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Our Scrapbook of Previous Walks

To give you an idea of what our walks are like, we have put together a scrapbook featuring some of the walks that we've done so far. We have been walking since July 2012 and our ever-growing scrapbook is divided into quarterly volumes.

Volume 51: January to March, 2025


Walk 686 - Blackwaterside: Minley Woods via Hawley Common

Hawley Common
A drink-stop on Hawley Common.

As we stepped into the new year, I had the pleasure of leading my very first walk with the Berkshire Weekend Walkers. On a crisp, overcast Sunday morning, 31 enthusiastic walkers joined me at Blackwater train station car park. The air was chilly, with the temperature hovering just above freezing, but that didn't deter us.

Our journey began by navigating the busy main roads before entering Hawley Common, where the sound of gunfire or soldiers' drills are common, as this area is predominantly Ministry of Defence (MOD) land. Fortunately, we were spared of any military activities on this day and it was quiet in that regard. Our route led us towards Minley Woods, with a brief detour via the rather mysterious Hawley airstrip. Not much is known about its history.

Minley Woods
Heading into Minley Woods.

Along the trail, we encountered a delightful surprise: what we initially thought was a dog curiously staring us down turned out to be a fox, confident and unbothered by our presence. The day prior, I had scouted the path and noted the ground was quite icy, but fortunately, on our walk, the weather was mild enough to thaw most puddles. Crossing the various footpaths was easy, allowing us to enjoy the journey without clinging to the fences for support.

Lunch Stop
Stopping for lunch in Minley Wood.

About a mile into Minley Woods, I led the group to a favourite lunch spot reminiscent of my own pandemic escape. During the lockdown, this secluded area became my go to place to escape the increasingly crowded Hawley Common. After lunch, we continued our path, passing Minley Manor. I took great pride in sharing my knowledge of the manor’s history with the group which I managed to remember!

Minley Manor
Minley Manor House.

Next, we made a stop at the Crown and Cushion pub for a quick drink. It was an opportunity to connect with everyone, from seasoned regulars to newcomers and I was especially grateful to see several friends from the Berkshire Walkers, who came out to show their support.

Group
Posing for a photo after leaving Minley Woods.

We began our return leg towards Hawley Lake. Hawley Lake, although small, is picturesque and has served as a backdrop for many films. The area is primarily utilised by the British Army, complemented by a private sailing club and water sports facility, along with a quaint beach that was part of our route. On this day, the lake was beautifully frozen over, creating a stunning contrast against the muted winter sky.

To wrap up our adventure, we only circumnavigated about a quarter of the lake before veering back into the woods on our way to the station.

Thanks go to Jen for leading this walk and writing it up, and to Emma for the photos.



Walk 685 - Winchfield, Dogmersfield and the Basingstoke Canal

Frosty Field
Crossing a frosty field from Round Copse to Hellet's Copse.

Our first walk of the year was on Saturday 4th January and was a walk that we should have done at Christmas time last year, as it involved mince pies, stollen cake and mulled wine! However, it was postponed twice due to family commitments and then illness. Anyway, we still had the mulled wine and mince pies, so we led the walk on a crisp, cold January day instead, where the festive treats were just as well appreciated.

Canal Bridge
Posing for a photo on Sprat's Hatch Bridge.

Twelve of us set off from the free car park at Barley Mow bridge in Winchfield. We briefly followed the Basingstoke Canal before branching off into Round Copse, crunching our way along a frosted footpath through Hellet's Copse and back on to the canal at Stacey's Bridge. Further along the towpath, at Sprat's Hatch Bridge, we crossed the canal to follow a high footpath overlooking the canal.

Mulled Wine
Stopping on Sandy Hill Bridge for mulled wine and mince pies.

At Sandy Hill Bridge, we stopped for mulled wine and mince pies! I had a 1.5 litre thermos flask of mulled wine in my rucksack and Emma had a smaller flask of mulled fruit juice for those not wanting a wine-based drink. We also had a dozen mince pies - exactly one each, which was lucky!

Odiham Common
Crossing Odiham Common on our way to Broad Oak Bridge.

Suitably warmed by our festive treats, we left the canal again, following a woodland path and then crossing frosty fields to Odiham Common. We stopped for a look at Odiham Hunting Lodge and the partly frozen Wilk's Water. Crossing the canal at Broad Oak Bridge, we headed into Dogmersfield Park, stopping at Tundry Pond for lunch. We also finished off the mulled wine and shared some Stollen cake.

After lunch, we re-joined the canal towpath at Blacksmith's Bridge and followed it back to Barley Mow Bridge and the car park. See our route on Google Maps.

Thanks go to Emma and Rob for leading this walk and Rob for the write-up.