This route has been designed to provide a genuine challenge and at the same time to take you through some classic English countryside. As the route winds its way over downland, you can expect some testing climbs, no less than 20 in all, adding up to 7847 ft (2390m) of climbing/descending. The first few miles are fairly flat to get the legs nicely loose and warmed up.The stiffest climb is probably the ascent of Watership Down at the northern turn of the course. It looks forbidding from a distance, but it won't have you walking.
Currently, no significant changes are planned to the route for HHH2010, though we will be detouring around The Pothole in Sparsholt Village. As always, roadworks, road conditions, and other unforeseen events may require the organizers to alter the route. All changes will be notified here. NEW HHH RIDERS: rest assured, the route is clearly signed and you will be issued with back-up route sheets!
The SuperMax(2009) route-sheet is available HERE The Midi(2009) route-sheet is available HERE
Remember, you don't have to commit to one or the other route until approx. the 50-mile point.
SuperMax(2009) maps are available on Bikeroutetoaster.com HERE or Bikely.com HERE (many thanks to Kevin Cassingham for these)
A Midi2009 map is available on GMaps HERE
Please note, some significant modifications to the route were made after HHH2008 (which started at New Alresford) as a consequence of moving the Start/Finish back to Sparsholt College. If you have NOT ridden the event since HHH2008, may we draw your attention to the following:
1. At the Ship Inn at the top of the Owslebury hill (now coming at 12.2 miles) the route turns LEFT and goes through Owslebury village. After a mile, the route then takes a RIGHT onto the road to Corhampton. (This replaces the old leg to the Bishop's Waltham roundabout and Beecher's Hill).
2. After 5 undulating miles this road intersects with the B3035 (where the final roadside feed was in 2008). Instead of taking a left onto the B3035 and following it down to the mini-roundabout at Corhampton, the route now crosses over, and turns left at the next isolated crossroads into Sheep Pond Lane. (This cuts out the short leg on the A32 after the Corhampton small roundabout).
3. At the north end of the route, after the descent of White Hill, the route no longer goes to Ecchinswell, but goes more directly to the foot of Watership Down.
