but he's not likely to want to get too muddy & wet... If the afternoon brightens up and the evening is looking to be wet then I may head up earlier instead, I'll be sure to hang around to introduce myself for future rides though!

What's the expected pace tomorrow? I'm slow. And I crash a lot, usually quite amusingly.

I'll be arriving in a silver Focus ST and riding a black Cotic Simple, say "Hi" if I'm there!

Oh, and this is the route I took last week (clockwise), looks like I missed rather a lot!

[img] [/img]

I am definite and can give DT78 a lift if he says where he wants picking up.

Ok great - BBB, pretty sure I can remember where your house is so could meet you at yours - what time? Fingers crossed I can finish work early/on time for once.

email is in my profile if you want to swap mobiles.

DT78 - YGM

I don't think it will be muddy in there, just a bit damp and heavy.
I've no idea what everyone's pace will be - I guess we go with the slowest.

Beeb is showing small area of rain passing over probably around 5:00 to 5:30pm, then dry.

podman, looks like you found one of the big bombholes 🙂

I'm coming along with BBB. Hope we can find it. Do you have a postcode for the satnav?

try this: SO21 3BG

...if your satnav is like mine, it'll only be interested in so21 3, leaving you somewhere in the vacinity. You want Larkwhistle Farm Road. Preferably the instersection with the road from West Stratton.

As you come along L.F.Road (between A33 & Micheldever Station) there is a minor crossroads wit the road from West Stratton, you want to turn in, to the north here; there is a "UAP" sign on the corner. Then you are by the industrial units. Park on the access road.

Thanks. I have now found it on Google maps. i just head for Micheldever Tyres and stop before I get there. See you at 6pm

I'm sorry but now not going to be able to make this. 🙁

Stuck in flat pack furniture hell, my two assistants have bu$$ered off to the pub leaving me to sort it out!

Do have a good ride everyone and enjoy those bomb holes. 😀

Leave the flat pack hell, it will be when you get back from the ride and you will be in a better frame of mind

Thanks chaps for the ride. Tyre held out till I got home.

Bloody fragile franks.

What tyres for sharp flinty single track....

Glad you made it! The bit of toothpaste tube is yours to keep 😀

Cheers everyone, esp Brian for the guiding!

Was riding by feel in the end. Will be making some loops around there again I think.

Oh dear! Don't remember much flint there. Never thought there would be so much single track in that wood, did you manage the complete loop?

Nope 3 of us bailed half way. 2 had to get back including my lift, and I was riding on a tyre which had a bit of inner tube bulging out so was on bought time till it went again!

I would be up for going again. Shame didn't get to the really big bomb holes!

Two of us completed it at 9:20pm, so about 3 hours round. It was a bit heavy going and quite greasy in places. I managed to fall off near the end - seem to remember bouncing off a tree 🙂 The big bombholes were fun.

C_g, the other 3 bailed same point as Saturday. Looks like we need a "Part 2" trip...

Definately need a part 2 trip. Plus better tyres. My front was flat by the time I got back to the truck.

Next time I will have got (a little) fitter so won't be quite so slow hopefully. Last night was embarrassing but thanks for waiting and still making it fun.

is anyone going back to do this again? i had a pop at it without a gps or idea of a route and go lost etc but was fun but tough going. i couldnt figure out a clear circular route but did find some quality bits of trail here and there. can anyone send me a link to a .gpx or something too?