{"id":"69847953533dbb4b7311895c","title":"Walk 290 Fleet Pond And Pyestock Hill","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2017/volume-21-jul-to-sep-2017/walk-290-fleet-pond-and-pyestock-hill","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 290 - Fleet Pond and Pyestock Hill\n\nThe weather forecast for Sunday 30th July was for partial cloud and possible showers, but there was bright sunshine when the sixteen of us set off from Fleet station and followed the footpath around the western edge of Fleet Pond.\n\nThe clouds became more numerous once the walk got going and we followed the edge of the pond to its south-eastern where there is a sandy shore. (Not the 1960's singer.) From there we headed south, following a stream that led from the pond to the Basingstoke Canal. Following the tow-path, back toward Fleet for about half a mile, we walked (ducked) under a very low bridge, then over another bridge and away from the canal into the Forest of Eversley.\n\n![The sands on the south-eastern shore of Fleet Pond.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume21/images/fleet_pond_sands.jpg)\n\nOn well-maintained paths, we made our way through the forest to The Foresters pub, stopping to have our picnic lunch just before reaching. A very fine rain began about half-way through lunch, which encouraged us to eat up quickly and head for the pub. Thankfully, the rain had stopped by the time we'd bought our drinks so we could sit outside in the pub garden.\n\nSuitably refreshed, we left the pub and followed a path up to Pyestock Hill, where we crossed a large roundabout on the A323 before crossing the Basingstoke Canal. Heading back into woodland, we made our way north and then north-east, toward Southwood, before turning west and heading through heathland on our way back to the pond.\n\n![The Forest of Eversley, south of the Basingstoke Canal.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume21/images/forest_of_eversley.jpg)\n\nAs the heathland turned to woodland, we were slightly surprised to find ourselves being watched by a solitary white cow, lurking in the undergrowth. As we re-entered Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, we saw some interesting wood carvings. These were mostly insects and birds on top of posts, but we also saw a beautiful swan on the arm of a bench.\n\nA short walk along the northern shore of the pond and we were back at the railway station. See our route on Bing Maps.\n\n![Carved swan in Fleet Pond Nature Reserve.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume21/images/wooden_swan.jpg)\n\n![A solitary white cow observed us as we approached Fleet Pond.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume21/images/white_cow.jpg)\n\n*Thank you to Liz for providing the photos.*\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 21\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 290 - Fleet Pond and Pyestock Hill

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The weather forecast for Sunday 30th July was for partial cloud and possible showers, but there was bright sunshine when the sixteen of us set off from Fleet station and followed the footpath around the western edge of Fleet Pond.

\n

The clouds became more numerous once the walk got going and we followed the edge of the pond to its south-eastern where there is a sandy shore. (Not the 1960's singer.) From there we headed south, following a stream that led from the pond to the Basingstoke Canal. Following the tow-path, back toward Fleet for about half a mile, we walked (ducked) under a very low bridge, then over another bridge and away from the canal into the Forest of Eversley.

\n

\"The

\n

On well-maintained paths, we made our way through the forest to The Foresters pub, stopping to have our picnic lunch just before reaching. A very fine rain began about half-way through lunch, which encouraged us to eat up quickly and head for the pub. Thankfully, the rain had stopped by the time we'd bought our drinks so we could sit outside in the pub garden.

\n

Suitably refreshed, we left the pub and followed a path up to Pyestock Hill, where we crossed a large roundabout on the A323 before crossing the Basingstoke Canal. Heading back into woodland, we made our way north and then north-east, toward Southwood, before turning west and heading through heathland on our way back to the pond.

\n

\"The

\n

As the heathland turned to woodland, we were slightly surprised to find ourselves being watched by a solitary white cow, lurking in the undergrowth. As we re-entered Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, we saw some interesting wood carvings. These were mostly insects and birds on top of posts, but we also saw a beautiful swan on the arm of a bench.

\n

A short walk along the northern shore of the pond and we were back at the railway station. See our route on Bing Maps.

\n

\"Carved

\n

\"A

\n

Thank you to Liz for providing the photos.

\n

📸 Back to Volume 21

\n

Return to volume index

\n"}