If I had to choose one word to describe our walk on Saturday 16th August, it would be "misty". Nine of us, including two leaders, met up at Ecchinswell Village Hall and recreation ground for this hilly walk, promising spectacular views from Ladle Hill and the Wayfarer's Walk. Well... we got the hills, even if we didn't get the views.
We set off heading west through fields and woods before following turning south to follow a lane and then a track, taking us into the Sydmonton estate. Passing 'Laundry Cottages', we continued on the track as it curved westward to Wergs Farm. Here we followed a quiet lane southward before trudging up a long footpath that rose 330 feet in elevation in about a mile. Joining the Wayfarer's Walk, we continued upward to Ladle Hill, the site of an iron-age hill fort, now just earth works.
We diverted from the path to explore Ladle Hill and observe the promised views. In fact, it was so misty that we had trouble seeing one side of the earth works from the other, let alone see anything of the Sydmonton estate. The grassy hillocks and the sheep appearing out of the mist made it feel a bit like Dartmoor or The Lake District. Anyway, we stopped here to eat our lunch, without a spectacular view to admire.
After lunch, we rejoined the Wayfarer's Walk and continued eastward for about a mile before heading down a steep path into Sydmonton. We walked along the path that passes Sydmonton Court and rejoined the track we had taken in the morning. We turned off before reaching 'Laundry Cottages' and went north-eastward, passing Watership Farm, until we reached Ecchinswell Road.
Although we could have turned left and been back at the car park in half a mile, we turned right and then took a steep footpath up to Nuthanger Farm. Here we stopped for a chat about Richard Adams' book, Watership Down, which features a number of identifiable locations in this area. From the top of the hill, we should have been able to look across the valley and see Watership Down and Ladle Hill, but not only was it too misty, but the maize in the field in front of us was over six feet tall.
Heading back down, past Nuthanger Copse, we crossed a road and a field, before taking a footpath back into Ecchinsell. A short bit of road walking took us past an old mill and a school, back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps. We all agreed that Mike and Alison should lead this lovely walk again, when the visibility is better.
Thank you to Mike and Alison for leading this misty and hilly walk.
Return to volume index