Spearywell Wood to Mottisfont

29 September 2008

Distance: 3 1/2 miles
Parking: National Trust Car Park - Spearywell Wood
Map: Explorer 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley
Map ref for car park: SU316278

This is another lovely walk in the Test Valley through woodland, past pretty cottages and lovely river views. There is a railway to pass under and to cross - with care! The walk takes in the village of Mottisfont where there is an Abbey and Gardens. The Mottisfont Estate is run by the National Trust.

• To start the walk, pass beside the barrier at the back of the car park into the woods on a good track. The path passes through old woodland and then down through conifer trees. Bracken rises up the slope to the left, while the ground to the right is carpeted in green. There is a strange feel to this part of the woodland, the feeling that people once dwelt here.

• The path comes to a grassy T-junction. Turn left here by a way marker stone and head uphill. Where another path crosses at the top, bear right and follow the way round to a staggered junction. Here is a short-cut sign to Mottisfont Abbey. Go left, then right on to a track down through woodland, past a T junction which goes over a plank bridge into a fields and continue to a junction and turn left. Where the paths cross ahead there is a gap in the hedge, left, into a field; ahead the way continues into another field with a missing gate; to the right is a wide way, which at the time of walking this route, was cleared back hedges and a grass path running down the left side of a wide dirt track rutted with tractor treads. Go right along the grass path to the trees. There is a stile which you can climb over if you feel like it, but the path also skirts around it.

• The footpath follows a fence, right, for some distance. There is a view to the right over a large field and trees to a hill in the distance. In the foreground, the spire of a church can be seen rising just above the tree tops. Keep following the path round, bearing right past a muddy stream, until the way passes under the railway and comes to a bridge over the river Dun. There are pretty views both ways along the river from the bridge; however, the route turns left through a metal kissing gate just before the bridge.

• Follow the path through a meadow and rough, marshy pasture. There are two plank bridges which manage to miss the mud at either end in both cases, however it only means a short jump to the planks. Keep along the path to a double stile by oak trees. Turn right along the field edge to another stile and continue through a copse. The path passes a spring to the right and a little further on is a beautiful little cottage on the left, tucked in the trees and totally isolated. Past the cottage, the path continues through a gate and along the left-hand edge of a field, past an electricity junction and through a gate beyond which is the railway. To the right, Dunbridge Station is visible. Take note of the warning signs beside the gate. Stop, listen and look for trains coming before crossing the planks to the opposite white gate. Follow the path beyond this gate between hedges and past a defunct stile to the B3084 - a road sign opposite reads "Hat Hill Mottisfont".

• Cross the road to the gate and follow the path up through cow pasture to another gate at the top of the field. The path continues through arable land. Towards the further end of this field is a low fence bearing a sign that the path has been diverted to avoid an old oak tree invaluable for conservation. The tree is large, quite beautiful and almost symmetrical from this angle. Continue along the path, through the fence and turn right along the lane beyond. This is Hat Lane, now closed to motorised traffic, and comes down past a grey phone box on to the main road through Mottisfont village. To visit the Abbey and Gardens, turn right here past the 12th Century St Andrews Church on the right and pretty Hazel Cottage on the left.

• To continue the walk, turn left with the pub and then the wall of the Abbey grounds on the right. At the road junction turn left up Bengers Lane and take the path right which goes across a field (be careful not to turn up the driveway of a house which is the first path on the right!). Pass between two oak trees and through a windbreak of trees over a plank bridge, and across another field to a gate in the far corner. Pass around the gate and out on to the road which, turning right, comes back to the car park. There is a grass verge on the left side of the road past the cottages. However, I should mention that I was subjected to verbal canine abuse from one of the gardens, which made me jump! The verge eventually ends and the car park is just a few yards ahead.

Timsbury to Mottisfont Circular

24 September 2008

Distance: 8 miles
Parking: Hunt's Farm Sports Ground, or parking at the side of the A3057 heading south to Romsey
Map: Explorer 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley
Map ref for car park: SU347251

(I am indebted to Test Valley Borough Council for the original directions for this walk.)

This is a pleasant walk from start to finish, as the paths are clear and well-kept and usually a comfortable width. The only domestic animals I encountered today were sheep at the Church at Michelmersh and they were in the graveyard keeping the grass down. Much better than a lawnmower.

This walk starts from Hunt's Farm Sports Ground in Timsbury, entrance off the A3057, but the parking area mentioned above may be more convenient.

