Weston Patrick

About a month or so ago we attempted a walk around Weston Patrick, but had to drive elsewhere because we couldn’t find anywhere to park. When I got home I was reminded that there was a little layby just outside the village. So today was Weston Patrick take two!

From the layby we took the track on the other side of the road. I’d been asked to check it out as it’s one of my husband’s mountain bike routes and, apparently, it was really overgrown last time he went down it. It looked fine to me, it wasn’t even particularly muddy.

Lining the track was an abundance of Wild Garlic, which was so pretty with it’s little white flowers.

At the end of the track we had a short walk along a very quiet lane before finding the next footpath. I think it just cut off the corner, but still nicer than walking along the road (which was just a little flooded).

That first little loop was Weston Corbett, which is even smaller than Weston Patrick and separated by the ‘main road’, or country lane.

Crossing the lane we walked past some very nice houses before finding the footpath. Here started the walk proper, up hills and across fields, it was just beautiful, especially considering we were only about four miles from Basingstoke.

We continued past a rather large disused chalk pit, one of many in the area, then turned into Privett Copse, followed by Little Park Copse. Here we found our first patch of proper mud (it wouldn’t be a walk without at least some mud) and bluebells.

It was so peaceful, all we could hear was the wind through the trees and birds. We took a moment to stand and look around, hugged a tree, and carried on. Coming out of the woods we crossed a ploughed field, or rather went up a hill, before emerging into a farmyard which was tucked behind the village church.

We’d missed out on a church and graveyard last week, so had a little wander around the gravestones before popping into the church for a little look.

St Lawrence’s Church was rebuilt on the site of a Norman church in 1867-8. The only remaining part of the church that dates from the Norman period is the north doorway from the end of the 12th century,

Leaving the church we made our way back towards the farmyard before turning right onto the public footpath. We had spotted more wild garlic so, finding a carrier bag In my backpack, we did some foraging.

Continuing past a field of Rapeseed, we headed back to the ‘main road ‘, spotting some sheep with their lambs before returning to the car.

A short drive to Lasham Gliding Club for lunch (we tried the garden centre first but there were queues and by then our stomachs were rumbling).

A very picturesque and peaceful 3.7 miles today.