Ash Ranges & Basingstoke Canal

Bank Holiday Monday, and for once the Ash Ranges were open when I looked at the website, it was too good an opportunity to miss, so I planned a walk across the middle then diverging towards Brookwood to pick up the Basingstoke canal, along it beside the Pirbright and Deepcut barracks. before returning to the ranges and down the middle to meet the outward trace close to the edge.

I was in the van so parked outside the church in Wyke where I had been before. then up the footpath into Normandy Common.

Past the playing pitches (two games of cricket as well as football pitch marking out was going on), and into the pine woods beyond.

Across the A324 and along the dirt track to some houses before taking the path into the wood band around the training area. I was still nervous that the flags may be flying, but there was nothing on the pole and the padlocks were off.

Trepidation into the training area following the stoney track to Dukes Hill, where I turned onto a second heading to the east which skirted aroudn the base of Bastion Hill

still on the track as it meandered around the base of Peatmoor hill.

Across a lower area of longhill bottom, and over a cross tracks into Pirbright Common.

A second (staggered) cross tracks and up beside Kiln Hill

Turning onto Admiral's road (track), following it to the edge of the training area and a gate to cross into the woods beyond.

The track gradually became more and more defined as it progressed through the woods (there were a number of cars parked along here so there was public road access). At Pirbright lodge the road became tarmacked, with several small car parks beside it.

Just after the Manor house, I turned up a path (the entrance was hard to find). This path opened into fields as it approached a back road - I had been along this road on a previous walk).

Turning off the road on a path beside a church, that mutated into a wider green lane leading up to the B3405

Straight over and along a straight, wide track through woods leading to a tunnel under the main rail line.

On the other side I met the trace of the Basingstoke canal, at the first of the locks in the Deepcut lock flight, and the remains of an old railway embankment.

Along the canal passing the Pirbright barracks. The lock flight was spread out with fourteen locks in this section of the canal.

There were also numerous users f the towpath and I passed a number of walkers as well as having to deal with many cyclists - most of these passed without incident, however there were a couple who could not manage to share the towpath.

Once past the barracks there was a section of managed access area opposite the tow path, which may be worth a visit at some point in the future.

Then the second (and more notorious for youth suicides) Deepcut barracks. Here there canal was more level and I had passed the last of the locks.

I continued on the towpath up to the bridge  of the B3015. Here I climbed the steps up to the road and turned past a new housing estate to a single track bridge over the railway line. 

Across the B3012 and onto a path between fields. This path came out at a layby at the end of old Guildford road where I returned to the managed access area above the ranges.

Through the pine woods of this part of the area and onto a wider track.

Following the gravel track through the middle of the area passing a more open area.

Over a complex junction always travelling in a southerly direction. the track left the managed area onto a back road which I followed to get to the access point close to Mytchett Gate

The access point crossed over the railway line (this one merges with the previous one opposite the barracks) once again. Through the gate into the ranges (still no flag) and out of the trees onto the heathland beyond.

Initially heading towards Crown Prince Hill, to access the central spine track. This track climbed slightly up to the higher plateau. Turning south at a point holding the remains of a previous bush fire.

Across the plateau of Cleygate common, past the junctions for Bastion Hill I had walked around earlier.

At the top of Fox hills lookign towards the woods and hills along the edge of the ranges - Normandy, Gravelpit, and Surprise hills. However I turned down a track that dropped down towards Wyke common.

Looking along the track to the gate at the point where I had entered the ranges several hours before.

Back through the gate and surrounding woods. Then following the route I had used to get here this morning through Normandy Common, and the church yard back to the van.