NCN23

National Cycle Route 23 is a cycle route heading south from Reading to Southampton, then across the Isle of Wight from Cowes to Sandown.

Route

Beginning south of Reading town centre, at NCN4 where the A33 crosses the Kennet and Avon canal, NCN23 runs next to Foundry Brook, taking Kybes Lane to Grazeley. From there it continues south on minor roads to Stratford Saye, then west to Silchester's Roman City and back south, through Chineham, to Old Basing.

After travelling through Basingstoke, the cycle route heads south to Medstead, where NCN224 heads to Alton and Farnham. At Alresford the route follows the Itchen through Winchester, though cuts the corner off and goes via Winnall Interchange. At Hockley it crosses the Itchen on the massive railway viaduct next to the M3, before heading down the original A33.

At Otterbourne, the cycle route turns off the former A33, taking Boyatt Lane and an off-road cycle path through Eastleigh. It cuts through Lakeside Country Park and briefly picks up the A355 outside Southampton Airport, before turning down Wide Lane. After crossing the A27 it runs on residential roads to Mans Bridge, where it heads south along the eastern bank of the Itchen as far as Bitterne Triangle. After crossing back over the river on the Cobden Bridge, it heads Priory Road, then along the railway corridor to end on NCN2 just north of Central Bridge.

Taking NCN2 westwards for half a mile takes you to Town Quay, where passenger ferries operate from, and, on arriving on the Isle of Wight at Cowes, NCN23 takes the former railway route to Sandown, with short on-road sections in Cowes, Newport and Sandown

Links

Sustrans