Compton and Shawford Walkers’ Group: Brown Candover

12 of us (9 human, 3 canine) met on Saturday 21 January for an exhilarating walk on the high ground to the north of Brown Candover. An 8 mile route took us north along the Wayfarers’ Walk, an ancient route thought to have been used by  drovers taking cattle for export, before looping round to the east and south to return by a different route. It was a breezy day and stayed mainly dry, with wonderful views to west and east over mid-Hampshire’s upland farm country. At our most northerly point we were a couple of miles from Dummer and the M3, but there was no traffic noise and the nearest motorway might have been 20 miles away. And we didn’t meet a soul.

Conversation was as brisk as the weather; so much so that the navigator overshot one turning by 5 minutes before realising his mistake…

We adjourned for lunch to the Northbrook Arms in East Stratton, where we were warmly welcomed and very well fed and watered.

An excellent way to spend a winter Saturday.

Mike Killingley