Pitton to Bentley Wood

Crosby is making good progress on his rehabilitation, yesterday we notched up four miles together without any ill effects.  So today we are going to venture a bit further and do one of my regular walks from Pitton to Bentley Wood, although it is the first time I have blogged the route.

I start my walk from the Silver Plough in Pitton by turning left out of the car park and left again along The Green, the lane running alongside the Silver Plough pub.  I take the second footpath on the right to head uphill and leave Pitton.  After going through a kissing gate at the top of the hill I continue past paddocks and through two more gates to follow the footpath into Church Copse.

When the footpath joins a forestry track I turn right and follow it to a six-way junction of footpaths.  Here I turn left and follow the forestry track passing a metal gate and then continuing straight on along the track ignoring footpaths to the right and left.  

After passing a metal barrier the track becomes a path and skirts a house, The Shooting Box, to join Livery Road, here I turn left and then within fifty yards take a right along the footpath heading uphill on a farm track. At the top of the hill I meet a crossing of paths, but continue straight on along the track heading towards Bentley Wood.

I follow the track as it bends to the right (the route of the footpath is across an arable field) but rather than damage crops I stay with the track passing a plantation on the right.  On reaching the edge of Bentley Wood I enter the trees and immediately turn left and follow the footpath along the edge of the woodland.

On reaching a well-used path on the right I turn into the woods to walk along the side of Three Sisters Copse.  The bluebells are just coming into bloom, in a few days time this area will be a sea of blue.

On reaching a forestry track I turn right and follow this gravel track heading south through Bentley Wood.  Many of the older trees in the woods were felled in the two world wars. During World War II the American Army used some of the clearings in the woods for training and the tracks that were built in the 1940’s are still present.

I ignore a track on the right and continue on to pass Hooping Oak Copse.  At a five-way junction of tracks I take the route heading south and stay with this track until it reaches a crossing of gravel tracks.  

My route is to the left, but first I continue on for a few yards and stop at the memorial stone and bench to Ralph Whitlock to give Crosby a drink.

Ralph was born in Pitton and wrote extensively about country life including a couple of books about the village of his birth.  I have recently been re-reading his book “The Victorian Village” it is a well crafted observation of village life back then.  

Crosby refreshed we are ready to continue, we head back the few yards to the junction of paths and now turn to join the path heading in a south easterly direction.

At a crossing of paths I turn right to head through Coal Pit Copse.  It is a lot quieter than usual, I usually see a handful of people walking in these woods, but today I have only seen one cyclist.

I am so fortunate to have this cracking bit of woodland within walking distance of home.  The woods are maintained by a charitable trust which purchased the woods in 1983 using funds donated by the late Lady Colman, who lived in Winterslow. The site was designated a site of special scientific interest in 1985.

At a junction of tracks I continue straight on to the Livery Gate and continue walking down to the road and then right to pass the houses of the Livery.  Taking a footpath on the left leading through the edge of the farmyard I pass through a wooden gate to follow a hedged bridleway to a track where I turn right and then quickly left along the edge of the field.

I stay on this path as it crosses another footpath and then after going through a gap in the trees return to the junction of six paths.

I now take the footpath opposite that initially heads towards the west besides the edge of the field and the mature trees of Church Copse. After 450 metres the way-marked path enters the woodland and then emerges into a clearing besides a new plantation. 

I keep on the path to go through a disused pit and then into an arable field. The path reaches a stile; I enter another arable field and cross diagonally. After crossing the field I reach another stile and continue along a path with a hedge to the left and in the next field continue with the hedge on the right.

The path becomes hedge lined towards the riding stables.  I turn right and go along the track for 200 metres to reach a crossing of paths turning left to go through the gate.

Now I take the path back to the village and my starting point at the Silver Plough.

You can view this 8 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

To follow our walk you will need Ordnance Survey Outdoor Explorer Map 131 – Romsey, Andover & Test Valley.

Additional Information

For more information on this walk including car parking, amenities, refreshments and detailed walking directions visit my associated Walking Moonraker website.

9^th April 2020

© Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)

All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.