Otherwise known as following in the footsteps of fictional bunnies! And more red pins on my Google World Map :) Also found some ideas for places to visit on my day off work on Thursday.
Notes on the walk:
Stopped the car just before Sydmonton to take a long-distance view of Watership Down...
We parked up just past Sydmonton and followed a bridlepath up a steep hill. This was the somewhat discreet entrance to the bridlepath we were going to take.
The path soon opened up, it was shady and cool.
These pictures were taken from a gap in the trees along the bridlepath about 3/4 mile along towards the A34 and the West. Beacon Hill, another iron age hill fort is just past the A34 on one of the hills in these pics.
Past some dogrose, there was quite a lot of this on the bridlepath.
Past a tree that was holding up half another tree at a somewhat precarious angle.
From the other side you can see the broken tree trunk.
This view is the view to the East across more rolling downs and open farmland.
At the top we walked between two fields (at the 1 mile marker) and stopped at the junction of three paths for a picnic.
After the picnice we turned left and walked along a wide grassy path between two poppy lined fields of oil seed rape (canola) until we found the iron age fort that sits on top of Ladle Hill.
We did a circuit of the Hill Fort, taking in the view to the North that the vantage point gave us before returning to the bridleway and walking along the ridge top.
Just past mile two marker we crossed a field full of sheep and at the far end of this down a very steep slope to the gap between Ladle Hill and Watership Down. Across a small country lane and on up a steep footpath to the top of Watership Down and the gallops that are mentioned in the book as being a favoured grazing spot of the bunnies. Here a rest whilst the car was fetched by someone feeling much fitter than me. Then back down the steep footpath to the car and a scenic drive home.
This walk was about 3.5 miles long but with quite tough terrain so I'm feeling it this afternoon!
Notes on the walk:Stopped the car just before Sydmonton to take a long-distance view of Watership Down...
We parked up just past Sydmonton and followed a bridlepath up a steep hill. This was the somewhat discreet entrance to the bridlepath we were going to take.
The path soon opened up, it was shady and cool.
These pictures were taken from a gap in the trees along the bridlepath about 3/4 mile along towards the A34 and the West. Beacon Hill, another iron age hill fort is just past the A34 on one of the hills in these pics.
Past some dogrose, there was quite a lot of this on the bridlepath.
Past a tree that was holding up half another tree at a somewhat precarious angle.
From the other side you can see the broken tree trunk.
This view is the view to the East across more rolling downs and open farmland.
At the top we walked between two fields (at the 1 mile marker) and stopped at the junction of three paths for a picnic.
After the picnice we turned left and walked along a wide grassy path between two poppy lined fields of oil seed rape (canola) until we found the iron age fort that sits on top of Ladle Hill.
We did a circuit of the Hill Fort, taking in the view to the North that the vantage point gave us before returning to the bridleway and walking along the ridge top.
Just past mile two marker we crossed a field full of sheep and at the far end of this down a very steep slope to the gap between Ladle Hill and Watership Down. Across a small country lane and on up a steep footpath to the top of Watership Down and the gallops that are mentioned in the book as being a favoured grazing spot of the bunnies. Here a rest whilst the car was fetched by someone feeling much fitter than me. Then back down the steep footpath to the car and a scenic drive home.
This walk was about 3.5 miles long but with quite tough terrain so I'm feeling it this afternoon!
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1 comment:
Absolutely gorgeous landscape
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