A Winter Walk for Twixmas

This is a short circular walk around the countryside of North East Hampshire with a pub lunch, for anyone looking to get out and stretch their legs in the period between Christmas and the New Year.

The sights:

Hook: This large, affluent village of over 9,000 people was originally a stopping point on the London to Exeter stagecoach route, but was bypassed by the railway when it was first constructed in 1840. It finally got a station in 1883, after which it began to develop as commuters moved in. Hook was earmarked as a London overspill town in 1959, but strong local opposition meant that Basingstoke was selected for the role instead. Nonetheless, the village has expanded considerably in the last 40 years, with housing and industrial estates springing up around the centre.

Greywell: A small parish of 250 people, the economy was traditionally based on agriculture and timber. Nowadays, most residents commute or are retired. The Fox & Goose pub dates back to the 16th century.

Greywell Hill House: This large grade II listed mansion about half-a-mile west of Greywell was completed by 1824, and is currently the seat of the Earls of Malmesbury.

Basingstoke Canal: The canal was constructed between 1788 and 1794 and originally ran 37 miles from the River Wey Navigation at Byfleet to Basingstoke, with the aim of allowing boats to travel all the way from the London docks to North Hampshire. It was never a commercial success, and its fate was sealed by the opening of the railway from London to Basingstoke in 1840. After the partial collapse of Greywell Tunnel in 1932, it was no longer possible to use the full length of the canal and it fell into dereliction. Hampshire and Surrey County Councils purchased the canal east of the tunnel in the 1970s, allowing an 18-year restoration project to bring the eastern 32 miles back into operation in 1991.

Greywell Tunnel: At 1,230 yards long, this is the second-longest canal tunnel in southern England, passing under Greywell Hill. Completed in September 1794, boats had to be 'legged' through it as there was no towpath. Lack of maintenance resulted in the tunnel roof partially collapsing in 1932. Although canoeists could still get through as late as the 1950s, the blockage is now total. The tunnel then acquired a new life as one of the most important bat-roosting sites in Britain due to the micro-climate inside, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Odiham (or King John's) Castle: Now a ruin, the castle was built by King John between 1207 and 1214 as a secure staging post between Windsor & Winchester. Sitting in a loop of the River Whitewater, it originally consisted of a three-storey keep surrounded by a bailey (walled courtyard) & two moats. It was besieged & captured by the French in 1216, but subsequently renovated & extended. It served as a prison in the 13th & 14th centuries, before ending up as a hunting lodge. By 1605, it was in ruins. It was restored by Hampshire County Council in 2007.

Hook Common & Bartley Heath: This 320-acre area of open heathland & woodland just south of Hook is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and is an SSSI. The habitat supports a wide range of birdlife, invertebrates and plants, and is maintained by grazing herds of rare cattle and semi-wild ponies.

The route (please click the link in red to see it):

From Hook station, we'll head west out of the village towards Newnham before turning south to cross the railway line at Kings Bridge and then the A30. Carrying on through Heather Row, we cross the M3 and eventually reach the derelict Basingstoke Canal at Eastrop Bridge, Up Nately, We'll then walk eastwards along footpaths parallel to the line of the Greywell Tunnel, passing through Greywell Hill Park to reach our pub lunch stop at the Fox & Goose pub in Greywell. After the break, we'll carry on north-eastwards to visit Odiham Castle, and then proceed through North Warnborough and Lodge Farm to re-cross the M3 and traverse Bartley Heath back to Hook.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on this walk, and this is suitable for them, with few obstacles to negotiate. However, where we encounter livestock or need to cross or walk along roads, dogs must be on a lead. This particularly applies when we cross Bartley Heath because of the presence of grazing cattle & ponies, and at times when we are in the vicinity of open water.

At all other times, a dog off the lead must be obedient.

The Fox & Goose is dog-friendly.

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Photos: Odiham Castle exterior (header) / The Fox & Goose PH, Greywell / Hook Station / Hook Station parking / War Memorial, Hook / Horses, Owen's Farm / Signpost at Kings Bridge / Railway lines / M3 towards Basingstoke / Eastrop Bridge over derelict canal / Signpost at Greywell Hill / Greywell Hill House / MENU1 / MENU2 / Greywell Tunnel eastern portal / Odiham Castle interior / Lift bridge over Basingstoke Canal / North Warnborough / Unusual footbridge over M3 / Bartley Heath

All photos taken by the leader November 2024 and permission given to OutdoorLads for use.