For a few years the Wayfarer’s Walk has been on my list of long distance trails to tackle. Last May we started the walk but unfortunately had to stop after the first day because Lynnie was unwell. A week ago I realised I had a window in my diary and managed to arrange accommodation for the three overnight stops.
The starting point for the walk is Combe Gibbet on Gibbet Down close to the village of Combe. The gibbet has a gristly history. In 1676 George Bromham and his lover Dorothy Newman were found guilty of the murders of George’s wife Martha Bromham and their son Robert Bromham. There are several varying accounts of the murders but after being found guilty they were hanged at Winchester and then gibbetted at Combe Down. The original 1676 gibbet was replaced in 1850, and has been replaced a number of times since, with the current one being erected in 1992.
From the gibbet I head east along the drove towards a car park besides a minor road.
In front of the car park is a memorial stone. This is the Merville Battery Memorial in honour of the 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment. They used the surrounding fields and woods to rehearse their plans for the successful assault on the German Coastal Artillery Battery at Merville in France in support of the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6th 1944.
I take the track at the back of the car park to head up Walbury Hill. Over the next four days I will walk around 80 miles, the Wayfarer’s Walk is advertised as 71 miles, but I will be making a few diversions for accommodation. Today’s section should be about 23 miles.
The summit of Walbury Hill is in a field to the right of the Wayfarer’s Walk, it is the highest point in Hampshire and has an Ordnance Survey Trig Pillar. I bagged the trig last year whilst walking this section with Lynnie so there is no need to revisit it today.
Apparently this section of the Wayfarer’s Walk is right on the Hampshire / Berkshire border. Whilst the summit of Walbury Hill is in Hampshire the track is in Berkshire and it is the highest point in that county. I have visited the highest points in a number of counties but a track next to the neighbouring county’s high point is the least impressive so far.
After passing a parking area I cross a minor road and enter an open access area and walk east with the fence to my right. This leads to another minor road which I cross and continue along a track beside woods.
The beauty of walking along a recognised trail is that the signage is usually very good. So far I have seen clear markers at every junction of paths making it very easy to navigate the route.
Since leaving Walbury Hill the path has been steadily descending, but now it starts to ascend as I head for Pilot Hill with far reaching views into Berkshire.
The forecast is for a warm day with plenty of sunshine and so I slapped on the sun cream before starting. You can always tell it’s going to be a hot day when you see a gate wearing a hat!
Reaching Pilot Hill I resist the temptation to hop over the fence to revisit the OS Trig Pillar, which is the second highest point in Hampshire. This is another trig I bagged last year whilst walking with Lynnie.
The path now descends to a minor road where I turn right and after 600 metres take a restricted byway on the left leading into Bunkhanger Copse.
After crossing a minor road I continue along the track towards Three Legged Cross, this track is the Ox Drove once used as a drove route for cattle.
At Three Legged Cross I take care crossing the busy A343 and pass the 16th century property at the junction with the distinctive three legged symbol on the front.
My route is now along the track which passes Keeper’s Cottage and continues towards Grotto Copse. I have walked for a couple of hours and decide to sit on a large tree root and enjoy the view whilst having a cup of tea from my flask.
Resuming my walk I soon reach Grotto Lodge which is on the edge of the Highclere Estate. Built around 1850 the lodge was designed by the Victorian architect Thomas Allom who was assistant to Sir Charles Barry who built Highclere Castle.
After passing through Grotto Copse the route starts to open out with far ranging views in front.
The views continue to be impressive as I head over Upper Woodcott Down.
From here I pass through a gate and then go along a track before steadily descending towards the A34.
At the bottom of the hill I spot, on the right, a memorial stone to Sir Geoffrey de Havilland marking where he made his first successful test flight on 10th September 1910. He borrowed the money to build his first plane, after two years of construction he crashed it during its very short maiden flight. He then built a new plane and the following year made his first successful flight.
Away to my left is a series of burial mounds known a s seven barrows.
