HampshireHighlands
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - AA Walks
Distance: 8.8km
Minimum Time: 3hrs
Ascent: 609ft
Difficulty Level: 2 - Medium
Paths: Ridge tracks, field paths and country road
Landscape: Downland, hidden combes and rolling farmland
Dog Friendliness: Let them off lead along ridge-top track
Parking: Along village street by the Plough
Public Toilets: None en route
Description:
The far north-west corner of Hampshire is dominated by a stretch of high chalk downland tumbling across the Berkshire border close to Walbury Hill, the highest chalk hill in England at 947ft (288m), commonly known as the North Hampshire Downs. This a remote and peaceful area, with an impressive chalk ridge that affords a magnificent panorama north across Newbury and Berkshire, and west into Wiltshire. South of this lofty escarpment lie rolling hills dotted with ancient woodland, hidden combes and seemingly unchanging isolated communities. Hill Country Venture west away from the busy A34 and the A343 and youâll find yourself on lonely single-track roads, heading through undisturbed hill country, where glorious views unfolding to villages, such as Faccombe, Combe, Linkenholt and Vernham Dean. The area must be one of the few areas in the county that you can pause and enjoy the peace and quiet that surrounds you, without being rudely interrupted by the intruding roar of car engines. Sheep dot the pastures, in high summer the cotton reels of hay, fresh from harvesting, line the fields, and the mewing of buzzards fills the air.
Highest Point. You begin your walk in the long straggling village of Ashmansworth, which at 770ft (235m) is the highest medieval village on chalk anywhere in England. Thereâs a well-spaced mix of farmhouses and cottages, built of typical Hampshire flint, brick, timber and thatch. Take a stroll down to the totally unspoilt 12th-century church to view medieval wall paintings and the memorial to the composer Gerald Finzi before setting off for Pilot Hill. Reached via an ancient ridge track, formerly a sheep-droving route, Pilot Hill is, at 937ft (286m), the highest point in Hampshire. As you leave the Wayfarers Walk, pause to absorb the view across the Berkshire Vale into Oxfordshire. Just a few paces further on, youâll find the view south, across the heart of Hampshire, equally impressive. Faccombe, the most northerly village in the county, is a classic example of an unspoilt estate village. Centred around a large Georgian manor house, it boasts a typical village pond, attractive brick-built cottages and a welcoming village inn, also estate-owned. Named after the Saxon chieftain Facca, the village was once known as Faccombe Upstreet to distinguish it from Faccombe Netherton, now simply Netherton, 1 mile (1.6km) to the west. The latter was at one time the the main centre of population, once having a 13th-century church. It is only in the last 160 years that the bulk of the population has moved up the hill to Faccombe, where the Church of St Barnabas was built in 1886 to serve the village, and where you will find the beautifully decorated Norman font and several 17th-century memorials from the original church.
While you're there: Visit the beautiful, unrestored Church of St James in Ashmansworth. Look for the 14th-century wall paintings and for the grave of Gerald Finzi, the composer, who lived in the village from 1939 to his death in 1956. He was best known for his music set to poetry and his place in English music is honoured here in the memorial window in the porch, engraved by Lawrence Whistler.
What tio look out for: In Crux Easton, on the shorter Walk 29, look out for the unusual metal wind pump. Designed to pump water to the manor house, it is believed to be the only remaining pump of its kind in southern England.
Where to eat and drink: At the half way point in Faccombe you will find an extensive menu at the Jack Russell Inn.
Directions:
Walk north along the village street, keeping ahead at the fork, signed to Newbury. In 0.25 mile (400m), just before you reach a house, turn left along a byway (Wayfarers Walk - WW). Keep to this ancient track along the ridge and beside Bunkhanger Copse to a lane. 2 Turn right and savour the farreaching views north. In 0.25 mile (400m), bear off left with a WW marker, just before lane begins to descend. Follow the stony track along the ridge, bearing left then right to cross open downland to a crossing of paths. 3 Cross the stile on your left and head straight across pasture (this is Pilot Hill) to a stile. Bear left along the field-edge, crossing two more stiles, then turn right on to a stony track alongside woodland. Steeply descend into a combe, keep ahead at a crossing of tracks and gradually climb, the track eventually merging with a metalled lane. 4 Bear right into Faccombe and turn left along the village street. Pass the church and a lane on your right, signed to the Jack Russell Inn, then turn left (signed âAshmansworthâ) by the side of Faccombe Manor. In 200yds (183m), take the arrowed path left beside double gates. 5 Keep to the left-hand fieldedge, following the track right, and steeply descend through woodland. At a junction of tracks, bear right to pass two brick and flint farm buildings (Curzon Street Farm). 6 Proceed straight ahead at the crossing of tracks and keep to the main track as it steeply ascends the valley side into woodland. Emerge from the trees and keep to the track beside Privet Copse. Continue ahead at a junction of tracks, across the field and a track to join a narrow path (marked by a yellow arrow on a post) through a copse. 7 Drop down on to a track, bear left, then immediately right and steeply climb to a gap beside a gate. Turn left along a lane, following it uphill into Ashmansworth.
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