Walk 11: Haughurst Hill Walk (Original walk information from 2007)

Approximate time 1– 11⁄2 hours

Map Ref: 578624 at start of the walk

Start at the Hurst Leisure Centre in Brimpton Road, and turn right on Brimpton Road, leaving the school on the right.  Having passed the school, cross the road into Stokes Lane with a terrace of 8 houses on the right.  At the T junction, turn right and then left to Haughurst Hill.  The lane bends to the left and passes the Old Methodist Chapel and Uncle Roy’s Redlands Trading Post on the right.  Down the hill to the end of the road which then becomes a bridleway, cross a bridge over a stream and continue on up to an open meadow.

Walk along the path on the left-hand side of the field with Great Haughurst Copse on the left and enter the woodland at the end of the meadow.  Continue in the woodland.  A path enters from the right, bear left.  The land falls away steeply to the right.  The bluebells in spring are beautiful! Continue along this path for about 500m, the path widens out and passes through a pine wood.  Just before reaching the two houses there is a stile on the left leading into a field used for horse training.  Walk up the left-hand side of the field with woodland on the left.

The path enters Little Haughurst Copse.  Walk ahead through the woodland to a point where footpaths cross, keep ahead downhill to a concrete bridge and then ahead through the kissing gate into the meadow.  Diagonally up the meadow to the next kissing gate and then continue to the third one.  The path then enters a wooded area and makes a short climb up to Haughurst Hill.  Turn right passing the Ranch again and along the road to the junction with Inhurst Lane.  Cross into Stokes Lane and then right on Brimpton Road to return to the Leisure Centre.

Please help with updating the information on this walk.  This walk needs to be updated from the original 2007 version and if you follow this walk and notice a nice detail (an "instance of delight”) please send in images that we may use and a description of the item and where it is located.  Or if a walk reminds you of a personal anecdote, please sent it in to us.  The email address to use is in the below QR Code.  Just point your device camera at it and an email will automatically be addressed and prepared for you.  We will regularly update this walk with contributions from the community.