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

 

The equipment includes:

• toddler swings (with short ropes)
• a very small slide for young children with musical chimes and cogs
• a larger slide and multiplay with bridges and an abacus
• two deer springers
• a seesaw
• a basket swing
• a roundabout
• a zip wire
• a picnic table
• seats for adults.

 

 

Note that the larger slide is best suited to older children – it does not have easy to climb stairs and has a high, wobbly bridge.

 

Nearest Town: Thursley
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU8 6QD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables.

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

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

Wildlife You Might See: Insects and birds.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: October 2024

 

Big and Small Flashes

 

There are two types of flashes. The big flashes are lakes that predate the canal.  

 

 

 

 

The smaller flashes are natural depressions that flooded when the canal was created. 

 

 

 

 

This bridge hides…

 

 

 

 

…a gorgeous lake!

 

 

 

 

 

Along this section of the canal you find Anglers’ Flash, Greatbottom Flash, Rushmoor Flash and Claycart Flash.  

 

 

 

 

Section 6 of the Basingstoke Canal Towpath

Section 6 of the Basingstoke Canal towpath takes you on a 3 mile walk from the Basingstoke Canal Centre in Mytchett

 

 

 

to Wellesley Woodlands in Aldershot.

This is not a circular path. 

 

 

 

 

The Route

This section of the towpath starts at the Basingstoke Canal Centre, which has a play area and cafe.

 

 

 

Then you pass two areas where the canal opens up – Mytchett Lake and Anglers’ Flash. 

 

 

 

 

From here it is on to the Ash Aqueduct, which flies the canal over the A331

 

 

 

 

and on to Ash Lock.

 

 

 

 

 

Along the way you go under bridges,

 

 

 

 

some of which are very low

 

 

 

 

and come complete with graffiti!

 

 

 

 

Your destination is Wellesley Woodlands with its paths, brass rubbing and activity trails. 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of Wildlife

Wildlife is everywhere along the canal with plenty of waterbirds, including ducks and coots with gorgeous chicks.

You can often spot hidden herons…

 

 

…and a fox ran out across the path when I was cycling. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Walk or Cycle

This section of the towpath is 3 miles long and is not circular. It took us about 2.5 hours, walking at a child’s pace.

 

 

 

I often cycle this route and it takes about 30 minutes to go from the Canal Centre to Wellesley Woodlands. 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The towpath is generally flat but can be muddy in places if it has been raining. 

The surface can be a little bumpy with stones in some places but is easy to use a bike or buggy along.

 

 

There is a road crossing at Ash Lock, so you need to take care. 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Next?

North – Section 5: The Deepcut Flight between Curzon Bridge and the Canal Centre    

 

 

 

South – Section 7: Wellesley Woods to Fleet to Crookham Wharf

 

 

Nearest Town: Mytchett or Aldershot (depending on which end you start from)
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU16 6DD (the Canal Centre). GU11 2RE (Wellesley Woodlands).

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket or eat at a cafe or pub along the way. 
Facilities: There is a picnic table along the way at Ash Lock and also at Wellesley Woodlands.  There is a cafe and picnic area at the Canal Centre. You also pass a canal-side pub, The Swan, just before you reach Ash Vale. At Ash Vale there are shops and a cafe. 

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: We parked one car at the Basingstoke Canal Centre (GU16 6DD) and a second at Wellesley Woodlands (GU11 2RE).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, Canada geese, herons, coots, moorhens, other birds, foxes, stag beetles, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2024

 

Section 5 of the Basingstoke Canal Towpath

Section 5 of the Basingstoke Canal towpath takes you on a 2.75 mile walk from Curzon Bridge in Deepcut

 

 

 

 

to the Canal Centre in Mytchett. This is not a circular path. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Deepcut Flight

Section 5 includes the last 3 locks of Deepcut Flight, which is a series of 14 locks on the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright and Surrey Heath.

 

 

 

In total these locks raise boats by nearly 100 feet in just 2 miles!

 

 

 

 

 

The Locks

The locks have two enormous wooden doors at each end with huge levers.

 

 

 

 

 

The Route

This section of the towpath starts at Curzon Bridge, a modern bridge that shelters Lock 25

 

 

 

 

and leads you past Frimley Lodge Park, which has two play areas, one with a castle theme

 

 

 

and a second with a woodland feel.  

