Oxford Branch Pull out the BIG Guns at Fort Nelson

Seven intrepid bikers meet at the Macdonald’s car part on the A34 Milton Interchange to join the throngs of Maci’dee customers in their Sunday ritual of a quick breakfast – yuk!.


After a quick briefing and a look at the road atlas, we set off towards Wantage to scale Chain Hill (B4494) to Newbury. This is a superb road, ducking and diving, with plenty of twists and turns.


Unfortunately, we had to go through Newbury to get onto the Basingstoke road (A339), but the traffic was light and we managed to get to the other side unscathed. Turn right at Kingsclere to get to our halfway coffee break at Whitchurch.


Coffee and cake were the order of the day at the Silk Mill at Whitchurch, and very pleasant it was too, alongside the chalk streams that run through the grounds.


Onwards towards Fort William we had to transverse the A34 and M3 for a short stretch, then off at junction 11 towards Bishops Waltham (B2177). Going through some quaint villages, we turn right up the hill towards Boarhunt to find the Portsdown Road. As we near the apex I could spy the monument at the Fort, then we starting to descend.

Mmm, this isn’t right! A quick stop to check the map, only to find a missing a left turn! Back we go, getting to our destination without any further problems. Not bad methinks, as no sat nav was used in this excursion!!


Once parked up and off to the entrance to the Royal Armouries museum at Fort Nelson, we found out that they were celebrating the D-Day landings. This was a bonus, and definitely unplanned on my part.

There were re-enactments, displays, shows etc, but the icing on the cake were the firing of some WW2 guns.

A bit louder than a straight-through motorcycle exhaust!
The way back was a straight forward blast back up the A34.
A good day was had, the sun shone all day, with great company. Perfect!

Erica Gassor