NCN 23 - Reading to Southampton
NCN 23 - Reading to Southampton is a 151.5 km road cycling route in Cotswolds & Chilterns with 1134 m of climbing, about 23% of it off road, and it splits into about 3 days at a moderate pace.
The route runs south from Reading through the Hampshire chalk, climbing steadily through Bramley, Chineham and Ellisfield Green before the land tips you down toward the Itchen valley at Itchen Stoke and Chilland. The surface is mostly road, with roughly a quarter off road, concentrated in the middle section. From Winchester the route threads through Compton, Otterbourne and Swaythling into Southampton, then crosses to the Isle of Wight for the final stretch through Godshill and Whiteley Bank to Shanklin.
Worth knowing before you go
The section between Ellisfield Green and Itchen Stoke is the most remote part of the route, and resupply points are sparse through that stretch. Cowes marks the ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight, so check sailings before you reach Southampton. Medstead and Nodehill are the last places of any size before the island's final run to Shanklin.
NCN 23 - Reading to Southampton in numbers
- Distance: 151.5 km
- Climbing: 1134 m
- Off road: 34 km, about 23% of the route
- Riding time: about 15 hours, roughly 3 days at a moderate pace
Water, food, campsites and stations along this route are shown on the interactive map.
Plan it and ride it
The map on this page carries the surface breakdown, the elevation profile and every point of interest. You can split the route into days against your own pace, see what it will cost to ride, and take it with you. Download the GPX.
Read the NCN 23 - Reading to Southampton route guide.
Getting to the start without flying · Browse all routes
Route from Sustrans.
Compiled by Ed Hunton, Cicerone guidebook author, from TourTrax's own route data.