Hook Basingstoke Canal

A short description of the walk

This walk takes you through woodlands then follows the Basingstoke Canal past King John’s Castle (13th century) to North Warnborough.

It comes back across Bartley Heath. The heath is a great place for wildlife including deer, and the resident New Forest ponies. There are also many species of flowers, butterflies and fungi.

Key

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    • Route
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    • Temporarily closed
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    • Restricted use

Directions

Head towards Basingstoke from the village centre and after the railway bridge take a right down Morris Street.

At the junction with Old School Road, turn right and then left (signposted Fosters Business Park). After 10m take footpath to left and continue via track past Basingstoke Country Hotel.

Cross A30 and walk down Heather Row, over motorway and immediately left onto footpath and through trees to gravel path to your right. After 250m follow path to right, continue straight for 200m and bear left.

At the next path crossroads, take second turning (11 o’clock). Cross path through kissing gates and eventually into a field. Take path to left after 150m signposted ‘to the tunnel’.

At the road, turn right. Turn down Deptford Lane and after 10m, take path on left and join canal towpath. Continue along canal passing King John’s Castle. After 1.5km, pass under a road bridge.

After 300m, you pass the back entrance to the Jolly Miller pub. Continue for 100m and take footpath across the field towards the left bridge (with the pipe). Turn left and then at main road right towards roundabout.

Go straight across it down small road and continue straight on woodland path. Take path to right after 100m and follow until it crosses the motorway at a footbridge.

Carry straight on and take footpath to left about 100m after you cross under the pylon wires and head towards some open woodlands. Follow path across heath to a stile near to the Griffin Road roundabout. Turn right onto Station Road and continue to Hook centre.