More rain yesterday fell on an already saturated ground, so for today I
chose to head to the MoD trainign areas south of Elstead, as this is mainly on
a sandy base. The walk would start at the car park above Royal common into
Ockley Common, then across to Elstead Common continuing into Hankley Common.
Circling around and out the south end to return to Thursley village as an
access point to Thursley Common through the nature reserve. Finally turning
back up through Ockley, and Royal commons to return to the car park.
The car park was more of a layby beside the B3001 outside the village of
Elstead, and this morning there was only one space left among the dog walker
cars. We left along the tarmacked road way heading into the trees. Approaching
the Royal Common things opened slightly.
Past the pond hiding in the shrubs and still on the metalled road, as the
scenery changed to more grass and heather among the trees.
The metalled road mutated into a dirt track as we entered into Ockley Common,
curving to the West.
Continuing in the same direction we crossed into Elstead Common on the boundary
between trees and heather covered marsh land. The bridleway curved up towards
the village, and became a little more boggy (but avoidable)
At the boundary of the MoD area we doubled back to pick up the dirt track once
more, and getting more sandy.
Turning into the car park beside the Moat pond, and over the back road and down
the track through the trees beyond. At Woolfords lane opposite Elstead manor we
turned north to go around the estate.
A sharp turn back through a gate and down a track beside grassland led back into
MoD territory - this time Hankley Common. This was a little more undulating than
the previous commons.
We followed the track as it continued to the ridge in front of us. The marked
footpath on the map leading up Yagden Hill had disappeared into the heather, so
we climbed it a little off-piste.
looking northwest towards Crooksbury and Alice holt where we were earlier in
the week.,
Descending the other side - Crooksbury hill in the distance - heading towards
the northern edge of the training area.
Turning south at a crossroads and into the track led into the local golf
course.
In the middle of the golf course we turned left at the crossroads and moved back
into the MoD area at a place labelled Lion's Mouth - a junction of 5 tracks.
From the junction we climbed up to the high point and onto the ridge beyond.
Looking down into the bowl below
This ridge curved around the training area - many tracks crisscrossing the
flatter area below.
Still on Kettlebury Hill we continued out of the woods to a point where we could
descend the southern side.
From the bottom of the valley we climbed the other side up a track with a small
stream in the bottom. In the trees above we climbed to the top of the bump to
the right.
On the top we turned east and followed a track on the ridge as we paralleled the
boundary of the training area above Pitch Place. We dropped down to a stream
where we had exited Hankley Common previously, and up to the back road above.
Following a small path below Dye House and into the end of Thursley village.
Through the village and into Thursley Common, heading north.
Looking north over the common towards Elstead.
We zigzagged across to the eastern end of the common as there was no path
straight across the marshy area ahead.
The first mistake of the day was when I chose to turn north just before the
woods rather than use the bridleway inside the trees. Although this was a viable
track it was a little wet (although not impassable yet!)
Diversion required ... a large pool across the track, so we cut though the
scrub to the much dryer track in the trees and continued up into the MoD area of
the common.
We met up with our outward track, picking up the metalled track that would lead
back to Royal Common and the car park.
The final straight section back to the car park and lunch.
