Fleet - Crookham - Dogmersfield - Winchfield

Nina Earl

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One of the nicest things about this linear walk is that almost as soon as you step off the train, you've arrived in the heart of some truly stunning countryside. Bird-lovers will be somewhat loathe to drag themselves away from this bird haven at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, but may be surprised at what can be spotted alongside the canal.

A mile and a half or so into the walk, you come to the Basingstoke Canal. The features along this stretch of the canal in Hampshire are completely different to those found in Surrey; there's not a lock in sight! Instead a variety of bridges, World War Two relics and a good selection of canal-side pubs can all be found here. There is good contrasting scenery too, from the more urban, built-up area around Fleet, to the rural and secluded stretches by Crookham Village and Dogmersfield Park. The picnic sites and pubs are nicely spaced out, although the first of these is not reached until about the third mile of the walk, at Church Crookham. Once Crookham Wharf is reached, you come across an odd assortment of World War Two relics, from pill-boxes to concrete tank-traps.

For those who enjoy visiting churches, St Mary the Virgin Church at Winchfield is situated near the end of the walk.

England - South England - Hampshire - Canal Walk

Features

Birds, Church, Flowers, Lake/Loch, Pub, River, Toilets, Wildlife

2/24/2014 - Francis Rooney

Did this walk on Sunday 23rd Feb 2014. The footpath along the canal just before the Barley Mow Bridge (the last bridge you go under on the canal) is blocked off due to a landslip. You can loop round it by nipping off at the previous bridge. Surprising this walk was very dry considering the weather, apart from the very last couple of fields which were something akin to a swamp

1/23/2011 - Peter Scaresbrook