The best cycling routes around Valley Park

The marker is on a bench on the left side as you proceed up the Otterbourne Hill. The road is very busy, so I left my bike at the bench and walked across. Church is quite plain outside but peaceful and serene within and with a very interesting history. The list of Vicars and Rectors (starting in 1279!) is very impressive. Back on the bench afterwards, I ate a samosa (bought from a bougie store in the historic fringes of Winchester), not a great samosa tbh, but a nice break. An old-style road-sign nearby says '8 Miles' to Southampton which gave me hope I might be there in under an hour, in fact it took about 1 hour 40 mins, though the eventual route was also a lot more than 8 miles !

As a memorial to the many dead, such memorials – usually called “war memorials” in English – are still very important today. “Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace, as you have said...” says the so-called “Hymn of Simeon” (Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 2, Verse 29). However, the people commemorated here did not depart in peace, but became victims of war and tyranny. This is why the term “dead soldiers’ memorial” is now sometimes used in German instead of the previously most common “war memorial”. However, such a war memorial, which one encounters so often on the road, regardless of nationality, language and name, is always a testimony to the horror of war and tyranny – still significant and current today. They all have two essential functions, and this is renewed for each generation: -1- Commemorate and remember the victims -2- Remind people to keep the peace

Lovely village pub to have lunch

This pub has a big garden and we stopped there many times for a break during a long walk through the surrounding countryside. Food and drinks all great.

Romsey Abbey is the largest parish church in Hampshire, and well worth a visit to admire the Norman architecture. The nave was built in the 12th and 13th century and consists of large Norman piers. Originally, the abbey was a nunnery, setup in the 10th century. Highlights include 2 saxon roods, a 16th century reredos and a tomb of King Charle's great uncle (Lord Mountbatten of Burma). There is no charge for admissions and open daily for visitors.

Quite small and no room for bikes but bike racks about 20m away. Alternatively, rest your bikes and your butt on the Romsey rose statue directly opposite.

Excellent bread, cakes and sandwiches. Also caters for veggie, vegan, dairy free.

Twyford is an attractive village of around 1,200 inhabitants just South of Winchester and just within the western edge of the South Downs National Park. The unspoilt surrounding countryside offers extensive opportunities for walking on the Downs or along the beautiful banks of the River Itchen.