The Trails

Various trails criss-cross Alice Holt Forest. Some are easy access, others are wilder.  Some are flat, others have steep hills.

They are all marked and there are free maps available.

 

 

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

 

 

 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog.  

At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.  

 

 

You buy a map bursting with activities to try along the trail – drawings to colour, puzzles to ponder and woodland things to spot.  

 

 

 

 

Along the way you also come face to face with characters from the stories, including the Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Gruffalo’s child.

 

 

 

 

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas

 

 

 

 

and also hides huge play sculptures.

 

 

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Areas

Alice Holt has two adventure play areas.

Playwood Adventure Play Area is next to the cafe and has large wooden climbing frames, slides and swings.

 

 

 

Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with wooden climbing frames, slides, bridges and nets. 

 

 

 

Other Activities

Alice Holt also has an Activity Centre and Shop that offers cycle hire 

 

 

 

 

table tennis

 

 

 

 

 

volleyball

 

 

 

 

 

and badminton.

 

 

 

 

 

There is also orienteering 

 

 

 

 

Go Ape 

 

 

 

 

 

and lots of picnic spots to try.

 

 

 

 

 

The Cafe 

This is located next to the main entrance and Visitor Centre.

You can its picnic tables to eat food you have bought there or brought from home. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: February 2025

 

The Fire

At the end of May 2020, a fire tore through the boardwalk area. Lots of trees and vegetation were lost and so was the boardwalk, with its Dragonfly Trail.

 

This is a picture of Moat Pond before the fire.

 

 

 

 

This is roughly the same area after the fire. 

 

 

 

 

 

Moat Pond

We start our visit at Moat Pond, which is almost always smelling of pine and covered in ducks.

In the autumn it is surrounded by fungus – we spotted 50 different types last autumn! (I’m sure it goes without saying but we never touch fungus, we just look at it).

 

 

The Dragonfly Trail

This leads you along the boardwalk and over the peat bogs.

 

 

 

 

Along the way you can spot lots of insects and lizards

 

 

 

 

 

and also sundews.

 

 

 

 

 

The Trails

When we want a short visit we walk around Moat Pond and watch the wildlife from one of the many little beach-like areas.

If we are after a longer walk, we venture along one of the marked trails. 

 

 

 

The Wildlife

Thursley Common teems with nature and you can almost always see something wonderful.

 

 

 

 

From spring to autumn, you can see animals on every visit, including animals such as dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, and spiders.

On one visit there were thousands of tiny toads hopping across the paths in every direction. 

 

 

The Lizards

The lizards are easiest to see when warming themselves on the boardwalk during sunny days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thor’s Den

There is nearby a play area called Thor’s Den on the edge of Thursley Common.

You can walk there from Moat Pond but it is quite far so you may prefer to drive (GU8 6QD).

Nearest Town: Thursley, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU8 6LW

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: Up to 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly – we use an all terrain buggy as some areas are sandy and there are roots along some of the paths. 

Parking: There are lots of places to park along the road and a few car parks. We use the Moat Pond car park (GU8 6LW) as it is closest to Moat Pond. 
Cost of Parking: Free but a donation using a parking app is suggested.

Wildlife You Might See: Toads, frogs, wood ants, dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, spiders, grasshoppers and ducks.

Information Written: July 2019
Information Checked: October 2024

 

Stockbridge Common Marsh

As you enter, you pass a National Trust sign that says ‘The Lions Den’ and I have absolutely no idea why!

 

 

 

The common is mainly grassland where you can walk and picnic during dry weather.

 

 

 

 

A tributary of the River Test flows along one edge.

 

 

 

 

If you look carefully you may spot brown trout.

 

 

 

 

 

Paddling

Children can have a little paddle by the bridge

 

 

 

 

but they may not be alone!

 

 

 

 

 

Stockbridge Town

If you cross the bridge and walk a short way, you come to the pretty town of Stockbridge.

 

 

 

 

The River Test flows through the town, past shops and places to eat. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths are flat and easy to walk on but can become boggy and muddy during wetter weather.

 

Nearest Town: Stockbridge, near Andover and Winchester
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO20 6JA 

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: You might be able to use an all terrain buggy.

Parking: There is a car park but it can be very busy. 
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies and other insects; herons, kingfishers and other birds; brown trout,  other fish and pond life; cows and water voles.

Information Written: June 2022

 

Ashford Hangers

This is a National Nature Reserve with invigoratingly steep hillsides covered in clinging trees

 

 

 

 

and breathtaking views extending across Hampshire and Sussex.

 

 

 

 

Ashford Stream 

The path from the parking spot follows Ashford Stream, which is shallow enough in places to paddle and splash around. 

