Stockbridge circular approx 8 miles 4/3/13

Length: Approx 8 miles
Time: Approx 3 1/2 hours at a reasonable pace
Ascent: +-170m

Parking is free in Stockbridge High Street

1. Crossing the River Test for the first time today. The Test is one of the best chalk rivers in England. Unfortunately it seems hard to see much of it due to private ownership.

2. Guinea Fowl (and quail in there somewhere).

3. The tiny yellow dot on the right is a treasure hunter. Could be a long job!

4. Danebury Hill Iron Age Fort. The fort and its surrounding chalkland is grazed by Manx Loughton sheep and Exmoor ponies. We saw a small flock of skylarks.

5. St Mary's Church, Longstock.

6. Picturesque cottages in Longstock. The village has a very good website but I can't find out the history of the unusually named road 'The Bunny'.

7. A fishing hut on the River Test together with eel traps spanning the river.

8. I am reliably informed that these trees with their fantastic orange tops are crack willow.

9. Either Ruby Elfcup Sarcoscypha coccinea or Scarlet Elfcup Sarcoscypha austriaca.