In Search of Space, in Hook

Well, not as promised, but possibly as expected I have once again neglected my blog. I have recently started a new job and the first couple of weeks have been a little hectic, getting used to my new commute, and orientating myself around the work. I had hoped to travel by train, but after the first week it became clear that it would take twice as long as driving so reluctantly I have abandoned public transport and taken to my car.

I've managed a couple of lunchtime wanders from my new work location in Hook. The first couple of wanders were simply to stretch my leas and get some lunch, and were not particularly inspiring, but more recently I found a footpath that I'd spotted on google maps, and discovered a more rural setting, and as the title of my blog insists, some space. I only managed a short wander, but this route definitely calls for a bit more exploration, in both directions.

Anyone who has read my blog before will know that I'm a bit of a sucker for railway bridges, especially ones no longer in use, and whilst this one is most definitely in use, carrying the main line between Basingstoke and Waterloo, the bridge is an old brick arch, which is very much to my liking.

Railway bridge across Holt Lane, Hook, Hampshire

Railway bridge across Holt Lane, Hook, Hampshire 

Farm track off Holt Lane, Hook, Hampshire 

Railway bridge across Holt Lane, Hook, Hampshire

Tomorrow I'm off to London, so with a bit of luck I'll get an opportunity for some early morning urban wandering before my meeting, so maybe this week will see another blog post ... but then again maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see.

In other news, I am desperately trying to find time and energy to read a book I got for my birthday last year called Timekeepers, How The World Became Obsessed With Time, by Simon Garfield, partly because I want to finish reading the book, but also so I can start on a more recent purchase, Post Punk Then and Now.

  

A Rural Wander along the Kennet and Avon Canal

One of the last rural wanders I managed before I started my new job was out to the west of where we live, along the Kennet and Avon canal. I'd cycled this route many times but generally veered off from the canal beyond Great Bedwyn, so this was all new territory for me. The weather was perfect, we had no time constraints, so all we had to do was enjoy ourselves.

Kennet and Avon Canal, near Crofton

As with many of my rural wanders, I'm constantly on the lookout for disused railways. I knew there were a couple in this area but was surprised in how much was still evident after all the years. This is the former Midland and South Western Junction Railway, built as a north-south link between the Midland Railway and the London and South West Railway. There's not much of the track bed remaining south of Marlborough (north of Marlborough it's a cycle path extending to Swindon), but plenty of parts of former bridges to see.

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Track bed of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway

Shame about the focus in this next picture, but this happy little chaffinch was singing his heart out in the trees alongside the canal towpath.

Chaffinch

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Not a railway bridge this time, but a small bridge carrying a farm track across the canal. There are plenty of these along the Kennet and Avon Canal, but I never tire of seeing them.

Bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal, near Burbage

I'm not sure what building these ornate tiles were on. They have definitely seen better days but it just amazed me at how much intricate detail went into what is essentially the outside corner of a garden wall.

Ornate tiles on a wall near Burbage

East Grafton village green

Old street lamp, somewhere between East Grafton and Wilton

We finished the walk in Wilton where we stopped for a wonderful pub lunch and a well deserved pint.

    

A rural bike ride near Long Parish and Whitchurch, Hampshire

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to find time to make the most of the dry but cold weather, and took the opportunity for a bike ride down to Whitchurch in Hampshire. I've cycled this route, or more accurately a slightly off road version of it, before but as always each visit reveals new things. The first revelation was a little sad, and that was of yet another closed pub. A couple of summers ago I stopped here mid bike ride for lunch and a pint at the Hurstbourne Inn, in Hurstbourne Priors, but alas those days would now seem to be gone. I also noticed that The Coronation Arms in St. Marybourne had also closed.

The Hurstbourne Inn, Hurstbourne Priors, Hampshire

As my ride continued, I came across more relics of a bygone ear, although these buttresses which supported the bridge carrying the railway line south from Whitchurch towards Winchester would have been closed to business several decades earlier than the pub above.

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Whitchurch itself is probably about two thirds, or 20 miles, of the way around this particular loop and I'm always pleased to arrive and treat myself to a coffee, and sometimes a cake, at H's. The next two pictures are of the White Hart which I'm pleased to say is still open and sits proudly opposite H's, as I sat on the bench outside the café, sipping my takeaway Americano.

The White Hart, Whitchurch, Hampshire

The White Hart, Whitchurch, Hampshire

    

A rural wander around Crux Easton, Hampshire

A complete change of scene, and scenery, for today's post. These pictures were all taken during one of our recent post-Christmas walks, this one being a 5 mile loop around Crux Easton in north Hampshire.

Silhouetted trees in the late afternoon sun 

When this electricity pylon came into view, I was immediately reminded of the cover of the excellent book, The Unofficial Countryside by Richard Mabey.

Electricity pylon with the setting sun

Sunset near Crux Easton

It's been a while since I photographed any decay, dereliction or abandonment, either urban or rural, so here are a few pictures of a slightly forgotten but favourite subject matter.

Rural decay, a broken fence post

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

I must have taken tens of pictures of the sunset today, of which these are my favourites.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

There's something about poles and wires disappearing into the distance.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

And finally, the perfect ending to a perfect walk, the last glimpses of the winter sun as it sets behind the windmill at Crux Easton.

Crux Easton Windmill

    

Cycling close to the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Whilst trying to make the most of the summer, I've been out and about in the countryside cycling of late, and not doing much urban wandering. For the past few weekends I have ventured south towards Whitchurch and beyond. A few weeks ago I posted about the Whitchurch Town station and disused railway, but my latest two trips have taken me beyond Whitchurch to Long Parish and Wherwell, where the former Sprat and Winkle line used to run.

Much of this part of the line is now private and inaccessible, so I had to make do with cycling along the road beside it. Where the line used to run through Stockbridge through is now a foot-cum-cycling path, but going that far was pushing the limits of my cycling ability, and today's route was 50 miles as it was, so maybe that's one for a day when I take the car out. Here's a link to a good brochure about the Sprat and Winkle line.

All the pictures below are taken between Wherwell and Long Parish. The first four are just the bridge supports, but the last two are of one of the few bridges still intact.

Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire 

 Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

 Remnants of bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

Bridge along the former Sprat and Winkle railway line, Hampshire

    

I'm not sure where my next venture will take me. I'm up in London a few times again next week, so maybe there'll be some more Urban Wandering taking place again, but for now I'm slightly obsessed with me sprats and winkles.