On the Sunday between Christmas and the New Year, eight of us (including three from the Pang Valley group) met up at Hook railway station for a nine-mile walk. We started by heading south out of Hook and into Bartley Heath.
After squelching across the heath, we followed Holt Lane back into Hook and out again, heading north, passing Hook Mill and Borough Court. Here we turned east and made our way to West Green House.
Passing West Green Gardens, we noticed a few brightly coloured giant decorative flowers, but the gardens weren't open to the public. They are only open during the summer months and just before Christmas.
Here we joined the Brenda Parker Way, named after a lady who did a lot of work for the Ramblers during the 1970s and 1980s, mostly in the Hampshire area.
Now heading west, we passed through Damale's Farm, crossed the River Whitewater and the B3349 Reading Road, before stopping for our picnic lunch by Street End Copse. We found a suitable fallen tree to act as a bench to sit on.
After lunch, we continued to follow the Brenda Parker Way passing the Rotherwick fishing lakes and Runten's Farm, through some very muddy fields, before arriving at Rotherwick. Here we stopped off for refreshment at the Coach and Horses.
Leaving Rotherwick, we also left the Brenda Parker Way to head south through the golf course at Tylney Hall. There were very few golfers visible, but we made sure they were aware of us before crossing the course.
Passing through woodland behind Tylney Hall, we followed Park Lane to Newnham. At Newnham, we saw an apple tree in someone's garden, which was bare apart from a large number of red Christmas baubles. Very nice!
Finally heading east, we left Newnham and crossed Owen's Farm (more mud) into Hook. A bit of road walking (less mud) took us to the centre of the village, where the walk ended. See our route on Google Maps.
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