Town & Training area, Aldershot

Clear and frosty this morning - too good not to make use of the dry day. A good day to try out a route I had been thinking of for the AAC around Aldershot. I would start at the Wellington memorial, walk through town to the station, over the rail line and down to Rowhill nature reserve. Over the A235 and into the disused training area, across to Caesar's camp then into the Lavadas of Bourley bottom area, then up to Beacon Hill. From here the original idea was to go over into driver training area and zigzag up to the pub on the edge of the forest of Eversley, and back into the driver training are to go across to the Basingstoke canal. From the canal following the Duke's wood walks back to the statue. Unfortunately I forgot to check the training days, and the driver area was closed to the public so I had to put in a couple of pig's ear loops to find a way around.

Parked up in the Wellesley car park, as it was free and the station would cost. The car park was half full of group exercisers and a small walking party. From here I walked across the grassy area to the junction with the A323.

After crossing the A323 I following a disused road opposite Tesco's. This ended at a crossroads opposite a park. over the busy road and through to the edge of the shopping area. Then working my way through the shops on pedestrian streets, until I could get to the station approach road.

At the station I crossed over the tracks using the footbridge

On the other side zigzagged through the residential streets to reach the Manor park

After the park, down beside the church to the back road. Over the road and down a side street

The street mutated into a path leading into Brackfields park

Along the back road back under the railway and merging with B3007. At a dirt road I turned into the nature reserve. I was now on the Blackwater valley path.

Following the BVP into the reserve, and around an open area.

The track finally emerged at the visitor centre just off the A325

Over the main road and into the MOD area beyond, climbing up the bank to reach the track above.

Along the track to the pond in long bottom, then climbing up to reach the top of Caesar's camp.

Up on the plateau looking back to the town below, then onwards around the edge of the summit plateau.

Looking over towards the Farnborough airport.

North and more views, before continuing along the edge of the plateau

At the east end curve aroudn to the main path and then I dropped down to the woods below.

Into the woods picking up the first of the Lavadas and followed it around to the reservoir.

Around the reservoir, and climbing back up towards the edge of the training area.

Along the track parallel to the B3013, up to the junction where a path heads off to Beacon Hill.

Top of the hill hidden in the trees, followed by a very steep descent

At the bottom of the slope a faint track through the trees following another Lavada eventually came out onto a track along a fence line.

this track turned sharply to the left. I did not find the track I wanted but took the next path and along the edge of the area. This came out near where I wanted on Bourley road, which I followed to where the track I was looking for was shown on the map. However this was just a bolted gate, so I continued to the point where I knew there was a gate. When I got there it was shut and the training area closed to the public.

So plan B ... back to the track I had left by climbing through the trees on a faint track, and then along to the open area, however this time following its other side.

this narrow area led up past the eventing area of Tweseldown , and to cross Bourley road opposite a car park.

Into the woods beside the car park and the eventing ground. this just touches the edge of Crookham.

the wide track narrowed as it paralleled Aldershot road, then met up with the route of the fuel pipeline. At the post I turned left into the woods and followed the path up to the pub on Aldershot road.

Leaving the pub, I tried to cross back into the area I had come from and could not find a suitable path. Eventually I gave in and crossed into the forest of Eversley

I planned a route to curve around on the tracks and come out back onto Aldershot road close to the A323. However when i came out there was still no track leading south into the driver training area.

Now on Plan C ... Curving back up through the forest to reach the Basingstoke canal where it touches the A323 at a roundabout. Some of this involved freelancing through the woods to find a track going where I wanted it to. At the roundabout there was a track off a back road that curved down to the canal.

Now along the canal heading back towards Aldershot.

I followed the canal looking for the bridge beside Eelmoor flash.

As I left the canal there was a good view of the privileged few's air transports.

Over the bridge, and left immediately into the woods on the opposite side to the towpath.

Now in Duke's Woods, and several trail options ... all named by tree varieties. I would follow a variety through the Wellesley woods back to the memorial.