Walks from Basingstoke

A scenic, almost entirely off-road walk crossing picturesque estates (War Memorial Park, Hackwood Park), woodland and arable farmers' fields, with a variety of landscapes. Some narrow and overgrown stretches (notably White Lane), a couple of stiles and kissing gates and a small amount of quiet-lane road walking; firm underfoot in dry spells. Not much in the way of resting places; the church at Weston Patrick has seating. A bus runs between the two endpoints.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h–10h

1 lunch spot: Avenue Nurseries café

Warnings: Several stiles and kissing gates, and an overgrown stretch of track (White Lane). The B3349 crossing has good sightlines south but a northbound bend, so take care. Cattle, including Highland cows, often in a field near Alton.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route of three parts: easy pavement and on-road walking through Bramley and Basingstoke's suburbs, with a more challenging middle section on rural footpaths through woodland that is muddy, rutted, waterlogged and narrow, with open ditches and occasional fallen trees. You need to be sure-footed and brambles and nettles encroach in summer. The medieval parish church at Bramley is worth a short detour.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Lunch: No facilities in the middle section.

End-of-walk reward: Bramley has shops, a bakery cafe and The Bramley Inn near the station.

Warnings: Cufaude Lane is narrow with surprising amounts of traffic and no pavement, so care is needed. The woodland middle section has open ditches, flooding and fallen trees. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A mix of easy paved sections and cross-country walking on field paths, tracks and gates and with cultivated stretches that turn sticky after rain and several stiles. One section across Hook Common is totally undefined across very boggy ground.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Warnings: The path across Hook Common, between the cricket club and Rectory Road, is undefined and crosses very boggy ground — it is better to stay on the A30 pavement. Several stiles and gates; a section near Old Basing may be diverted for housing construction. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Lovely views and goes through beautiful beech woods. A long, varied walk taking in lanes, fields, beech woodland and a final urban stretch into Basingstoke. The off-road sections are largely dry underfoot and though woodland paths can be overgrown and muddy in winter. No stiles. Follows a stretch of the Wayfarer's Walk near Dummer. The train from Basingstoke to Micheldever takes about 10 minutes for an easy linear return.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h

Lunch: Community cafe in Beggarwood Park and a Forest Holidays cafe in Blackwood also offer refreshments along the way.

Warnings: Larkwhistle Farm Road has fast traffic and narrow verges with no safe place to step off, and undulations hide approaching vehicles. The Holt woods can get muddy. The footpath through The Holt is tricky to find.

Walk details: Slow Ways.