Explore the remnants of a former Royal hunting ground
Distance:
<5 miles. 1-2 miles
Location:
Hampshire
Type:
Easy. Miles without Stiles
Duration:
1-2 hours
There are no steps or barriers on this route of gravel tracks and footpaths. Suitable for off-road specific motorised wheelchairs / trampers as well as push-chairs and off-road bikes.
Gradient: Gently undulating.
Surface: Unbound tracks, gravel and stone combined
Facilities: Toilets are located in the car park. Set within the trees there are two play areas for children and a picnic area.
Getting Here
By bus: Catch the No. 69 bus that runs between Winchester and Wickham Square. The nearest stop is a 2.2 mile walk from West Walk.
By car: West Walk car park (Forestry England) Hundred Acres Road, Wickham, Hampshire PO17 6JD. Parking fees apply.
Points of Interest
Forest of Bere
Discover the beauty and tranquillity of the South Downs National Park within easy reach of the charming market town of Wickham. Covering 350 hectares, West Walk is the largest remaining fragment of the former medieval hunting ground, the Forest of Bere. This route has been designed as a Miles Without Stiles route suitable for people with restricted mobility, including wheelchair users and families with pushchairs.
Throughout West Walk, small areas of nineteenth century oak remain from a time when oak trees were planted to supply the navy with timber for ship building. Today, these trees have rare lichens growing on them, and are home to bats and nesting woodland birds.
Directions
- Starting at the noticeboard in the main car park simply follow the left hand track down between the two play areas.
- At the fork go left and continue for 450m until you reach a 5-way junction where you bear right.
- Continue on the track for 700m, taking the right hand fork, going past a bench and over the river.
- Take the first right track, leaving the main path.
- At the triangle take the left hand track back up the slope to the car park.