From the Sports Ground car park, return to the entrance and turn left on to a grass verge, or cross the road (it is fast and can be busy) to the pavement opposite. On the left side of the road turn up Heron Lane (this does not have a road nameplate at the moment) just before the parking area at the side of the road. The village hall is tucked behind a hedge to the right at the start of this lane.

The lane soon becomes a bridlepath. Keep following this round past houses and Hunt's Farm on a new tarmac road to a Y-junction. Take the left hand fork on to the road. Follow this road with care into the village of Michelmersh. On reaching a crossroads and a roadsign turn right and then left on to a track after the houses. This track goes up between fences, through two gates and passes to the left of a reservoir. Come to a gate and cross the small field ahead to the Churchyard. Go through the churchyard past the entrance of this lovely church and out through the gate to the road.

Turn right and cross the road to a footpath heading down beside fields until a footpath sign pointing in all directions. Go right here, uphill towards a copse. Take a few pauses to enjoy the unfolding view across the Test Valley.

Go through the copse with farm buildings to the right and out the other side to another field. Pass through the gap in the electric fence and head diagonally across the field to a sprung gate into woodland. The path downward is quite steep. There is a handrail for a little way but it continues steeply after the handrail finishes. Keep following the path down to a stile into a field. A hill rises steeply to the right. Continue down to the road beyond another stile.

Cross the road with care and pass through the fence-gap and over a bridge with lovely views along the Test River on both sides. Keep along the tarmac path to a stile beside a gate into the flat field beyond. There is a sign on the post advising walkers to follow the white posts. This path leads across to another bridge, which has a step-over rail.

Turn left after the bridge along a gravel drive past pretty cottages. Pass over another bridge. Look for a kissing gate on the left in the hedge. This leads into the Mottisfont Estate which the Test Way continues through. Today, there were notices of a diversion of the Way; however, it appears from the map on the gate that this may be a permanent change as it is the same as the Explorer map route. Cut diagonally across the field through a break of trees and continue towards a footpath sign in the middle of the field next to some more trees. Turn a little right again and head slightly uphill to the gate to the road. On the left across the field is Mottisfont Abbey.

Turn left along the road, past the walls of the Mottisfont Estate and keep left as the road bears. Choose to continue along the road, past Hazel Cottage on the left and the 12th Century St Andrews Church on the right to visit Mottisfont, and return to the Church after the visit.

To continue the walk, turn up the road right with the Church on the left. The lane soon becomes a long path. Follow this to a stile into a conservation area. Dogs are requested to be kept under close control here. Cross the field along a well-defined grass track to a bridge over the River Dun. The view to the right is pretty.

Continue through the gate on the other side of the bridge. The path climbs steeply between fencing and woodland to another tall gate. Go through this and over the railway bridge. Follow the path along until it reaches a crossroads. Turn left here and descend gently to the road.

Turn left over the level crossing into the village of Kimbridge. Kimbridge Farm Shop is on the left. The shop sells, among other things, miniature bottles of flavoured wines which also come in normal sized bottles as well. There is a tea shop called Annie's within the building. There is a lovely wooden, covered bridge over an ornamental pond to the entrance, and a huge willow tree stands before the building. It is all very picturesque.

From the Farm Shop continue along the road through Kimbridge. This road is surprisingly busy for a minor road and there are verges to step onto out of the way of the traffic. Follow the road all the way along until it reaches the A3057.

On the other side of the road is The Bear and Ragged Staff pub. The walk continues, when you are ready, up the lane which passes to the right of the pub. Just before a crossroads on the outskirts of Michelmersh, turn right along a footpath which runs alongside a house. There are two gates to pass through, the intervening space is the garden to the house, so please be respectful of this space.

Through the second gate, the path skirts the edge of a cornfield over a stile and continues right. Keep following the path along. It goes over an entrance to the claypits and on the other side of this track follows the edge of the claypits/brickworks and down to the brickworks yard. Turn right to pass buildings out into the road and turn left.

On the right side of the road is a footpath sign. There is a gap in the hedge but the stile is no longer there. Pass down through the field and into woodland; there is a stile but no fence. Follow the path down to the tarmac road and turn right down to the main road. Turn left and follow the road back to the Sports Ground and car park.

Hut Wood circular

16 September 2008

Distance: 31/2 miles

Parking: Off-road raised area on B3043

Map: OL22 - New Forest

Explorer Map ref for car park: SU426183

I don't have any photos of this so I shall have to walk it again to get some. This is a very easy ramble between Chilworth, Chandlers Ford and North Baddesley - barely outside Southampton and about three miles from my front door.

It's a walk I would recommend for any pleasant day, but not mid-week for parking because of overspill from the nearby industrial park and some inconsiderate parking methods.

