Ibsley

Date:
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Parking:
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2nd November 2016
Ibsley
Peter
Peter, Ray
8.2 miles
Car Park by Old Beams
​The Coffee Club, Westbourne ★★★☆☆

This walk did not quite go to plan and it would be a good idea to avoid the two areas marked in red on any future walks in the area.

At Harbridge Farm

It started out well on a bright but slightly misty morning and the walk along the Avon Valley Path was quite straightforward.   There were some places where the path looked as if it had not been used much for some time and it had become a bit overgrown but it was quite passable.  We were very lucky to see a Kingfisher from the new footbridge just after East Moor Copse.  Aided by a bird watcher who told us where to look!  We also saw a kestrel being harassed by a couple of crows.  It is perhaps worth noting that in spite of the recent dry weather this area was fairly wet and it would not be passable after a lot of rain.

​All went well until we reached the first of the highlighted tracks.  In the first place it was hard to find being almost hidden by low hanging branches.  It took us three attempts. It then turned out to be very muddy in places and only just navigable.

A Challenge

The short stretch over Gorley Common was very pleasant with some lovely views across the valley and the open ground to the east.

Easier than it would have been a few months ago

G orley Common

Gorley Common

The second highlighted stretch was however very poor.  It started off along a very narrow path fenced on both sides.  At one point the owner of one of the gardens had piled waste so high along the fence that it had collapsed and all but blocked the path.  Rucksacks had to be removed so as to squeeze by.  Then there were nettles and overgrown shrubs to cope with. Crossing what looks to be a main path our track vanished.  We eventually, again on the third attempt, managed to find where it was supposed to go but this required some help from a local attending her horse.
The only other snag worth mentioning is the very large number of styles.  At a guess around twenty.
It would have been a really good walk if it had not been for these irritants.

Lunch at the Coffee Club was very good but they lost a star for the price of lime and soda which at nearly £3 is way over the top!  A large coffee is cheaper.