Sparsholt Walk (7 miles)
We began our walk from the Crab Wood car park on the old roman road between Winchester and Salisbury. This car park was chosen because it was the first one we came to as we approached from Winchester and also because we did not know our route before we set off. In the event we walked further along the roman road before turning towards Sparsholt along the footpath between Crab Wood and West Wood. We did not have to travel on the road however as there is a track parallel to the road through the wood which would have been very muddy if it was not for the fact that the ground was frozen when we set out.
The track is called Burrow road on the OS map and follows a well wooded path even when it emerges from the wood and continues to a farm at the junction of the Sparsholt road. We could have cut the journey short by following the road to Sparsholt but we crossed over instead to Ham Green lane. The wide track has been designated a nature reserve called Sparsholt Common and gives extensive views over downland towards Sparsholt. At a junction of the paths we turned left back towards Sparsholt along a path that eventually becomes Dean Lane.
At the time of our visit in early March there were patches of snowdrops along the banks both in Dean Lane and in Sparsholt. Snowdrops, called ‘the fair maid of February’ in the past seem to flower consistently in February with scant regard for global warming. They also tend to favour the area near old dwellings rather than out in the countryside almost as if they liked human contact.
Although Dean Lane and subsequent roads through Sparsholt are tarmac they see very little traffic and are a pleasure to walk along. We continued our walk turning left at the end of Dean Lane and past the Plough Inn on the right. This pub looks at first sight to be little more than a small house but judging by the number of cars in the spacious car park it has a lot more room at the back.
The junction of roads after the Plough Inn is confusing at first but a street sign saying ‘Home Lane’ points us in the right direction and we walked straight ahead into this lane. Sparsholt village is located on a hill so the road leaving the village descends to a valley floor marked on the map as ‘no mans land’. The walk along the valley floor gives good views of the downland on either side and during March it is a good bet that hares will be seen gathering together for their march hare displays. We did see three hares at a distance but they never moved during our traverse of the valley. More unusually we also saw at least three buzzards walking on the ground and only occasionally flying short distances before settling on the ground once again.
When we approached an old barn on our right we turned left at a waymarked sign to cross between two unfenced fields and back towards west wood. West wood gradually encroaches on both sides of the path like a funnel before the path finally enters the wood. On entering the wood we continue ahead ignoring the left hand path and along a broad path back up to the roman road. The trees have been extensively thinned throughout the wood giving clear views to either side of the path.
When you think the walk is almost over upon emerging from the woods you are confronted by a fairly steep walk back up to the roman road. We had intended to turn right and visit the Farley Mount monument but the hill decided for us to return back along the road to our car park.