On Sunday 20th March, we had thirteen people (mostly regulars plus a few visitors) turn up at Basingstoke railway station for the start of a walk I have led before that largely follows the Basing Trail. We walked through the town to the War Memorial Park, where we saw a sea of crocuses emerging from a lawn near the bird cage. The park keepers won't be able to mow that bit of grass for a few weeks now.
From there, we passed through some playing fields and stopped at an orchard. The apple trees had only been planted a decade ago so weren't that large yet. An information board nearby indicated which varieties were planted where and invited people to pick a few fruit when they are ripe.
Crossing over the ring road, we were now in Black Dam park, where we stopped to watch the ducks before crossing under the link road to the M3 and leaving the town for the Crabtree Plantation.
On reaching the other end of the plantation, I was about to lead the group across the A30 when Jackie, one of our visitors, showed me a better route that allowed us to use a traffic island to cross the busy road. We entered Basingstoke Common and then into Old Basing, where we followed The Street with its thatched houses and cottages.
Continuing along the Basing Trail through Old Basing and Lychpit Recreation Ground, we stopped to use the toilet facilities at the Cricket Club before stopping for our picnic lunch at Oliver's Battery, Motte & Baileys.
After lunch we crossed the River Loddon near Lower Mill and crossed some heathland to Barton's Mill where we stopped at the pub for a drink (and cake in some cases).
Suitably refreshed, we followed the river as far as Basing House and then made our way back to Basingstoke Common. We stopped at the amphitheatre at Basing Lime Pits. There was some debate as to whether we were looking at a lime pit, now filled in and grassed over, or the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre. A nearby information board settled the argument. It was both.
Finally, we crossed a piece of moorland back into the town, emerging at Eastrop Park - a pleasant civic park with various ponds for wildlife and boating. It was then a short distance back to the station. See our route on OS Maps.
Return to volume index