Winchfield to Hook, 18 July

IMPORTANT CHANGE  Please note that the end point of the walk has changed, which means you need a return ticket to Hook, not Bramley. The reason for the change is that the heat and the hardness of the ground has made the original walk too arduous. The revised walk has the same morning of about 5 miles, but the afternoon is very different from the original and is only 2 to 3 miles.

Trains: Buy a return ticket to Hook (Hampshire). The outward journey is the 8.42 from Waterloo to Winchfield. It’s the Basingstoke train. It does not stop at Clapham Junction. It’s scheduled to arrive at Winchfield at 9.43.

Alternatively, catch the 8.52 Portsmouth & Southsea train from Clapham Junction, but you must change at Woking to the join the Basingstoke train, which leaves Woking at 9.19.

The Walk: The walk is through woods and fields in gentle undulating countryside, with no steep ascents or descents. There’s a visit to a lovely church with parts built in the 13th and 15th Centuries.

Lunch: If you are planning to eat in the pub, please text Terry or email walks@morleyramblers.uk, by 6pm on Friday 17 July so that he can confirm numbers with the pub. Picnickers will be able to eat in the churchyard.

Dropouts: Unfortunately, there are no easy opportunities for leaving the walk early by public transport. You may be able to order a taxi to Hook or Basingstoke from the lunch stop pub.

Hazards: There are a couple of crossings of busy roads and some walking along country lanes, so the usual warnings apply – take responsibility for your own safety, walk single file along narrow roads and listen to the leader’s guidance.

The weather forecast is for a sunny day with no rain and a high of 25 degrees C. So bring plenty of water. There’s expected to be a breeze, so it should be pleasant. However, the terrain is very dry and hard underfoot.

Terry