The weather was pleasant and the woodland glowed golden when the sun came out. I stepped into a deep puddle because I was watching the trees for the source of interesting rustlings.

The walk starts in Hut Wood going from East to West along a wide track, from which you have to find a barely defined footpath winding up over an earthwork up to a right of way (footpath). The route turns north on to a bridlepath right of way up to Castle Lane where you cross over to follow a foot-and-cycle path alongside a private woodland until you cross over again to walk south along Misslebrook Lane to Botley Road (which goes to Romsey).

Cross Botley Road to the safety of the pavement, then recross in front of the Chilworth Arms to a bridleway which doubles as a tarmac drive past houses until the tarmac bears off to the left and the bridlepath continues as an earthen path. Eventually the bridlepath intersects with the footpath, as before. Turn right along the footpath and look for the bit of woodland you memorised earlier to find that little indistinct pathway down into the woods again.

Follow the main track back to a T-junction shortly and turn down the left-hand track and just keep following this back to the metal gate and parking area.

I spotted a small black lizard scuttling off path into the undergrowth. It was about three or four inches long, including the tail.

And being me, I saw a deer. She was standing in a small glade between trees. She stared for a moment, then she bounced away and ran across the path about twenty feet from me.

And all this so close to home.

Stockbridge to Danebury Hill

16 September 2008

Caveat: Parts of this walk are not suitable for children or dogs, and great care must be taken with the two fast roads encountered

Distance: 7 1/2 miles approx
Parking: National Trust Car Park The Lions Den (free)
Map: Explorer 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley
Map ref for car park: SU357347

Today, I headed for Stockbridge in the Test Valley, overlooked by Stockbridge Down to the East and leading, via part of the Test Way and a well-maintained Restricted Byway, to Danebury Hill, or Danebury Ring, the remains of an Iron Age Settlement.

I parked in the National Trust car park called The Lions Den and accessed via a very narrow country lane which runs parallel with the A3057 from Kings Somborne.

Two gates lead on to a Common popular with dog walkers and marked on the map as access land. Between the two gates runs the Test Way. My way turned right from the gate towards Stockbridge.

There are some peculiarities with this walk. Part of the Test Way runs along the verge beside the A3057 after the roundabout at Stockbridge. On the map, it shows the Way going through the roundabout. I think this inadvisable; probably best to do what I did – go left, cross at the island and follow the way safely along the verge from there.

Other oddities of this walk will be revealed, as in every good tale, as I come across them.

Eventually, the Test Way goes off on its safer course parallel to the road but separated from it on a proper footpath.

I’m heading for the lane that heads west to Longstock. As I walk along, I see an interesting path cutting up to the left. I pass it, though wondering where it goes. And a few yards further on I see a large green bridge affair passing over the path ahead. Now I know where that other path leads. The large green bridge affair is the road I’m after. The Test Way runs under it. To get up on to it I have to go back and up the other path.

This road is bordered by lots of streams all gushing, bubbling and trickling, and woodlands of birch trees and nettles. There is no way through those woods. As the lane continues it becomes more and more charming with little fishing huts, and a small weir and the river running alongside the road.

And then into Longstock itself. Hampshire can pride itself on its little villages and hamlets and Longstock is a very pretty example with its thatched cottages, lovely old church set on its own little hill and The Peat Spade Inn which designates itself as a “rooming house”.

After stopping to take photos, my way lies up Church Lane which eventually leaves tarmac behind becoming a restricted byway. Some of it lies between hedges which can become a little tedious, although the way is clear and firm underfoot. I amused myself, as I was heading for Danebury Hill, imagining I was some Iron Age traveller wayfaring to trade with Danebury. At the top of a rise, beside what are designated on the map “new buildings” and really aren’t! there is an open area with views out on three sides. Eventually, the byway ends at the junction of two undesignated roads.

Here is another peculiarity of this walk, and a not very pleasant one. Eventually the way lies across the road along the continuation of the byway; but if you want to get to Danebury Hill, there is no provision for walkers except this very fast road, on the road. The verges are overgrown, and never meant to be footways as far as I can tell. I did it, there and back again, because my goal for my lunchbreak was Danebury and having been there before (albeit by car) I was looking forward to being there again.

There is a public convenience, which is clean and well-maintained but rather strange. It is in the form of a roundhouse, although brick and tile, rather than wattle and daub. The ladies, at least, is a white quarter circle chamber with a high window, one toilet and washbasin. There is a notice on the door that warns “Do not lock the door, it doesn’t unlock.” I used my rucksack to hold it closed.

