On Sunday 24th March, five of us, including two BWs, met up at Hook railway station for a repeat of the walk I'd previously led for National Young Ramblers 2018 event. It was a nice, sunny spring day, and just warm enough to do without the fleece.
We set off, heading westward across Hook, leaving the village on a footpath through Owen's Farm. A year ago I was told this land was going to be a housing development, but it seems to have had a reprieve. For now at least, the horses can carry on enjoying the grassy fields, and we can still walk through this green space.
Turning south, we crossed the railway and passed through a small piece of deciduous woodland known as The Barracks, I don't know why. There were daffodils flowering under the trees, making the most of the light before the summer canopy darkens the woodland.
Crossing the busy A30, we followed Heather Row Lane through farmland before crossing the M3, where we could see the high towers of Basingstoke in the distance. More woodland tracks brought us to Up Nately, where we stopped for a drink and snack, in a field by St Stephens Church.
A footpath and a bridge took us over the Basingstoke Canal. This section of the canal has been left to nature while the stretch on the other side of Greywell has been restored. A path led us to the almost hidden entrance of the Greywell tunnel, which is now home to several species of bat.
We followed the course of the tunnel overland, passing through woodland and stopping in Greywell Park to have our picnic lunch. Our view was south, over North Hampshire, with RAF Odiham air station just visible by its towers.
After lunch we rejoined the canal at the other end of the tunnel and followed the tow-path to the remains of King John's Castle (aka Odiham Castle), where we stopped for a look before continuing on the tow-path. Leaving the canal at the swing bridge, we wandered down to the ford over the River Whitewater at Warnborough Green. Then we stopped off for a drink at The Derby Inn.
Leaving the pub, we headed through Bartley Heath, crossing the M3 on a footbridge and following Holt Lane back into Hook. A few alley ways and roads brought us back to the railway station, where we had started. See our route on Google Maps.
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