A walk through Hannington

By Elizabeth Barnett on January 12th 2012

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The Pyramidal-roofed well head at Hannington, built to commemorate Queen Victoria;s diamon jubilee

The view across the Kennet Valley from the steep scarp slope on Cottington's Hill

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The beautiful little village of Hannington, whose name derives from ‘Haningtun’ meaning the ‘farm of Hana’, hides 200m up in the North Hampshire Downs; a large expanse of rolling chalk hills that form part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Clustered around the large village green, with its pyramidal-roofed well head that was built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee are a lovely collection of brick and timber cottages.

Beyond the lychgate lies All Saints Church which dates back to Saxon times. If you get a chance to go inside have a look at the two beautifully engraved memorial windows by Sir Laurence Whistler CBE (1912-2000) – a leading exponent of hand engraving during the 20th century. One window remembers William Whistler (1886–1978), whose family have farmed at Hannington for generations. The window shows the Scythe of Time, with William Whistler’s dates of birth and death on the two handles, a sheaf of corn and flock of sheep being driven by a border collie illustrate his life as a farmer. The other window remembers Rose Hodson and depicts the house, built in 1793, where she lived for 22 years.

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From the car park entrance turn left and immediately left again heading along the Wayfarer’s Walk – the sign mentions its 57½ miles to Emsworth down on the coast, but don’t worry, we’re not going that far today. Keep to the narrow hedge-lined path and, at the path junction beside a large gate, turn left and follow the field edge on the right as it starts to curve right to reach the top field corner.

Go through the gap in the hedge into the next field and head towards the large mast that crowns Cottington’s Hill; this 152m (500ft) high mast is the Hannington TV transmitter for Berkshire and North Hampshire. At the gate, turn left down beside the fence on the right, cross the stile and turn right following a path beside the fence on the right, with bushes down to the left. Keep beside the fence as it bends up to the right and cross a stile.

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Go left, following a path through the trees, keeping close to the top edge of the field on the right. Once clear of the trees keep straight with the steep scarp slope falling away to the left giving a great vantage point for far reaching views across the Kennet Valley. Cross the stile in the field corner and turn right up the track to a cross-track junction. Go straight on following the track along the field edge on the right down to a dip and then up again, passing just left of the trees at Hannington Scrubs.

Once in the next field turn down to the left and then right following the lower field edge to a gate. Turn left along the lane and keep right at the junction to reach the village green. About 200m straight on is The Vine at Hannington pub; originally called The Wellington Arms after the Duke of Wellington, who at one time owned the land, the pub was renamed in 1960 after the Vine and Craven Hunt whose kennels are nearby.

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Turn right alongside the green (left if coming back from the pub) and pass just to the right of All Saints Church, following the tree-shaded gravel track towards Manor Farm. Before the entrance turn right along a path, following it as it curves to the left round a large old barn and keep to the enclosed path to reach a small gate. Continue straight on following the field edge on the left down to a dip and then up to pass a large gate. Turn right along the tree-lined field edge for 600m and at the corner go left and soon turn right past a gate to join Meadham Lane beside a junction for Walkeridge Farm; the lane here follows the line of an old Roman road known as the Portway that ran between Salisbury (Old Sarum) and London.

Go left down the lane for a few metres and then right along the narrow enclosed path, soon passing under the power lines. Once in the open field follow the field edge down to the left with yet more lovely views to the west along the sinuous chalk ridge. At the junction we passed near the start of the walk keep straight on to retrace the route back to the car park.

A walk through Hannington

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