Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire

Discover the Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill, Aldershot

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire
Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

Rowhill Nature Reserve hides the source of the River Blackwater amongst charismatically named areas like Stickleback Pond, Rhododendron Avenue, Kingfisher Carr, The Brickworks and Chestnut Glade. Can you follow the river to find where it springs from?

Rowhill Nature Reserve

There are stumps to balance on, trees to climb, hills to explore, bridges to build and places to paddle. 

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

The Source of the Blackwater

The source of the Blackwater River is an area of bog. It is next to the pond and marked with an information board.  

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire

There isn’t much to see but the bog trickles into a stream that flows into… 

Stickleback Pond

…Stickleback Pond, which has a small dam and waterfall. 

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire

The River Blackwater

The River Blackwater quickly becomes stream-sized 

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

and has little waterfalls and spots to paddle in.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

Den Building

The paths wind through deciduous woodland with a spot for den building…

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

Rhododendron Avenue

…and along Rhododendron Avenue before coming to a tranquil meadow and field surrounded by trees.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

The Paths 

I found the paths easy to use and push an all terrain buggy along. There are paths that are narrow in places but they were all just ok for my narrow double buggy.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

There are two paths that both start from the car park on Cranmore Lane:

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

1. The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path starts at the end of the car park near the white house and meanders through the reserve staying close to the River Blackwater.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path Section 1 in Hampshire

This is Section 1 of the Blackwater Valley Path and is not a circular path and follows the river out of the reserve at Parkland Grove.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire

2. The Nature Trail

This is about 1.5 miles long and is marked by a series of posts, starting at the field centre (the wooden building next to the car park).

This is a circular path and begins and ends at the car park on Cranmore Lane.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

This trail leads up over steps and a steep hill but these can be avoided if you follow the Blackwater Valley Path to the source of the River Blackwater, where the two paths meet up.

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

A copy of the nature trail can be found on the Rowhill Nature Reserve website, which marks the steps and an easy access, special needs path that can be accessed from Parkland Grove (GU9 9HA).

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Blackwater Valley Path in Hampshire

50 Things to Do

You could also tackle the 50 Things to Do at Rowhill Copse sheet the reserve have put together.  

How many can you complete?

Source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, Hampshire

Read More

Visit the Rowhill Nature Reserve website

Further Information

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU11 3BD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a small car park on Cranmore Lane (GU11 3BD). This can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: May 2024

Visitor Information

Ratings

Our visit to Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

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User Rating 4 (1 vote)
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