Lunch on the ramparts was pleasant, as the sun came out. Helicopters were flying back and forth out from Middle Wallop Airfield just over the way to the northwest. I had a wander around the Fort, taking in the atmosphere, and as a cold wind began to come up I departed to play with the traffic and start the return journey.

The second part of the walk continues along a byway on the south side of the road. This was muddy at the start today, but soon became dry underfoot, if a little rutted for some way. It runs between hedges as before but with gaps to left and right so you get views of Danebury to the right, and an arable field bordered today by a mass of scarlet poppies. The ruttedness soon calms down and becomes a clear track.

At the corner, where the byway becomes a lane, there is a footpath marker with a yellow Hampshire County Council tag over a stile. This is the path to follow. I must say the farmer has done a better job of keeping his bit of the path clear than HCC have their bit, but for all that it is perfectly passable – just don’t wear shorts.

The views begin to expand again until you turn southeast to follow the footpath along the edge of the now resting cropfields. Into the second field, the path begins to lose some of its clarity but it is still passable. The view drops away as you drop downhill but there is a treat in store.

Not immediately, though.

The footpath goes through the corner of a hedge, hard to spot but it is there – you just have to trust me! DO NOT RUSH THROUGH! The hedge is right on the edge of the A30. No verge, no pavement, nothing but fast traffic to play with. I rather enjoyed the idea that as people roared past they caught a glimpse of someone standing in the hedge.

In a break in the traffic (it does happen) get across the road and over the stile on to an indistinguishable footpath. Just keep the hedge on your left.

There is one further stile and on the other side the most beautiful green greenway I have yet encountered. It is tidy and quite a lovely place to walk. There are nettles on both sides but not overgrown, and enormous dock leaves. Someone other than nature has gone to a lot of trouble here. And soon Stockbridge is just visible between the trees ahead as the path descends. The byway comes out on to a road by a school. From here, it is a simple matter of following the road down and round to the right and along the main street of Stockbridge.

This is an old stamping ground of mine – I should say “singing” ground. I used to sing in concerts in St Peters Church some years ago with a small group of enthusiastic amateurs called Opera Dever. As I had not done so before, I took photos of the Church both outside and inside.

Continuing on towards my reward of tea and chocolate, I went back along the road by the roundabout I came along towards the beginning of the walk and met a small, black, hairy friend; a very friendly cat that seemed to think the middle of the road was a good place for a fuss. With laughing from onlookers, I eventually managed to coax the cat off the road so the oncoming car could get going again, and it was pleased to be fussed over for a few minutes. I had to leave my little friend and continued back along the few yards of the Test Way back to the gate and the car park, where I had tea waiting in a thermos flask, and a small bar of chocolate.

Picket Post to Burley

15 September 2008

Distance: 7 miles
Parking: Picket Post
Map: OL22 New Forest
Map ref for car park: SU791182

The Car Park has great views out over Ringwood and into the heights of Dorset. However, the air quality has been hazy since the sun started coming out so distant vistas can’t be well-defined.
I followed a path around the eastern slope of Foulford Bottom which turned back on itself to emerge on to Smugglers Road, a great name for this broad greenway along the ridge down to Vales Moor. I went along a path a little east of Smugglers Road to come down to the road then, after the bridge, across and up Castle Hill on to a “traffic-free” cycle route – traffic-free except for cars and 4x4s from the houses en route.

I had a wander around the lovely village of Burley, with its witchy shops that sell everything from brooms, cauldrons and hazel wands to wonderful ornaments. You can get lovely fudge here and there’s a fun music shop along the little precinct between the car park and the main road.

To leave Burley I went up the main road that eventually passes the Picket Post car park. There is a handy footpath, gated to prevent ponies, cattle, donkeys, etc. which takes you into Burley Street. I turned right on to Forest Road and where the road bends sharp right, kept straight on up a no through track (for cars) which eventually forks, going right to Turf Croft and left to Turf Farm.

I saw deer. I always do. The nearest one which saw me first was stamping the ground with its forefoot while it was watching me. (In the photo above, the foremost deer has its right foot raised.)

The farmhouse is lovely, a modern-ish brick building but well-laid out with neat stables attached. These people can saddle up and ride straight into the Forest by turning right out of the yard, over a pretty little stream and out on to Ridley Green. A double path (very squelchy but firm underfoot) leads up into Ridley Wood. I followed the westnorthwest path through here and out into Ridley Bottom which goes up to Picket Plain.Once back at the car park, three hours later, I grabbed my lunch and my little tripod seat and sat overlooking the stunningest views while I replenished.