Walk 734 - Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Ladle Hill
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of North Hampshire, with the prospect of a lengthy walk taking in the autumnal landscape of Sydmonton Park Estate and the Downs, a good-sized crowd assembled outside the war memorial in the village of Ecchinswell on Sunday 12th October. After several head counts, we settled on 21, but no one was missing at the end of the walk, so the leaders Simon and Becky had managed to steer everyone home safely.
The walk first took us in a southerly loop away from the village along a path by the stream and out into fields. The turnips and the thick grass along the side of a field of now largely drooped sunflowers was heavily laden with dew and boots were good and wet after the first mile. The route next took us up a pretty valley and along the edge of Nuthanger Copse. Autumn colours were a little less vibrant than hoped, but views of Watership Down were still possible despite being tempered a little by the foggy conditions.
One of our leaders recounted that this is reputed to be the countryside that inspired the novel of the same name by Richard Adams about a group of rabbits forced to move after the destruction of their warren. As we approached Nuthanger Farm we could hear the drone of a light aircraft, the owners of Ham Hill were out for an early morning flight. Descending from Nuthanger Hill past the hanger from whence the plane had alighted, we were afforded fine views to the north across the Kennet Valley.
Leaving the edge of the village of Ecchinswell for a second time, we entered Sydmonton Park Estate owned by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber and equestrian entrepreneur Madeleine Gurdon. A series of wide gravel drives guided us through the vast estate, passing first through Watership Farm offered for hire for film shoots, past horse paddocks and stabling and out through some lovely, groomed parkland.
Passing out through the wider estate and out on to country lanes at Wergs Farm, the walk next took us up a wooded pathway to Ladle Hill and onto the Wayfarers Way. After a lengthy uphill stretch, we emerged from a wooded path to be greeted by fine views across to Beacon Hill and the Highclere Estate. The group paused to take in the views and debate whether they could see the spires of Highclere Castle on the distant skyline.
Continuing along the Wayfarers Way we came to Ladle Hill Iron Age hillfort and with the clock pushing toward 1pm, a spot of lunch was taken sat on the earthworks of this 2300-year-old structure looking out across Sydmonton Park Estate and the wider Berkshire countryside to the north. Everyone layered up a little to avoid the cooling effect of a light breeze.
After lunch we continued along the Downs escarpment and then descended the hillside via a wooded gully passing into the village of Sydmonton. Completing the second loop, we again entered the groomed parkland around the home of the Lloyd-Webber’s. Bedecked in security cameras it was evident that Big Brother (or maybe The Phantom of the Opera!) was watching as an electric gate miraculously opened and then shut behind the group as we left the extended gardens of the mansion house.
The final leg of the walk took us up past a row of picture postcard tithe cottages (Laundry Cottages) with our final approach back into Ecchinswell along the edge of the playing fields to the village hall. Many of the group enjoyed a drink in the beer garden of the Star Inn in Kingsclere afterwards.
Thanks go to Simon and Becky for leading this walk and for writing it up.