 

 

 

From April to June, the smell of wild garlic fills the air.

 

 

 

 

Lutcombe Pond 

A gentle five minute stroll takes you to a small bridge

 

 

 

 

and then to Lutcombe Pond, which has unusually clear water and a dam you can walk over.

 

 

 

 

Onwards or Upwards?

The path forks at the little bridge and each route takes you deeper into the reserve.

 

 

 

 

Onwards Over the Bridge…

The path over the bridge skirts the base of the Ashford Hangers, which is a flat and easy walk.

 

 

 

 

This path has many side shoots that will take you up to the top of the hangers,

 

 

 

 

including this side shoot straight up Shoulder of Mutton Hill, which really is every bit as steep as this photo makes it look! 

 

 

 

 

…or Upwards to Hangers Way

The path to the left of the bridge takes you past Lutcombe Pond, directly up the hill

 

 

 

 

and on to Hangers Way,

 

 

 

 

 

which leads to the top of Shoulder of Mutton Hill

 

 

 

 

and also to Cobbett’s View on Wheatham Hill. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths along Ashford Stream and around Lutcombe Pond are fairly flat but can be muddy.

You can reach the pond with a buggy.

 

 

Beyond the pond, the paths up the hill become steep and narrow in places. 

 

 

 

 

The paths over the bridge and along the foot of the hangers are wider and flatter. 

 

Nearest Town: Steep, Near Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU32 1AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: You can take a buggy to the pond but the paths beyond this point are steep and/or narrow. 

Parking: There is a small space for a few cars to park off the road (GU32 1AB) and next to the stream. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, other insects and birds.

Information Written: April 2019
Information Checked: January 2024

 

The Adventure Play Area

Large trees surround the play area, giving it a shady, peaceful feel. The play equipment includes:

• a slide
• various climbing frames
• swings
• toddler swings
• a swinging basket
• a seesaw
• a ground level trampoline
• a zip wire
• scramble nets
• a climbing wall
• balance beams.

 

 

Sports Facilities

There are also plenty of places to play sports:

• a table tennis table (bring your own bats!)
• a street snooker wall and court (a cross between football and snooker)
• tennis courts
• a football pitch
• a cricket ground.

 

Normandy Common

Normandy Common is a wooded area with an orchid meadow, pond, orchard, woods, various sports areas, and a small adventure play area.

 

 

 

 

There is a map in each of the car parks that shows you where everything is. The three main areas we visit are below but there are other little areas you can discover for yourself!

 

 

 

 

The Stream and Pond

The stream flows through the play area next to the car park on the main road. It can flow quite quickly in wet weather. Sometimes there are ducks on it.

 

 

 

The pond is at the end of the stream in the woods on the other side of the road. 

 

 

 

 

The Wispy Woods

We call the wooded area between the cricket pitch and the orchard the Wispy Woods because some of the enormous fir trees look feathered.

It’s a smallish patch of mature woodland with a wild feel. I find it an ideal place to let the children run around and explore. 

 

 

The Secret Orchard

The is a Traditional Orchard, a conservation area that is being preserved as a habitat for plants and animals. It is planted in grassland and managed in an organic way.

Nearest Town: Normandy, Near Guildford and Aldershot
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU3 2DB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None but there some picnic tables.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Generally buggy friendly but some of the paths can be narrow.

Parking: There are two play area car parks on Hunts Hill Road. The first is on the corner with the main road (GU3 2DB). The other is further down Hunts Hill Road (GU3 2DB).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, insects, slow worms, snakes, lizards, stag beetles, glow worms, newts, frogs, kingfishers and dragonflies.

Information Written: April 2023
Information Checked: January 2024

 

Normandy Common

Normandy Common is a wooded area with an orchid meadow, pond, orchard, woods, various sports areas, and a small adventure play area.

 

 

 

There is a map in each of the car parks that shows you where everything is. The three main areas we visit are below but there are other little areas you can discover for yourself!

 

 

 

The Stream and Pond

The stream flows through the play area next to the car park on the main road. It can flow quite quickly in wet weather and sometimes there are ducks on it.

 

 

 

The pond is in the woods at the end of the stream on the other side of the road. 

 

 

 

 

To find the pond, cross Hunts Hill Road (the road the car parks are on). There is a footpath and bridge immediately on your left, which takes you into the woods and then onto Normandy Pond. 

 

 

 

The Wispy Woods

We call the wooded area between the cricket pitch and the orchard the Wispy Woods because some of its enormous and feathery fir trees.

It’s a smallish patch of mature woodland with a wild feel. I find it an ideal place to let the children run around and explore. 

