Warning: Steep and Uneven Paths!

…but it is not an easy walk and involves steep hills, so this walk isn’t for everyone and should not be chosen without careful thought.

 

 

 

 

The Walk to Combe Bottom 

Trying to locate the quarry myself was the really exciting part, and actually took me two visits.

But for anyone without the luxury of time, here are the directions. 

 

 

From West Hanger Car Park there are two ways to walk down the hill to Combe Bottom but be warned, the hill is very steep – it’s not called West Hanger for nothing…

 

 

 

 

Route 1:  Along the Road

Walk out of the car park to the road. Turn right onto Staple Lane and then right again onto Combe Lane.

Follow Combe Lane down the hill, around a sharp bend to the right and you will come to this sign on the left.

 

 

Please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

 

 

 

 

 

Route 2:  Straight Down West Hanger

Leave the car park by the path on the left and walk into the woods. 

 

 

 

 

After a short walk through the woods, you meet a trail running to your right.

 

 

 

 

Be careful – the trail is very steep and uneven

 

 

 

 

and the path may be used by mountain bikers.

 

 

 

 

Near the bottom of the hill you will see the road. 

 

 

 

 

This is Combe Lane and it runs along the bottom of the hill. 

 

 

 

 

Cross the road and walk a short way to the left, until you see the Combe Bottom sign on your right. 

Again, please be careful – there is no pavement and cars and cyclist use the road too. 

 

 

 

Finding the Holloway

From the Combe Bottom sign, follow the wild path for five to ten minutes, under trees,

 

 

 

 

through brambles patches

 

 

 

 

 

and into a holloway.

 

 

 

 

 

If it isn’t too overgrown, you might be able to spot the pillbox on your right. 

 

 

 

 

The route to the quarry is near the end of the holloway, up the steep bank on your left. 

 

 

 

 

If you reach this sign and the end of the holloway, you have gone too far.

 

 

 

 

 

To the Quarry!

You should now be standing on top of the steep bank with the holloway behind you.

You will notice a second holloway in front of you, which seems to run parallel to the first.

Believe it or not, this is the path to the quarry!

 

Follow this to the left until you come to a fallen tree blocking the way.

This is the entrance to the lowest part of the quarry. 

 

 

 

A Neolithic Quarry

The only information I can find about this quarry is that it dates back to the Stone Age, or Neolithic period, and was used to quarry flint. 

 

 

 

Today it is a huge, bowl-shaped hole in the hillside with steep sides.

 

 

 

 

 

Flint Tools

As you walk back up to West Hanger car park, and pause for the odd rest or two, keep an eye out for flints lying around or amongst the roots of trees.

You may spot a flint tool!

Have a look at the Wessex Archaeology website for details of the types of flint to look out for. 

 

Combe Bottom

Combe Bottom is part of the enchanting Shere Woodlands and sits at the bottom of West Hanger hill.

 

 

 

There is not much to see unless you would like to find the quarry. 

 

 

Nearest Town: Shere, near Guildford, Surrey Hills
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9TE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or use one of the picnic tables. There is also a mobile cafe that visits (please see their website for details). 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Definitely not! 

Parking: West Hanger Car Park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2023

 

The Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a tyre swing
• a rocking horse
• a slide built into the hill
• a roundabout
• springers
• a multiplay with a slide and binoculars
• a sunken pirate ship sand pit
• a tunnel
• a wooden climbing frame obstacle course with a slide and climbing wall.

 

Next to the play area are picnic tables

 

 

 

 

and The Plump Duck cafe.

 

 

 

Petersfield Heath

This is ancient heathland with a large pond

 

 

 

 

boat hire 

 

 

 

 

 

and a circular trail. 

 

 

Nearest Town: Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU31 4LB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at The Plump Duck cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Lizards, insects, ducks, swans, geese, kingfishers and other birds.

Information Written: July 2022

 

Shere Woodlands

The woods have a wild and enchanted feel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pools of water collect amongst the beech tree roots

 

 

 

 

hidden pathways lead you to secret dens

 

 

 

 

and the trees seem almost alive.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a special spot for us and we often come here to tell fairy tales about the creatures who might live here. 

 

 

 

 

The View

If you follow a path through the woods, you eventually come to a bench that looks out over the hills.

It is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset.

 

 

 

Combe Bottom

You can also walk down the hill to Combe Bottom 

 

 

 

 

a Stone Age quarry and a World War 2 pillbox…but be warned, this isn’t called West Hanger for nothing.