 

 

 

 

 

About a ten to twenty minute walk further down the Basingstoke Canal takes you to the end of this section and the Basingstoke Canal Centre. 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of Wildlife

Wildlife is everywhere along the canal with plenty of waterbirds, including ducks and coots with gorgeous chicks.

 

 

 

You often spot herons too, either frozen in the canal or wobbling along the path itself. 

 

 

 

 

The Walk 

This section of the towpath is 2.75 miles long and is not circular. It took us about 2 hours, walking at a child’s pace.

 

 

 

I often cycle this route and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the Canal Centre from Curzon Bridge. 

 

 

 

 

The Paths

The towpath is generally flat but does rise a little along this stretch. This means that at each lock there is a little hill but nothing we found strenuous. 

 

 

 

The towpath can be muddy in places so be sure to bring wellies if it has been raining.

 

 

 

 

The surface can be a little bumpy with stones in some places but is easy to use a bike or buggy along.

 

 

 

 

There is a road crossing and then a section where you walk along a road so you need to take care. 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Next?

North – Section 4: The Deepcut Flight between Pirbright Bridge and Curzon Bridge    

 

 

 

South – Section 6: Canal Centre to Ash Lock to Wellesley Woods

 

 

Nearest Town: Deepcut or Mytchett (depending on which end you start from)
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU24 0DN (from Deepcut). The Deepcut postcode will take you to Stanley Hill, which is as close to the Deepcut lay-by as possible to direct with postcodes. The lay-by is actually next to the railway bridge on Gapemouth Road. For the exact location, please see the Where To Go Map as the marker called “Basingstoke Canal Walk 05 – Deepcut to Frimley Green to Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre” points to the lay-by. GU16 6DD (from Mytchett). 

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: There is a picnic table along the way at lock 28.  There is a cafe and picnic area at Frimley Lodge Park and the Canal Centre. 

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: We parked one car in the lay-by on Gapemouth Road (GU24 0PQ – see above for details) and a second car at the Basingstoke Canal Centre (GU16 6DD).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, Canada geese, herons, coots, moorhens, other birds, foxes, stag beetles, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2024

 

The play equipment includes:

• basket swing
• a climbing wall
• rocks to climb on
• a zip wire
• a spinning seesaw
• a large spinning seesaw (which was fenced off)
• a spinning disc
• picnic tables.

 

Nearest Town: Ash Vale, near Aldershot
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU12 5AA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

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

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds and insects.

Information Written: June 2021
Information Checked: June 2024

 

The Paths

Most of the paths through the nature reserve are buggy friendly and easy to walk on.

There are a few paths that are wilder too, like this path through the meadow.

 

 

To find the Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path. follow one of the paths next to the play area, heading away from the car park.

 

 

 

Lakeside Nature Reserve Play Area

Next to the lake and the car park is the Lakeside Nature Reserve Play Area.

 

The play equipment includes:

• basket swing
• a climbing wall
• rocks to climb on
• a zip wire
• a spinning seesaw
• a large spinning seesaw (which was fenced off)
• a spinning disc
• picnic tables.

 

Nearest Town: Ash Vale, near Aldershot
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU12 5AA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a good-sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds and insects.

Information Written: June 2021
Information Checked: June 2022

 

Blackwater Valley Path Section 4: Hollybush Pits to Coleford Bridge

This is 2 miles long and starts near North Camp railway station.

 

 

 

 

We parked at Carrington Recreation Ground, which is very near to the station and also has a play area.

 

 

 

From here the path follows not just the River Blackwater

 

 

 

 

but also the A331 dual carriageway.

The road noise can be overpowering.

 

 

 

There are places to stop and rest along the way,

 

 

 

 

some pretty views of the River Blackwater

 

 

 

 

and also the local concrete and recycling plants. 

 

 

 

 

This section of the path ends at Coleford Bridge and the Kingfisher on the Quay pub.

 

 

 

About ten minutes away is Rectory Road Play Area.

 

 

 

 

The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

 

 

The Paths Along Section 4

The paths along Section 4 are said to have hard surfacing that is suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes.

 

 

 

We found the paths to be generally flat but uneven in places.  

 

 

 

 

They can also be very, very muddy.

