# 🥾 Walk 73 - Bramshill, Farley Hill and Eversley

Tim led his second walk for us on Sunday 20th. Nine of us turned up, despite a doubtful weather forecast, and were greeted by some wet dogs and their (mostly) apologetic owners.

We set off from a car park at the south-eastern corner of Bramshill Plantation and headed more-or-less north-west along well-maintained footpaths through the plantation. The intermittent sunlight sparkled on the recently showered grass and trees.

Leaving the plantation, we found ourselves in familiar surroundings. Some of us had been here before on the recent walk along the Wokingham Way. We crossed the river Blackwater and in doing so, crossed from Hampshire into Berkshire.

![Walking through Bramshill Plantation. Blue sky at the moment.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/bramshill_plantation.jpg)

Now heading east, roughly parallel to the Blackwater, we lost sight of the sun and felt the first of several short showers. Umbrellas were soon erected and waterproof jackets donned as we carried on, passing some patient fishermen by a small lake at Jouldings Farm.

We followed a lane up to Farley Hill village where I recognised a house that had once been a pub. I stopped for a drink there on a walk many years ago. Taking a narrow footpath out of the village we descended into Bulloway's Farm.

There we crossed what had been a corn (or maize) field a couple of weeks back, when the leader had done his recce. Now the field was bare and the course of the footpath had been erased. It took us a little time to find the exit that would take us through woodland and along a quiet lane to a ford and a bridge over the river Blackwater.

![En route to Farley Hill. The blue sky has gone and the waterproofs are going on.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/farley_hill.jpg)

Stopping for our picnic lunch in a small grassy area by the river, we could see two fishermen casting into the Blackwater by New Mill Sluice. We didn't see them catch anything during the time we were there. After lunch we crossed the river, back into Hampshire, and headed toward the village of Eversley and the White Hart pub.

The weather was on the turn again as we got to the pub and we were only half-way through our drinks when the thunder and lightning started. Then followed the rain, getting heavier by the minute. Eventually we couldn't delay the walk any longer and we set off, with one of the locals withing us "Good luck!".

Just crossing the roads was hazardous enough, with passing cars throwing up great bow waves as they drove through the deep surface water.

![We stopped at the ford and bridge over the Blackwater at New Mill Sluice.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/new_mill_sluice.jpg)

There was more thunder and lightning as we made our way south from Eversley. I have to say it was impressive! The lightning is so much brighter and the thunder sounds amazing when you're outside.

With no sign of the rain letting up, we took a group decision for the leader to use a short-cut back to the car park. Taking a fairly direct route west through Warren Farm and Heath Warren Wood, we emerged opposite the plantation where we had started.

The car park looked rather empty, with no sign of any dog walkers now. We'd had an enjoyable walk, despite the heavy weather at the end. See our route on Bing Maps.

![Sheltering under an old oak tree near Warren Farm. Our waterproofs tested to the limit.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/warren_farm.jpg)

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