 

 

 

 

The path down are very steep

 

 

 

 

and uneven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From West Hanger Car Park

From the car park there are two paths into the woods.

The path on the left goes into the woods and is flat but bumpy, although I had no problems with an all terrain buggy.

 

 

The path to the right is the North Downs Way and is wider and smoother, although it was still rutted and muddy in places.

 

 

 

Both paths join up just before the view point.

 

 

Nearest Town: Shere, near Guildford, Surrey Hills
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9TE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or use one of the picnic tables. There is also a mobile cafe that visits (see the website for details). 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: We used a buggy on the paths on top of the hill but the paths down the hill are much too steep. 

Parking: West Hanger car park
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects.

Information Written: August 2016
Information Checked: August 2023

 

The Play Equipment

The play equipment is said to be for children up to 14 years and includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a tyre swing
• an accessible roundabout
• a climbing frame for older children
• equipment that spins, springs and slides
• a rope climbing frame
• a multiplay with a small slide and bridge
• an accessible multiplay with a slide
• a bendy slide with easy to climb steps and a climbing wall
• a seesaw springer
• a cup spinner
• a slide for younger children shaped like a cannon and with easy to climb steps
• musical instruments
• a picnic table
• seats. 

 

 

Sports Facilities

Next to the play area is a multi-gym, toilets

 

 

 

 

and a field.

An ornamental pond is only a short walk away. 

Nearest Town: Farnborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU14 6RE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: July 2022

 

Broadwater Park Play Area

The play area is for children to the age of 14 years old.

The equipment for younger children includes:

• a multiplay and slide a bridge
• a wooden climbing frame with a slide
• a wooden play house 
• a sand pit with sand play equipment and mushrooms
• a play house with seats and puzzle boards
• a Simon says machine
• toddler swings
• a springer seesaw
• a car and motorbike springer
• a spinning cup.

 

The play equipment for older children includes:

• a climbing frame with bars and a climbing wall
• a spinning ring
• equipment to balance on
• swings.

 

Broadwater Park Recreation Ground

Next to the play area are picnic tables and

 

 

 

 

a large field with cricket pitches.

 

 

 

 

 

Also Broadwater Park Multi Use Games Area

 

 

 

 

and tennis courts.

 

 

 

Broadwater Park

This is a large park with fields, a tarmac path you can scooter on,

 

 

 

 

a pond next to the play area where you can feed ducks

 

 

 

 

and a huge lake with another picnic area. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are generally flat and easy to walk on. Some are surfaced and others are muddy.

Nearest Town: Godalming
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU7 1HR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park next to the park and near the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: July 2022

 

Two Museums 

The history of Andover and the surrounding area is told across two museums under one roof – Andover Museum and Musuem of the Iron Age. 

 

 

 

 

Andover Museum 

Andover Museum lays out the history of Andover in exhibits, including recreations of a Stone Age person,

 

 

 

 

the Andover workhouse

 

 

 

 

 

and a creepy cupboard…

 

 

 

 

 

Boo!

 

 

 

 

 

It also has a children’s activity room and a trail around the museum. 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch Bottles

These are bottles full of urine, hair, pins and salt that in the 17th century were believed to ward of witches and their spells. 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatrice

Believed to roam around the picture perfect village of Wherwell,

 

 

 

 

the cockatrice was a fearsome creature with the body of a rooster, the tail of a lizard and the wings of a bat.

You can see it on the old weather vane from Wherwell Church.  

 

 

 

Museum of the Iron Age 

Musuem of the Iron Age tells the story of Danebury Hill Fort with a recreation of a roundhouse

 

 

 

 

and other exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort 

About 2,500 years ago, Danebury Hill Fort was a series of earthen ramparts, ditches and gateways protecting a central area. 

 

 

 

It is believed that during the Iron Age, about 300 to 400 people lived at Danebury Hill Fort, along with grain stores, livestock, temples and shrines.

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort is about a 15 minute drive from the musuem. 

 

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP10 1DP

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Wednesday to Sunday

Where to Eat: Cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, shops, toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park for visitors.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: June 2022

 

Little Beaulieu Adventure Play Area

This fantastic adventure play area has equipment that includes:

• a tube slide
• other slides
• a basket swing
• toddler swings
• an obstacle course
• climbing walls
• a fireman’s pole
• a zip wire
• talking tubes
• musical instruments
• puzzle boards.