 

 

The Secret Orchard

This is a Traditional Orchard, a conservation area that is being preserved as a habitat for plants and animals. It is planted in grassland and managed in an organic way.

The boards say, “All wildlife and visitors can enjoy a variety of true and traditional fruit flavours.”

 

We visited in September and found pear, apple, plum, and cherry trees.

We also saw a mulberry bush, which I knew from the nursery rhyme but had never actually seen. 

 

 

 

Finding the Woods and Orchard

Leave the play area and walk over the football pitch towards the red bin. Walk over the bridge and onto the cricket ground until you reach the cricket building.

 

 

 

Walk across the car park to the woods and take the footpath marked as a Permissive Horse Ride.

 

 

 

 

Follow this path until you come to the entrance to the Wispy Woods on the left.

 

 

 

 

To reach the orchard, keep following this path beyond the woods, ignoring any side paths.

There is a large bend to the right and then a smaller bend to the left and the orchard is up a slight hill and on the right. It is about a five minute walk from the Wispy Woods.

 

The orchard and woods are clearly marked on the car park maps. If it is your first visit, then consider taking a photo of the map with you. 

 

The Adventure Play Area

Large trees surround Normandy Common Play Area, making it a shady, peaceful place to play. The equipment includes:

• a slide
• various climbing frames
• swings
• toddler swings
• a swinging basket
• a seesaw
• a ground level trampoline
• a zip wire
• scramble nets
• a climbing wall and balance beams that together make an obstacle course.

 

Sports Facilities

There are also plenty of places to play sports:

• a table tennis table (bring your own bats!)
• a street snooker wall and court (a cross between football and snooker)
• tennis courts
• a football pitch
• a cricket ground.

Nearest Town: Normandy, Near Guildford and Aldershot
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU3 2DB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None but there some picnic tables.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Generally buggy friendly but some of the paths can be narrow.

Parking: There are two play area car parks on Hunts Hill Road. The first is on the corner with the main road (GU3 2DB). The other is further down Hunts Hill Road (GU3 2DB).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies, insects, slow worms, snakes, lizards, stag beetles, glow worms, newts, frogs, kingfishers and dragonflies.

Information Written: July 2016
Information Checked: January 2024

 

Fun at the Beach…

The pond has several sandy beaches where you can have fun wading, paddling and splashing.

You can also pond dip, build sand castles and feed the ducks.

 

 

The biggest beaches are on the car park side of the pond but there are a few smaller beaches in other parts too. 

 

 

 

 

…but No Swimming

Swimming is not allowed at Frensham Little Pond to protect the pond habitat, but you can swim at the nearby Frensham Great Pond. 

 

 

 

 

The Tern Cafe

The Tern Cafe is next to the pond and only a short walk from the car park.

It offers snacks, drinks and ice creams and has picnic tables, some under cover. 

 

 

 

Bird Hide

What will you spy from the bird hide?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Walks

Although this is called Frensham Little Pond, it is not small – it took us about an hour to walk all the way around.

 

 

 

 

There are benches and a boardwalk along the way. 

There is a Frensham Little Pond Family Trail you can follow around the pond. 

 

 

 

The Paths

Most of the paths were easy to push a normal buggy across. Some do have tree roots.

 

 

 

 

There are sandy stretches onto Frensham Common that are tougher.

 

 

 

 

 

Frensham Common

Frensham Little Pond is part of Frensham Common, an area of open and airy heathland with woods and beautiful viewpoints.

 

Nearest Town: Frensham, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 3BT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the Tern Cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: You can push a buggy around the pond but choose one that can cope with sand and roots. 

Parking: There are several car parks but they can be very busy when the weather is warm.
Cost of Parking: Free for National Trust members or from £1.50 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Lots of birds, including ducks, swans, coots, moorhens and squirrels.

Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: November 2023

 

Frensham Great Pond

Swimming is permitted from one of the two sandy beaches at Frensham Great Pond. 

 

 

 

 

Frensham Little Pond

Frensham Little Pond is the smaller and more wild of the two ponds.

It is a peaceful, picturesque and pine-scented place to explore. 

 

 

 

The Cafes

There is a cafe at each of the nearby ponds that sell snacks, drinks and ice creams.

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The paths around Frensham Common vary. Some are easy to walk on, others are deep sand;

 

 

 

some are on steep hills and others are flat. 

I would not take a buggy with me on a walk here. 

 

 

 

Where to Start?

The easiest way to access Frensham Common is to either start at one of the two ponds or to use the little lay-by next to St Mary’s School in Frensham (GU10 3DS).

 

 

 

From here you can head into the woods and up onto Frensham Common.

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the spot where you can see both ponds. 

