Lifetime of Walks by Derek Harwood

I parked in a rough car park just off a narrow lane on Mount Down, Beacon Hill. There were a few cyclists and joggers using the broad track to and from Farley Down. I visited the Horse Memorial. There was a new kissing gate just after the memorial, but the path was not shown on the map. Because of the additional path I wasn't sure if I was at '2' or '3' when I reached the next junction of footpaths. I went downhill for a short while but returned to the top of the ridge and continued ahead. The shape of the woods confirmed I was on the correct path. It was dull in the woods with the sun low in the sky. As I approached point '3' I could see a very bright light on the path. I couldn't understand why the light could be so bright only at one point in the wood. When I reached '3' all was revealed: the sun was directly in line with the straight track from '4' to '3'. I was therefore blinded as I walked into Parnholt Wood. I walked right on the edge of the wide track to obtain a little shade from the occasional tree branch hanging across. Distances should be measured carefully, 1000 yds is over half a mile, so 500 yds is over a quarter of a mile. It was a steady walk down from '3' to '6'. Just before '6' I noticed a deer on the track. It had not seen me so I stopped still and watched. Eventually I walked slowly towards the deer but it soon saw me and bolted into the wood before I could take a photo. I did get a photo at '7' when I disturbed another deer on the edge of the field. I continued in the valley bottom until I reached a tarmac road where I took a left past Hoplands and onto the Roman Road. There was no barn at '10' and gate at '12'. I crossed the wide track at '15' and followed the fence on the edge of the field and wood from '16' to '18'.

	LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD Derek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

	'AA' - NO THROUGH ROAD - WALKS
	FARLEY MOUNT, HAMPSHIRE Tuesday 15 June 2004 ........................................Walk No. 586
	AA Walks No.47 Total 791.5.5 miles Time Taken: 2.45 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Sunny 10:40 pm - 14:15 pm 4.50 miles 90% and Warm Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Nature: 24^oC 0% 0% Good Good Goats and Insects Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 791.5 mls 808.0 mls 791.5 mls 121.0 mls 898.0 mls 4319.0 miles Companions: (Derek) Points of Interest and LINKS: AA Walks Farley Mount Parnholt Wood Description: I parked in a rough car park just off a narrow lane on Mount Down, Beacon Hill. There were a few cyclists and joggers using the broad track to and from Farley Down. I visited the Horse Memorial. There was a new kissing gate just after the memorial, but the path was not shown on the map. Because of the additional path I wasn't sure if I was at '2' or '3' when I reached the next junction of footpaths. I went downhill for a short while but returned to the top of the ridge and continued ahead. The shape of the woods confirmed I was on the correct path. It was dull in the woods with the sun low in the sky. As I approached point '3' I could see a very bright light on the path. I couldn't understand why the light could be so bright only at one point in the wood. When I reached '3' all was revealed: the sun was directly in line with the straight track from '4' to '3'. I was therefore blinded as I walked into Parnholt Wood. I walked right on the edge of the wide track to obtain a little shade from the occasional tree branch hanging across. Distances should be measured carefully, 1000 yds is over half a mile, so 500 yds is over a quarter of a mile. It was a steady walk down from '3' to '6'. Just before '6' I noticed a deer on the track. It had not seen me so I stopped still and watched. Eventually I walked slowly towards the deer but it soon saw me and bolted into the wood before I could take a photo. I did get a photo at '7' when I disturbed another deer on the edge of the field. I continued in the valley bottom until I reached a tarmac road where I took a left past Hoplands and onto the Roman Road. There was no barn at '10' and gate at '12'. I crossed the wide track at '15' and followed the fence on the edge of the field and wood from '16' to '18'. Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk Start & Finish: Carpark off Mount Down, Beacon Hill Hazards: Parnholt Wood is a private wood but there is no need to enter the private land. Follow with care the correct public footpath as described. NB 1760 yds is one mile, or 880 yds is half a mile. Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage



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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2009 Revised: December 2021