Kingsclere: Hollowshot Lane and Hannington Village [reprise]

The Victorian well-head in Hannington

I did the short version of this walk in April and today returned to do the full version, which goes up and over the North Hampshire downs to the pretty village of Hannington. The first site of the village is Bertha's cottage, but the whole place is full of lovely houses. The well-head is on the village green, near the church. The full walk is richly varied and rewarding.

Rating: 4 stars.

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

Map: Explorer 144 (Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch).

Bertha's cottage, Hannington

Reflections

I commented on the impact of bright yellow oilseed rape on the earlier walk, and later on how it had faded by early May. I was struck today by the new yellow of ripening corn. The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Sightings

A few butterflies about today, none better than a pair of Painted Ladies. A foreign visitor, which my butterfly book says can be quite tame and approachable. And so it was.