First bit of exercise to post!

Went biking yesterday - 21 miles around the Wiltshire/Hampshire border just south of Salisbury. Just went with my husband this time.

It was the first time we tried a route from Ian White's "Mountain Bike Guide to Wiltshire". Got misplaced once but nice man sorted us out (patronising us extensively first).

Husband thoroughly enjoyed drenching me when we cycled through a ford - he sped up especially to maximise splash.

Bikes got very muddy due to some very 4X4 churned up track at the end.

Nature Stuff: lots of primroses, violets and loads of wild garlic. Saw a wren and 2 deer shot across the track at one point.

Views: Great as the ride starts on Pepperbox Hill from where you can see the Solent to the south and downland to the north. There's also a good view of the northern New Forest heathland at around the halfway point.

Other stuff: World War 2 Observation posts - presumably taking advantage of the extensive views.

Summary: Book was largely easy to follow and the map was better than many I've seen for mountain bike routes. Some excellent sections and impressive views but there was quite alot of tarmac and the slog up the hill at the end was made tougher by there being no discernible path and having to walk! 7/10