I needed to hang around at home until the mower people had picked up our
machines for a service, and with showers predicted for the day, I chose a
local walk with lots of tree cover. The idea was to start at Ebernoe church
(no height restrictions!) then circle around the common to get to Colhook
common. Continuing north in a relatively straight line through wet wood, and
frith wood, before angling across to Frith lodge and the deer tower to reach
Shillinglee. Returning through park mill and down to Ebernoe, then back to the
church.
We parked beside the church, which is down a dirt road off Streels lane. Then
back up the track a short way before taking a footpath into teh fields.
Across the fields to the woods at the end where it turned down towards Ebernoe
Common. Bertie dropped into the river for a quick swim.
Across another grass field and into teh woods of Ebernoe Common.
The tracks in the wood have changed significantly since the map was drawn and we
followed those that went in the general direction across the common to the
west
At the west side we turned south along the edge, until it met a track continuing
to the west. This headed past Blackwool farm - the subject of some local
controversy after Vinnie Jones took ownership and started changes.
Down the farm driveway past the two fishing lakes.
Turning up the track into Colhook Common, passing a balloon take-off field. the
track soon changed to a green path mowed through bracken. This crossed Streels
lane, and continued with a similar mown path
Down to a stream before crossing another driveway and into Wet wood.
Picking up the track from the air navigation beacon crossing Pipers lane. Then
continuing up the driveway for Frith Hill place
The drive way went up the side of a wheat fields and then across the top of it
(just slightly in the trees), to reach the big house.
At teh end of teh drive way the path went around Frith Lodge, before continuing
down towards the lake.
The lake was empty - we would find out later, as we crossed China bridge, then
climbing up the slope beyond.
The slope rose up to Deer tower - a folly like building, and then around the
side of it and alongside the drive.
I had hoped to drop down the Park Mill driveway, but was discouraged by teh
"keep out" signs and ended up going along Shillinglee road, until we could take
a bridleway into the fields and woods parallel to the driveway.
Through Beanfield Copse and around two sides of the field beyond that brought us
back to Park Mill farm and the end of the driveway.
the lake was drained and there was repairs to the dam wall on-going.
A strange junction at teh end of the dam as the path we wanted seemed to go
through a barn conversion garden, then down to a large bridleway. We scared a
deer into the fields as we turned onto this, but I was not fast enough with the
camera.
Following the deer across the fields to Mitchell Park farm. Following a farm
track through teh farm yard and out the other side.
The path left the driveway and dropped down to a pond where Bertie negotiated
the mud to get to the water.
Across Pipers Lane and onto a farm track alongside a wheat field. The
navigational radio beacon up on the hill to our right.
Along the end of the wheat field and across a small wooded area, before entering
into grass fields.
Angling across the grass fields and past Freehold farm. Onto its driveway, which
we followed up to Mercers Furze.
We turned alongside the edge of the woods angling across to the woods beyond. Across a bridge and the problems began.
U[p until now we had only met some occasional light rain or drizzle and were still dry, however there followed two sections of chest high bracken that swamped the path - soaking anything that passed along it. Nothing was safe from getting soaked.
Curving around Ebernoe House initially in the bracken minefield, and then a trackway to come out on Streels lane. Across the lane and down the dirt track back the church.
At the van we dried down with the towels before sitting for some late lunch then home to dry off completely.