 

 

 

 

There are some road crossings, which you need to cross with care.  Please see the Section 4 route description for full details. 

 

 

 

Would We Go Back?

Almost the entire section of the path runs along the A331 and it is very noisy.

 

 

 

There are some parts of the walk where you walk directly beside the dual carriageway.

Whilst we will not be going back to this section on a walk, it is a largely traffic free cycle route that we do use.

 

 

Where to Next?

Upstream – Section 3: Shawfields to Hollybush Pits

 

 

 

 

Downstream – Section 5: Coleford Bridge to the M3 Bridge

 

 

Nearest Town: North Camp, Farnborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode for Hollybush Pits/Carrington Recreation Ground: GU12 5PG 
Nearest Postcode for Coleford Bridge/Rectory Road: GU14 7HX

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Doable with buggies but be prepared for some narrow paths. 

Parking: To park near Hollybush Pits, we go to Carrington Recreation Ground (GU12 5PG). To park near Coleford Bridge is harder but we were able to park at Rectory Road Play Area (GU14 7HX) and walk to the Blackwater Valley Path. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, ducks, moorhens, coots, Canada gees, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: May 2024

 

The Ash Embankment Aqueduct

Built in 1994, the Ash Aqueduct carries the Basingstoke Canal over the A331 dual carriageway and the River Blackwater.

 

 

 

Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path leads underneath the aqueduct and from down below it looks like a normal road bridge.  

 

 

 

This makes climbing the bridge and discovering a canal a stunning surprise, especially on a sunny day.

 

 

 

 

Blackwater Valley Path Section 3: Shawfields to Hollybush Pits

This is 2 miles long and starts at Shawfields or Rowan Field. 

 

 

 

 

Ivy Road Recreation Ground is a convenient place to park near Shawfields.  

 

 

 

Follow the path across the field to a small bridge and turn left onto the Blackwater Valley Path.

 

 

 

The path will lead you over footbridges

 

 

 

 

up to the Basingstoke Canal

 

 

 

 

past Lakeside Nature Reserve Adventure Play Area

 

 

 

 

over a couple of roads you need to cross with care

 

 

 

 

through narrow paths lined with brambles and stinging nettles 

 

 

 

 

along the river

 

 

 

 

finally ending at North Camp railway station

 

 

 

 

and the Old Ford Pub.

 

 

 

 

 

Carrington Recreation Ground

We continue on for a couple of minutes to play at Carrington Recreation Ground, which is also where we park.

 

 

 

 

The River Blackwater

Along Section 3 of the path, the River Blackwater starts to feel like a fully sized river complete with weeds waving in the currents.

 

 

 

River access becomes very difficult because of the wild vegetation growing alongside. 

 

 

 

 

The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

 

 

The Paths Along Section 3

The paths along Section 3 are generally flat with a few gentle inclines and easy to use.  

 

 

 

 

The paths after Lakeside Nature Reserve can be very narrow, overgrown and muddy with patches of stinging nettles and brambles. 

 

 

 

There is hard surfacing that is said to suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes.

 

 

 

 

We have all used scooters along this section between Shawfields and Lakeside Nature Reserve without too much difficulty, although the surface can be uneven in places and there are often stones or branches to dodge.

 

 

But the path around Hollybush Pits does not feel like it is surfaced. In some areas it has large chunks of rock and brick sticking out of the ground. This wasn’t a problem for a bike but I have taken a scooter this way before and couldn’t use it. 

We now don’t take scooters beyond Lakeside Nature Reserve.

 

Would We Go Back?

We probably wouldn’t go back to the whole of Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path because of the paths around Hollybush Pits.

Instead, we follow a different and circular route!

 

 

A Circular Alternative!

We often cycle along the first half of Section 3, beginning at Ivy Road Recreation Ground and cycling for about ten minutes to the Ash Aqueduct.

 

 

From here we either follow the Basingstoke Canal tow path

 

 

 

 

to Ash Vale for an ice cream, which takes another ten minutes.

 

 

 

 

From Ash we cycle back to the aqueduct and rejoin the Blackwater Valley Path North and cycle to Lakeside Nature Reserve Adventure Play Area, which is about a five minute cycle from the aqueduct.

 

 

After Lakeside Play Area we cycle back to the aqueduct and then Ivy Road, which takes about 20 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Where to Next?

