Burghclere

The North Hampshire Downs

A pleasant Sunday and time for a more a demanding walk - a triangular one of 7 miles starting from Burghclere. We also hoped to visit the Sandham Memorial Chapel, a 1920s chapel with murals by Stanley Spencer, which is in Burghclere, but unfortunately we ran out of time.

You soon leave the village of Burghclere, heading east, and walk up a lovely track past Batt's Copse and then Frith Copse. In this area we found a flower meadow with literally hundreds of Painted Ladies, and also a splendid selection of other butterflies (see below). I had to be dragged away to continue the walk.



After crossing a large corn field, you make a sharp right turn and begin the second side of the triangle, heading south west to Old Burghclere. We had a couple of problems with the directions here, taking the wrong line in Waterleas Copse and battling through brambles on an overgrown path and then missing a turning after Earlstone Manor and having to do an extra section of road to regain the route.

Eventually however we came into a charming narrow valley beside Ware Copse ...



... and emerged on the edge of Old Burghclere. From here the route again turns sharp right and now you head north along a track back to Burghclere. There are nice views of the North Hampshire Downs here, including this one of Ladle Hill, where I had an exhilarating walk in February.

Eventually you leave the track and head across fields and then a marshy meadow, cross the former railway line and return to Burghclere.


From: Rambling for Pleasure: Kennet Valley and Watership Down by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers’ Association Group.

Maps: Explorer 158 (Newbury and Hungerford) and 144 (Basingstoke).

Rating: four stars. Nice views, open country, generally very quiet and peaceful (though some traffic noise at the nearest point to the A34).


Sightings

A record 16 species of butterfly: Dark Green Fritillary, Silver Washed Fritillary, Common Blue, Small Blue, Small Copper, Brimstone, all three Whites, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Peacock, Comma, Painted Lady.


Flowers of the day

We saw several harebells on the track from Old Burghclere.



And several clumps of this very cheerful Common Fleabane by the side of a field.