| Date: Location: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 7 June 2018 Damerham 5.2 miles The Compasses Inn The Compasses Inn |
I was rather surprised to see that we have not visited Damerham since 2008. It’s a very pleasant area with lots of footpaths providing a number of options for walks of varying distances. Mind you the 11.4 miles we walked in May 2008, taking in Cranbourne as well, is a lot further than we manage these days so this walk is a lot shorter. Rob’s aversion to what he regarded as the “Twee pub” may have kept us away but the pub is now very different and has quite a rural atmosphere and we enjoyed it.
We parked at the Compasses and after a short stretch along the road turned south down a well marked footpath.
St George’s Church looks very unusual and we could not resist having a look inside. We were very pleased that we did. It is very old indeed possibly dating back to Saxon times and it has the feel of a church built for the people to pray in rather than to the glory of the person who paid for for it. There is an interesting and detailed guide to the church at: A Guide to the Church of St. George, Damerham. This link will immediately download the two page pdf to your download folder.
We parked at the Compasses and after a short stretch along the road turned south down a well marked footpath.
St George’s Church looks very unusual and we could not resist having a look inside. We were very pleased that we did. It is very old indeed possibly dating back to Saxon times and it has the feel of a church built for the people to pray in rather than to the glory of the person who paid for for it. There is an interesting and detailed guide to the church at: A Guide to the Church of St. George, Damerham. This link will immediately download the two page pdf to your download folder.
 Bridge Over Allen River |  St George's Church |  St George's Church |
As we walked across the field leading down to the Allen River we heard some high pitched squeaking and spotted a tiny bird sitting in the middle of the path. We gently encouraged it to move just off the path where hopefully his parents found him (or her) later.
We thought it would be nice to follow the track along beside the water. It was however almost impossible to see the stream or lakes and when we finally crossed the lakes at the south easterly end we found a rather dirty looking patch of water rather than the pristine fishing area we had expected.
Some excellent work had however been done to put in a new wooden bridge across the river. Soon we came across the Hawkhill Mill Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club CL where we had stayed with Juliet, Matt and our granddaughters a few years back. The path somewhat surprisingly runs between the old mill house and its garden. It must be a lovely place to live but this seems a bit of an imposition.
We were more than a little amused by the wonderfully named hen house.
We thought it would be nice to follow the track along beside the water. It was however almost impossible to see the stream or lakes and when we finally crossed the lakes at the south easterly end we found a rather dirty looking patch of water rather than the pristine fishing area we had expected.
Some excellent work had however been done to put in a new wooden bridge across the river. Soon we came across the Hawkhill Mill Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club CL where we had stayed with Juliet, Matt and our granddaughters a few years back. The path somewhat surprisingly runs between the old mill house and its garden. It must be a lovely place to live but this seems a bit of an imposition.
We were more than a little amused by the wonderfully named hen house.
 All Alone |  Ha, Ha, Ha! |
It looks as if there is a footpath across the corner of Lower Bull Hill Farm but all we found was an impenetrable hedge. There is however a well signed bridle path at the corner of the left bend. It did not look as if this was used very frequently but it was perfectly adequate.
There were a few wild orchids as we approached our right turn in Ashridge Copse and then an easy stroll across a field where the farmer had made a perfect path through his crop of wheat. As we walked past the houses at the south end of Damerham we spotted a wonderful wooden caravan in someones back garden. A real work of art. We had a nice friendly chat with a gentleman to whom we were grateful when he told us he opened the church most mornings.
Back t the Compasses we enjoyed gammon egg and chips and chicken and ham pie. Although a tad on the expensive side we agreed that both were top of the list when it came to quality.
There were a few wild orchids as we approached our right turn in Ashridge Copse and then an easy stroll across a field where the farmer had made a perfect path through his crop of wheat. As we walked past the houses at the south end of Damerham we spotted a wonderful wooden caravan in someones back garden. A real work of art. We had a nice friendly chat with a gentleman to whom we were grateful when he told us he opened the church most mornings.
Back t the Compasses we enjoyed gammon egg and chips and chicken and ham pie. Although a tad on the expensive side we agreed that both were top of the list when it came to quality.
 A Work Of Art |  Style For The Older Walkers |
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