Nearest Town: Frensham, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 3DS (the lay-by), GU10 2QB (Frensham Great Pond), GU10 3BT (Frensham Little Pond).

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at one of the cafes at Frensham Little Pond or Frensham Great Pond. 
Facilities: There are cafes, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets at each of the ponds. 

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: I wouldn’t bring a buggy – some of the paths are deep sand and there are some steep hills. 

Parking: There are a few spaces at the lay-by mentioned above and large car parks at both ponds (see above for the post codes) but they can be very busy when the weather is warm.
Cost of Parking: The lay-by is free. Parking at either of the ponds is free for National Trust members or from £1.50 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Lots of birds, including ducks, swans, coots, moorhens, squirrels and sand lizards.

Information Written: May 2022
Information Checked: November 2023

 

The Two Beaches

You can paddle and swim from either beach within the area marked with buoys and ropes. Neither has much shade so you may want to bring some with you. 

Both of the beaches are near the car park, cafe and toilets.

 

The first beach you come to is the larger of the two.

 

 

 

 

The second beach is a little further from the car park and is smaller but often less busy.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the pond has to be closed to bathers so be sure to check the Frensham Great Pond website before you go to make sure swimming is allowed.

 

 

 

The Cafe

There is a cafe next to the beach and car park that sells snacks, drinks and ice creams and has picnic tables.

There are also public toilets in this building.

 

 

 

Frensham Little Pond

Frensham Little Pond is about a five minute drive. It offers more shady spots but swimming is not permitted there.

 

 

 

 

Frensham Common

Both ponds are part of Frensham Common, an area of heathland with beautiful views, heather and lots of paths to explore. 

 

Nearest Town: Frensham, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 2QB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: It is sandy so it can be hard work to push a buggy to the beach. 

Parking: There is a large car park but it can be very busy when the weather is warm – the website suggests arriving before 10am.
Cost of Parking: Free for National Trust members or from £1.50 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks.

Information Written: May 2022
Information Checked: November 2023

 

Lyd Well

Lyd Well bubbles with surprising force,

 

 

 

 

 

pumping water through the surrounding fields. 

 

 

 

 

Somehow it’s still easy to miss, hiding in a clump of trees,

 

 

 

 

behind a dry stone wall and a pool of water during wetter months

 

 

 

 

but not during others.   

 

 

 

 

 

This is a seasonal spring so be careful with the timing of your visit. It is magical when bubbling but less impressive when dry. 

I have found it flowing in March

 

 

but not this August, even though it’s been such a wet summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Trewsbury Mead

If you continue along the path from Lyd Well, over the fields,

 

 

 

 

across the A433

 

 

 

 

 

and through a gate

 

 

 

 

 

you will eventually come to a meadow known as Trewsbury Mead

 

 

 

 

and the Source of the Thames marker.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Source of the River Thames…

This source is marked with a stone

 

 

 

 

and a sign post – only 232 miles to the sea!

 

 

 

 

 

…Or Is It?

The ultimate source of the Thames is disputed with some saying the source furthest from the mouth of the Thames is Seven Springs in Gloucestershire.  

If you take Seven Springs as the source, it adds a further 14 miles to the length of the Thames. 

 

Seven Springs is a compact and easy place to visit for a paddle. It also flows throughout the year.

 

 

 

 

Old Father Thames 

In 1936, a statue of Old Father was placed in Trewsbury Mead to mark the source of the Thames.  

Sadly, it was vandalised and moved again to St John’s Lock, where it can still be found today. 

 

 

The Paths…and Stairs!

The paths leading to the source of the Thames are easy to walk on but are not surfaced and can be a little uneven

 

 

 

 

and very muddy.

 

 

 

 

 

There is a steep flight of stairs that you have to go up to cross the A433 crossing.

I have taken a double buggy up these stairs but would not do it again.  

 

 

 

The stairs are very steep and lead straight on to the A433, which runs along the top.  

This isn’t a very busy road but it is fast – the cars fly past – and it’s not somewhere you would want children to stand around while you fiddle with a buggy.  

Nearest Town: Kemble or Coates, near Cirencester
County: Oxfordshire 
Nearest Postcode: GL7 6BS or GL7 6NZ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, eat at the Thames Head Inn (GL7 6NZ) or The Tavern Inn (GL7 6AX).
Facilities: None. 

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: I wouldn’t take a buggy because of the steep flight of stairs next to the fast road.  

Parking: Lay-by on the A429 – as you leave Kemble heading towards Cirencester, look out for a lay-by on the left and right of the road on a bridge over the river (GL7 6BS takes you roughly there). Alternatively, have a meal at the Thames Head Inn and then walk from there.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: March 2017 and August 2023