Mention the South Downs National Park and most people think of the chalk cliffs and hills of East Sussex. But Britain’s youngest National Park has far more to offer than that, stretching as it does in a broad band across Southern England. We explore the ‘hidden’ South Downs in the rural heart of Hampshire.

The rides

From our venue on the southern slopes of the Hampshire downland, we’ll be seeking out some of our favourite cycling roads, almost in the back yard of Bicycle Beano HQ. Andy knows these lanes so well he could ride them blindfold (but he promises not to try). 

The rides take in some lesser-known areas in the western half of the national park, from the chalk river valleys to the curving hills and hollows of the Downs themselves and from the plains of the Hampshire Basin to the Hangers, an area where narrow roads wind through forest-covered hillsides. Whichever direction we go, we find picturesque villages, historic sites, dramatic views and quiet lanes.