On Sunday 26th June, twelve of us met up in Odiham High Street for a six mile walk around Odiham, Greywell Moors and the Basingstoke Canal. Although I'd already been on the previous day's walk, I thought I'd do this one as well because it was so close to where I live. I'm glad I did, as part of the walk went somewhere I hadn't been to before - Greywell Moors.
We set off by heading west along the High Street and then along West Street as far as Robert May's School. We then took a footpath across Hockley Farm, and over the road into Adam's Farm. Crossing a field of barley and then one of oil seed rape (or canola, as Australian Ian calls it) we reached Greywell Moors. After a slight wrong turning, we were heading south-west along the edge of the moor.
A hair-pin turn took us north-east through the moor, passing Greywell Mill on a stretch of the River Whitewater. In the clear water we saw a few fish and a sinister-looking freshwater crayfish. We also saw a frog and a few damsel flies.
A long and winding boardwalk led us through marshy woodland by the Whitewater, allowing us to see much of this nature reserve while limiting our impact. At the end of the boardwalk, a path brought us out behind St Mary's Church in Greywell village.
Crossing a field and a lane, we joined the Basingstoke Canal by the Greywell tunnel. We followed the canal towpath to the remains of King John's Castle (aka Odiham Castle). Here we stopped for our picnic lunch and explored the remains of the 13th century castle.
After lunch, we continued along the canal towpath through North Warnborough to the far end Odiham. Leaving the towpath, we made our way to The Waterwitch pub for a drink in their canal-side beer garden. Suitably refreshed, we finished the walk by following Colt Hill and London Road back to the High Street. See our route on Google Maps. Only a short walk, but with lots to see.
Thank you to Sue H for leading this walk.
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