Upstream – Section 2:  Pea Bridge to Shawfields

 

 

 

 

Downstream – Section 4:  Hollybush Pits to Coleford Bridge

 

 

Nearest Town: Ash, Ash Vale, North Camp
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode for Shawfields/Ivy Road: GU12 4XG
Nearest Postcode for Hollybush Pits/Carrington Recreation Ground: GU12 5PG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly up to Lakeside Nature Reserve but can be harder going afterwards. 

Parking: To park near Shawfields, we go to Ivy Road (GU12 4XG) – drive past the waste recycling centre and turn left next to the sign for Belle Vue Enterprise Centre. To park near Hollybush Pits, we go to Carrington Recreation Ground (GU12 5PG).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, ducks, moorhens, coots, Canada gees, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: May 2024

 

Four and Five Leaf Clovers

Most clovers have three leaves

 

 

 

 

 

but some have four leaves

 

 

 

 

 

and others have five leaves!  

These special clovers are hard to find. I’ve read that the odds of spotting a four leaf clover are 1 in 10,000 and a five leaf clover are 1 in 100,000.

 

 

When I was little, I read that finding a four leaf clover is lucky and finding a five leaf clover is even luckier so you should only ever give a five leaf clover to someone you love very much.  

 

 

 

 

Where to Look for Clovers

To give yourself the best chance of finding one and surprising your special someone, have a look amongst the clovers that line the Blackwater Valley Path from Ivy Road Recreation Ground

 

 

to just before the main road crossing in Aldershot.

Here there are enormous clovers so extra leaves are easier to spot. 

 

 

 

Blackwater Valley Path Section 2: Pea Bridge to Shawfields

Section 2 is 2.25 miles long. It starts at Pea Bridge in Badshot Lea and follows the river

 

 

 

 

past the well-equipped Aldershot Park and Play area

 

 

 

 

and along to a main road.

 

 

 

 

This is a fast road so be careful when you cross.  

 

 

 

 

Beyond this road, the path hugs the river again

 

 

 

 

and is lined with vegetation and giant clovers.  

 

 

 

 

Ivy Road Recreation Ground is to your left on the other side of the river

 

 

 

 

and is accessed by a small bridge.

 

 

 

 

Shawfields is at the same point on the path but to your right.  

 

 

 

 

To find the pond at Rowan Field,

 

 

 

 

you need to go diagonally across Shawfields (follow the noise of the dual carriageway!) and go up and over the A331. 

 

 

 

 

The River Blackwater

Along Section 2 of the path, the River Blackwater grows wider and deeper and you start to see ducks, Canada geese and other water birds.

 

 

 

There are stretches where you can access the river, for example at Aldershot Park 

 

 

 

but for much of Section 2 the river is hard to reach, either because the banks are steep 

 

 

 

or it is guarded by towering plants.

 

 

 

 

 

The Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

 

 

The Paths Along Section 2

The path along Section 2 is easy to use and flat.  

There are patches that can be overgrown and where you have to go through stinging nettles and brambles. 

 

 

It has hard surfacing that is suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes.

I found using a scooter harder as the surface is too uneven in places for little wheels. 

 

 

There are some road crossings, which you need to cross with care.  Please see the Section 2 route description for full details. 

 

 

 

 

Would We Go Back?

We often cycle along this stretch of the River Blackwater, starting at Aldershot Park and Play Area and cycling to Ivy Road Recreation Ground and then on to Rowan Field and Shawfield Recreation Ground. 

 

 

Where to Next?

Upstream – Section 1:  Rowhill Nature Reserve to Pea Bridge

 

 

 

 

Downstream – Section 3: Shawfields to Hollybush Pits

 

 

Nearest Town: Badshot Lea, Aldershot and Ash
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode for Pea Bridge: GU11 3RD or GU11 3QJ (see below under Parking for details).
Nearest Postcode for Ivy Road: GU12 4XG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

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

Parking: To park near Pea Bridge you can either park on the road near Tice’s Meadow (GU11 3RD) or park in the car park at Brickfields Country Park (GU11 3QJ) and walk down. To park near Shawfields, we go to Ivy Road (GU12 4XG) – drive past the waste recycling centre and turn left next to the sign for Belle Vue Enterprise Centre.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, ducks, moorhens, coots, Canada gees, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: May 2024