 

 

 

There is also a Toddlers’ Play Area for children of 5 years and under, which has equipment that includes:

• the Beaulieu open-topped bus with a slide
• a wooden play house with a bridge, ladders and a slide
• a sand pit with chutes, buckets and pulleys 
• picnic tables.

 

 

Secret Passages and Paintings

Inside the castle there are secret passages to find and explore, including one that goes behind a bookcase

 

 

 

 

and paintings with moving eyes…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role Play

There are places to role play too, including a race car

 

 

 

 

 

 

a jeep

 

 

 

 

 

a tractor

 

 

 

 

 

and a petrol station. 

 

 

 

 

Beaulieu National Motor Museum 

At the heart of Beaulieu is the National Motor Museum, which as you’d expect is packed full of cars

 

 

 

 

including famous cars like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

 

 

 

Mr Bean’s mini.

 

 

 

 

 

The Monorail and Bus

Beaulieu is also home to the oldest monorail in England

 

 

 

 

and an open topped bus that drives you gently around the grounds. 

 

 

Nearest Town: Hythe, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO42 7ZN

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and picnic areas.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, shop, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: January 2023

 

Beaulieu National Motor Museum 

At the heart of Beaulieu is the National Motor Museum, which as you’d expect is packed full of cars

 

 

 

 

and some motorbikes.

 

 

 

 

 

But mainly there are cars –

 

 

 

 

 

old cars

 

 

 

 

 

new cars

 

 

 

 

 

record breaking cars

 

 

 

 

 

and famous cars like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

 

 

 

Mr Bean’s mini

 

 

 

 

 

and Del Boy’s three wheeler.

 

 

 

 

 

There’s even a car shaped like an orange!

 

 

 

 

 

The Monorail 

Beaulieu is also home to the oldest monorail in England,

 

 

 

 

which glides above the attractions

 

 

 

 

 

and through the museum building!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open-Topped Bus

This dates from 1912 and drives you gently around the grounds. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

At certain times of the year you can book a ride in a replica Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and also in Mr Toad’s car from the film The Wind in the Willows.

Have a look at the Beaulieu website for full details. 

 

 

 

World of Top Gear 

There’s also an exhibition of the cars created on ‘Top Gear’.  

 

 

 

 

 

Little Beaulieu Adventure Play Area

Probably our favourite part of the visit was Little Beaulieu, the adventure play area,

 

 

 

 

which is a labyrinth of secret passages and bridges,

 

 

 

 

slides, and walkways. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grounds and Cafe

On top of all that, there are gardens to explore

 

 

 

 

with Alice in Wonderland shaped bushes

 

 

 

 

and a cafe.

 

 

Nearest Town: Hythe, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO42 7ZN

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and picnic areas.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, shop, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: January 2023

 

The Play Equipment

The play equipment is said to be for children under 12 years and includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a rope swing
• swings that spin, including an accessible swing
• a ship that rocks
• a climbing frame for older children with nets, a climbing wall and a fireman’s pole
• a seal seesaw springer
• palm trees to climb along
• a slide for younger children shaped like a cannon and with easy to climb steps
• an octopus and a shark springer
• seats. 

 

 

Sports Facilities

Next to the play area is a basketball court

 

 

 

 

 

and a field. 

 

 

Nearest Town: Farnborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU14 6AF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: You can park on the road by the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: July 2022

 

Hawk Conservancy Trust

The Hawk Conservancy Trust’s mission is to conserve birds of prey in the UK and abroad.  

 

 

 

 

When we visited they had a particular focus on learning to love vultures, who have an unfair reputation. 

 

 

 

 

All About Birds

You can learn about the birds of prey from their enclosures

 

 

 

 

and during talks,

 

 

 

 

 

interactive workshops

 

 

 

 

 

and flying displays.

 

 

 

 

 

The Birds of Prey

The Hawk Trust Conservancy is home to birds of prey, including vultures,

 

 

 

 

storks,

 

 

 

 

 

eagles,

 

 

 

 

 

owls,

 

 

 

 

 

owls

 

 

 

 

 

and more owls!

 

 

 

 

 

The Play Area

The bird of prey themed play area has places to climb, slide and swing.

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Eat

You can eat at Feathers Restaurant and there are two picnic areas.

 

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP11 8DY

Adult Cost Range: £15 to £19.99
Child Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Free if: Under 4 years 

Opens: Various times throughout the year. 

Where to Eat: Feathers Restaurant or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, shop, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds of prey like eagles, kites, hawks, owls, herons, storks and vultures.

Information Written: August 2023