Walk 3595 - printer friendly version

Old Burghclere & Burghclere from Beacon Hill Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.6 miles / 9.1 km

Ascent - 400 feet / 121 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SU462577
Lat 51.3165410 + Long -1.3384760
Postcode RG20 9LP (approx. location only)

This Hampshire walk explores the pleasant countryside between Old Burghclere and Burghclere using paths, tracks and byways. The route generally follows well-trodden routes although an OS map would be an advantage to help with detailed navigation especially with the section after Bridgemoor Farm.

The start is the car park for Beacon Hill which lies just west of the A34 trunk road just over two miles south of Burghclere. After parking cross the A34 to the slip roads on the other side. A footpath sign opposite shows the way ahead. The path slants right down the embankment and then crosses large field to Old Burghclere. The path is clear with the hedge to your immediate left. The path leads onto a driveway with two large houses on your right. Reaching the road (grid ref. SU470579).

Turn left along the road. After 200 metres the road bends left. Here, continue straight ahead onto a clear track heading north. After just over a kilometre you reach a cross track (grid ref. SU470593). The cross track is the Brenda Parker Way. Go straight across. The track then trends northwest to reach Ridgemoor Farm. Just before the wooden barns on the right, go through the gate with a footpath fingerpost (grid ref. SU465597). Continue ahead keeping to the left of a small pond. The path maintains direction across the field and passes through a gap with woodland on either side of the path.

Once in the gap, take the signed path on the left into woodland. Continue straight ahead through the wood to exit into a field. The path runs parallel to the boundary of the woodland on your left. Continue to reach a hedge (grid ref. SU464602). Turn right here along the hedge which is on your left. The path continues towards Budd's Farm where the right of way veers left into a small field. Turn right along the right-hand side of this field and continue to a lane by-passing Budd's Farm (grid ref. SU464606).

Turn left along the lane to a T-junction. Turn right towards Burghclere. Continue past the Carpenter's Arms Inn (on your right) to the next road junction on your right. Turn right into Spring Lane. You are now on the Brenda Parker Way. After 400 metres, you reach fingerposts on either side of the road. Turn right here through a kissing gate and cross the field as directed by the finger. After 50 metres you reach the route of an old railway line. Turn left onto the clear path, which is still the Brenda Parker Way. You now have 1.5 kilometres of easy walking to where the path on the old railway ends (grid ref. SU4735930). The Brenda Parker Way goes right. However, the walk continues by going left to reach a lane (Well Street) after 300 metres. Turn right.

Almost immediately take the signed path by a metal, gate on your right. The track leads along the side of a field with the hedge on your right. After 400 metres the track bends right and shortly after bends left alongside a plantation. The path then enters the trees running parallel to the old railway on your right. After leaving the trees the path continues next to the old railway line to reach a lane (grid ref. SU471579). Note the final section of the path was quite overgrown but passable. Turn right along the lane into Old Burghclere. Where the lane bends right continue ahead on the right of way passing the two large house of your left. From here retrace your steps back across a field to the A34 and the start.

If you still have enough energy you can finish the walk with an ascent of Beacon Hill from where you are able to see most of the route covered above. For more information go to Walk 3594.

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