Hinton Ampner circular 23/3/2012

We started this walk from the National Trust car park at Hinton Ampner House but there is space to park opposite the telephone box on the road to Hinton Ampner. The walk skirts Bramdean, Cheriton Wood and the site of the Battle of Cheriton (1644).

Easy going. 

Length: Approx 5 miles
Time: Approx 2 hours at a leisurely pace
Ascent:  +121 -124

Here are some views of the gardens and parkland around Hinton Ampner House.

1. Leave the car park by the entrance and turn sharp right across the oak parkland towards the road up to Hinton Ampner village.

2. Crossing the oak parkland and looking south you can see the House and its "North Vista" view.

3. A field of young crops, probably wheat. Although the overall impression is green there seemed to be a lot of brown ends to the leaves.

4. Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, Bramdean. Unfortunately and despite what it says on the website the church was closed.

Rowlands Castle circular 14/3/2012

Starting from a layby on the left, and opposite a footpath, as you drive from Rowlands Castle to Finchdean, a circular walk from the outskirts of Rowlands Castle through Finchdean, Old Idsworth and surrounding countryside on the edges of Stansted Forest.

Easy going but with two fairly steep but short sections. 

Length: Approx 7.5 miles
Time: Approx 3.25 hours at a leisurely pace
Ascent:  +247 -247

 

1. Start from the layby and get the road section out of the way first.

 

2. The oilseed rape is about 2 feet high and starting to get plenty of flowers.

 

 

3. The first time we've noticed wild primroses.

4. Masses of wild garlic in the western fringes of the Markwells Woods. We took home a carrierbag full.

5. Soay sheep - they are very timid and unfortunately wouldn't come any closer.

6. I finally managed to find a suitable donor for a future walking stick. Watch this space.

7. Deer tracks again but no sightings. Wrong time of day really.

If you have time it's worth diverting to visit St Hubert's at Old Idsworth. It's a beautiful church in a stunning location. You will see it as you come out of the north western corner of Markwells Wood.

Titchfield Circular 10/3/2012

Starting from the car park on the right as you come out of Titchfield a circular walk to the coast, along the clifftop to Titchfield Haven and along the old Titchfield canal route.

Easy going.
Length: Approx 5.5 miles
Time: Approx 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace
Ascent:  +41 -41

 

Start at the car park. If the car park is full park on the road in Titchfield village.

 

1. Huge fields of rhubarb.

2. In theory the footpath goes right through this lot. We thought it would be better to go round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. A flowering cherry in the hedgerow.

 

 

 

 

4. Looking over Southampton Water towards Fawley Power Station.

5. Looking towards Hill Head.

6. Periwinkle on the clifftop path.

Stansted Forest Circular 9/3/2012

Starting from the central car park in Stansted Forest a circular walk through Stansted Forest and Watergate Hanger. 

Easy going.
Length: Approx 8 miles
Time: Approx 3 hours at a leisurely pace
Ascent:  +186 -181

1. Start at the carpark. Cross the road and head east.

2. Plenty of signs of deer but no sightings.

3. Yes it's a fungus but which one? Might be Root Rot. Any ideas?

4. More fungus. Could be witches' butter. Do you know better?

5. Looking north-east from Watergate Hanger.

6. A new wildlife hedge of various plants including hawthorn and blackthorn. The mesh is to protect the hedge from rabbits and deer.

7. Yep, more fungi. You'd think  it would be easy to identify but I've no idea what it is.

8. Looking back at Stansted House from The Avenue.

9. Coppice.