We haven't had a walk on a Saturday for a while so I put this last-minute programme entry on Saturday 25th March. Also Sunday was Mother's Day and I thought people might be busy then. This walk was a repeat of one I'd led in February 2014, but with a slight modification to lengthen the route a little bit.
Seven regulars (plus a dog) started at the free car park on White Hill and made our way up Cottington's Hill. Skirting the woods along the top of Freemantle Park Down, we then descended on a track (Hollowshot Lane) towards the village of Kingsclere and Park House Stables. We crossed Swan Street and Fox Lane before joining a footpath that is part of the Brenda Parker Way.
Cottington's Hill, Watership Down and Ladle Hill were clearly visible from this path before it turned north toward Frobury Farm and its fishing lakes. We saw a few fishermen as we passed the northernmost lakes on our way through Frobury Park Copse and into Southwood Copse, where we stopped for our picnic lunch. As ever, a fallen tree made a convenient bench to sit on.
After lunch, we continued to follow the Brenda Parker Way westward toward Ecchinswell. Leaving it as it turned north, we crossed a stream and followed a woodland path into the village. We walked down to the Royal Oak pub and sat in their garden enjoying liquid refreshment and spring sunshine.
Suitably refreshed, we left the village, heading south-west along Ecchinswell Road. We then followed a track past Watership Farm and through the picturesque hamlet of Sydmonton - home to lots of sheep, horses and Lord Lloyd Webber. (We didn't see him.)
Next came the steep footpath up to Nuthanger Down, where we joined the Wayfarer's Walk. This we followed eastward, past Watership Down (we didn't see any rabbits there) and along a high ridge with gallops to the left and right of us. (We didn't see any horses here, either.)
We left the Wayfarer's Walk as it passed the car park where we had started. See our route on Google Maps.
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