There is now an option of crossing the busy dual carriage way on the A34, or taking the permissive path on the right which goes parallel to the dual carriage way and then uses an underpass to get to the other side where it turns left.
At a junction of paths besides the dual carriage way I go right to head uphill on a path under overhead power lines.
At the top of the hill I join a track and follow the way markers to go to the left besides a copse and then head north between fields.
Continuing between the fields I reach Ladle Hill which is the site of an Iron Age Hill Fort. Apparently despite being occupied for hundreds of years this is considered an unfinished fort.
With the path now heading east I follow the way-markers at path junctions to head towards a minor road at Nuthanger Down.
After crossing the road I take a path on the opposite side heading steadily uphill and soon see the Watership Down trig pillar. I have bagged this trig on a few occasions so today just take a look from the footpath rather than entering the field.
After taking a break for lunch I continue along the track at the top of Watership Down with gallops on either side. Watership Down was of course made famous by Richard Adams’ book of the same name. It was Adams’ first book and apparently was rejected by all the major publishers before being accepted by Rex Collings who published it in 1972. In 1978 it was adapted into a feature film and the story of the rabbits on the Down became very well known.
After crossing the B3051I pass an entrance to a parking area and follow the way markers to head south east onto Stubbington Down.
After following the path between hedges I reach a minor road which follows the route of the Roman Road, the Portway. This road was mainly used for military purposes and went from Silchester, to the north of Basingstoke, to Salisbury.
I cross the road and follow the track past Walkeridge Farm.
The route descends towards North Oakley.
In North Oakley I turn right on a footpath that goes past the farm buildings at Manor Farm and then heads through a field before turning left towards Freemantle Farm.
After going around a few fields I go through woodland.
At a fork in the path to the south of Great Deane Wood I fork right to go across fields towards Deane Down Farm.
I join a minor road and pass the farm and then go left through a gate to head to a bridge over the Andover to London railway line. The path goes across fields heading down to Manor Farm at Deane.
After passing Deane Cottages I turn right on a minor road and then at the entrance to All Saints Church I leave the Wayfarers Walk for today as I head towards my overnight accommodation at Overton.
The path to the church passes in front of Deane House. This Grade II listed house was built in 1786, and is situated in a well-wooded 70 acre park. It is one of a number of important estates located to the west of Basingstoke. They were socially connected during the late 18th and early 19th century and were frequented by Jane Austen providing her with inspiration for her books. It is said that the Austen’s were socially connected to the Harwood family who lived here and Jane was a frequent visitor.
All Saints Church at Deane was completely rebuilt, 1818-1820, in the pointed Gothic style. Much of the church was built of Coade stone, an artificial stone invented and produced by a woman, Eleanor Coade (1733-1821).
I now head west on a footpath that goes through Deane Park and then passes newly created ponds.
I then cross a field and head towards Ashe and pass Holy Trinity Church.
The track takes me past Lower Ashe Farm. In the field to my right is the source of the River Test, the location is not accessible or visible from the footpath.
The footpath now goes along a track and then enters a field and goes close to the River Test. Last year I walked the Test Way and I feel like I see more of the river walking through this field than I did in the two day, forty-four mile walk.
Over a footbridge I take a path on the left heading west across fields to reach a minor road. Crossing the road the path continues over another field towards houses on the edge of Quidhampton.
Entering a wildlife area on the edge of the housing I turn left and follow this to a park and then turn right to descend into Overton.
After passing a children’s playground and community orchard I go through a car park and then turn right onto the B3400, London Road. From here I walk down to the White Hart pub where I will be staying tonight.
I have walked 23 miles today so I’m looking forward to a pint and something to eat. England are playing Spain in the final of the UEFA Euro 2024 final this evening. I am not a great fan of international football but might watch in the hope of seeing an entertaining game.
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 158 – Newbury & Hungerford; and OS Explorer 144 – Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch
You can view this 23 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
14th July 2024
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2024)
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.