Hermitage - Oare - Box Wood - Fence Wood - Hermitage

Andrew Long

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Starting from The White Horse pub, the walk heads up Doctors Lane and into the countryside before disappearing into Roebuck Wood. The route then takes the walker into the hamlet of Oare past the Chapel of St Bartholomew, dating from 1852. There was a priory here until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. All that is left is a wall and the pond.

From here, the walk heads through open fields before reaching the village of Little Hungerford. Turning up Chapel Lane, the walk crosses the railway trackbed before passing D H Lawrence's pretty cottage. After crossing the main road, the route re-enters the wood. Turning left at the next junction, the walk heads north out of the wood and there then follows a 'noisy' stretch next to the M4. The views of the rolling hills are good.

Heading south away from the M4, there are more great views before the walk heads westwards past Brockhurst School and a large house with an industrial-sized chimney.

The final section of the route takes the walker through Fence Wood on the Fence Lane path. There is a gradual climb but nothing to be concerned about. The return to Hermitage does involve a little road-walking, but there is a verge and the road is straight and not that busy.

England - South England - Berkshire - Thames Valley

4/4/2021 - Andrew Long

Walk reviewed on a lovely Easter Sunday and minor updates added. New photos added for WM04/05 and 17. Little mud encountered.

9/21/2017 - Andrew Long

Thanks for your feedback Neil. I have updated the walk to start from the pub and have replaced pictures/references to stiles with gates.

9/13/2017 - Neil Packham

Note that the old village hall is now housing and the new one isn't close to the start of the route so Briants Piece is the best bet for parking. Certainly not a first choice for the middle of a wet winter - there are far too many muddy byways and tracks for that - but nothing too problematic at this time of year. As usual, many of the referenced stiles are now kissing gates. It was slightly unnerving to be confronted by several aggressive dogs from at the cottage at WM10 - I took the owners word for it that they were all bark and no bite...

2/2/2016 - Nigel Williamson

This is an excellent walk from the village of Hermitage through some very attractive and varied countryside. The directions are spot on. Recommend The White Horse for lunch before or after the walk.