Ecchinswell-Ladle Hill

Park in the Ecchinswell village hall/recreation ground car park or if that is full try the spaces nearby opposite the school or carefully on nearby roads.

Starting at 10.30am from the village hall car park the walk takes us very quickly on a wooded trail with expansive views to the south. We pass through the Sydmonton Court estate of Andrew Lloyd Webber before making our not too steep ascent up Ladle Hill. Be careful walking on chalk surfaces at this stage of the walk. Ladle Hill is an iron age hill fort which at 232m provides some good views. A lunch stop will be taken at the fort and your leader will hopefully find a spot secluded from any strong winds. We will then circumnavigate the fort to take in the views.

Next we will continue along the Wayfarer’s Walk to near Nuthanger and Watership Downs before returning back down-hill to the Sydmonton Court estate. After a brief stretch on the flat it will be uphill again to pass Nuthanger Farm with views of Watership Down before our final down-hill return to Ecchinswell. For those familiar with the 1972 Richard Adams book, Watership Down the name Nuthanger Farm may be known to you.

After the walk we have a social option of the Royal Oak pub which is just a few hundred metres from the start point. 

Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.