Breeze to Hale and back through Downton and Britford

The ride is mainly on minor roads but we do ride a short distance on gravel and on a muddy byway. I have ridden the route on a "road bike" many a time so if you are happy to, you are welcome to come on your good old faithful drop-handle-bar-nice-and-light bike as there are a few uphill slopes! Likewise you are welcome on a full mountain bike, but the going might be tough!
WEATHER PERMITTING it will be Starting at the bike racks by Starbucks on the Southampton Road, ride out through Pertersfinger and Alderbury to the rolling roads which go to Downton. There we turn left then a right to take us down Slab Lane and into the New Forest. At Hale we breeze downhill back to Downton where we cross the A338 and go for coffee and cake at Wick Farm Shop. We then cycle on back roads and cycle paths to Bodenham where we cycle for half a mile alongside the A338, turning into Britford and finishing the ride along the cycle paths back into Salisbury. Alternatively we can cycle along to Odstock and up the hill to the Hospital then back into town via Churchill Gardens.
WEATHER NOT PERMITTING: we'll either go to Downton only or go on a less demanding ride but we'll get out there to blow the cobwebs off!