We plan to organise car shares in advance, so will not meet at West Town Car Park.
Park near the Hawkley Inn on Pococks Lane Hawkley, postcode GU33 6NE, grid reference SU746291, or failing that, on the green by the church. Meet outside the pub for walk start at 9.30 a.m. latest.
We walk eastwards out of the village back along the road where we came in and the pick up footpaths north-eastwards. We turn north-west to cross Mill Lane and come down to Empshott Green where we use the Hangers Way for a mile. We then climb Hawkley Hanger then circle southwards to Warren Corner and Shoulder of Mutton Hill (Ashford Hangers) We walk along the ridge to the old trig point where the trees have been cleared to reveal Cobbett’s View from Wheatham Hill which he recorded in 1822 in “Rural Rides”.
...out we came, all in a moment, at the very edge of the hanger! And never, in all my life, was I so surprised and so delighted! I pulled up my horse, and sat and looked; and it was like looking from the top of a castle down into the sea; except that the valley was land not water'
We then return to Hawkley along the Hangers Way and across Oakshott Stream.
The total distance is only 9.0 miles, but with 1200 feet of ascent on a route which is rarely flat.
We plan to go in to the Hawkley Inn for lunch - last orders 2.30.
It should be generally dry underfoot, but there will be some muddy and puddly stretches and wet vegetation after heavy rain. There is a short section just before Mill Lane which is permanently wet, but not problematic in dry season.