Berkshire to Devon - need an interesting route

[surfsofa]

Next weekend I'll be doing a 200 mile run down to Devon from Berkshire. That'll be almost 3 times the distance I've ridden in one go before, so am expecting a numb bum, and aching bits and pieces.

In a car I'd take the 303, but that's probably still a little straight/boring for a bike. So I'm wondering what better routes there might be in that direction (say starting from Reading). Couldn't see anything obvious on the map.

Any suggestions for route and/or first long(ish) ride?

[RizzoTheRat]

If you go from Tadley to Kingsclere the road over Watership Down to Whitchurch is nice.

From there you can either head for the A30 which is an ok road, and apart from getting through Salisbury reasonably quick, or you can head cross country. Amesbury, Shrewton, Heytesbury, Sutton Veny then though the Deverils to Mere is the usual route I take in the cage to avoid the single carriageway stretch of the 303 and it's a cracking combination of twisties and a few big straights across the plain. If you hop on the 303 at Mere for 15 miles to Sparkford you can go Yeovil, Crewkern, Chard and join the 303 again at Honiton. Alternatively I've also done Crewkern, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Bridport before and it's a nice ride but not that quick.

[trumpet600]

RizzoTheRat said:

If you go from Tadley to Kingsclere the road over Watership Down to Whitchurch is nice.

Watch out for the rabbits

[RizzoTheRat]

Also watch out for the left hander about half way along with lots of bits of bike farings scattered in the ditch and woods on the outside!