Witley Common Wander, Local

 

A short wander today ...  it was murky and threatened drizzle, so time to explore one of the National trust areas close to home. Witley Common was an old army camp from the world wars, and was now a managed woodland and heathland with some dry sandy paths around it.

We parked at the main car park in the middle near the centre making use of our NT cards for free parking. And set off into the woods towards the centre.

Between the car park and the centre is a series of structures for exercise and playing 

We followed the "Heathland Hike" trail and its purple way markers. 

There was a slight rise to climb into teh southern corner of the common.

There were a large number of fir trees here which can be cut on a certain weekend in the year.

From here the path circled back around the other side of the common

Past the old parade ground ...  now just a clear area of scrub.

Back to the middle again, and a pond on the A3 side of the car park, before continuing on along the edge of the common.

The north end of the common was a slightly raised area, but noticeably of a darker - more orangey - sand. Near the cemetery entrance was a memorial to the occupants from WWII

The final section back to the car park across the most open parts of the common and the old base ball diamond area.

Back at the van for refreshments and a return home before a small rain shower.