Kinbas one

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Kingsclere to Basingstoke (Kinbas 1) review.

A walk across the SE corner of the North Wessex Downs AONB.

Kingscleve has a choice of amenities. On my Slow Way visits I’ve enjoyed dropping into The Crown by the church. This time I remembered to photograph the church’s famous bed-bug vane (Photo 1).

The route takes a shaded footpath out of the village. There’s a moderate ascent up the escarpment (Photo 2) onto the North Wessex Downs.

There’s a break point at Hannington village. The Vine (Photo 3) is closed Mondays and between 3pm and 6pm.

The Slow Way leaves the village via a footpath east: field edges by woods and through Warren Bottom Copse (Photos 4 & 5).

The route leaves the woods behind for fields (Photo 6) and a quiet lane. It then joins a byway for the 2.5 mile walk to the edge of Basingstoke. The path has the bright chalk surface of the downs (Photo 7).

On my walk (August 2022), the byway was heavily rutted and uneven (Photo 8) for the final mile or so. I found it wearing to constantly have to watch my step, and was relieved to finally leave it behind.

There’s an urban walk from the edge of Basingstoke. The route then makes good use of a shaded path by the railway and a footpath to avoid the main roads, to finish at the train station.

I completed the first 4 miles of the route on 7th June, starting at Basingstoke station. This finishes the review I submitted on 17th May. I found this section easy to navigate. It runs parallel to the railway to the Milestones roundabout and Winklebury, where it goes behind the FA football complex and Winklebury Centre. There are stretches of Winklebury Way without footpath but there is a wide grass verge to walk on. Turn right at junction with Roman Road and cross opposite Kenilworth for the track to Worting Wood Farm on the Manydown estate. From this point the route continues on byways and footpaths all the way to Kingsclere with short sections on Lanes at Ibworth and Hannington.

Review Part 1. I walked the second half of the route, from Wootton St Lawrence to Kingsclere (7 miles). This section follows byways, footpaths and bridleways, linked by short sections on quiet lanes. It is well signposted and easy to navigate. Warren Bottom Copse was full of bluebells and the high ground between Hannington and Kingsclere opens up panoramic views and fantastic cloudscapes, particularly the thunderstorm that pursued me back from Kingsclere! I did this on Monday as my choice of going out for a long walk on my Birthday! It was after a weekend of heavy rain and the paths were muddy. I was glad I choose to wear walking boots as I picked my way around the large puddles that had formed on several paths. I had plenty of sightings of red kites close enough to see their markings around Ibworth and Hannington and saw two hares in a field. For the walker seeking refreshments, the route passes the Vine Inn at Hannington but it is closed on Mondays. The bench on the green in front of Hannington church is ideal for a drinks break and on arrival in Kingsclere the choice includes McColls, Spar, the Honesty Cafe and a pub. I bought a coffee from the cafe and enjoyed my picnic in St Mary's churchyard on a bench overlooking the stream. Look up at the weather vane on the church tower, which is in the shape of a bed bug! The local story is that it was ordered by King John in the 13th century after he endured an uncomfortable night in a local inn being bitten by the bugs! I have been bitten by the walking bug and plan to do the other half of this route from Basingstoke another day. I returned to Wootton St Lawrence via Plantation Hill, Shear Down Farm and Tangier Park: a circuit of 15 miles. Thankfully, I was on the edge of the storm and didn't get as wet as I'd expected!.

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