In this episode of my series “Walks in Hampshire”, I take a 6.5 mile “figure of eight” walk from the village of Abbotts Ann which is located about 2 miles South West of Andover. Once again I am accompanied by my Whippet, Logan.
I parked my car in the centre of Abbotts Ann & started my walk with a wander, beginning at the Southern end of the village. After passing the old school, the Eagle pub & the village shop, I headed East to visit the church.
The church of St Mary has an amazing collection of Virgin's Crowns (crown shapped garlands used as a funeral momento for virgins). There are 41 of these “crowns” still hanging up inside the church - dating from 1740 to the most recent one in 1973.
I continued to head East, passing by the Pillhill Brook & the Poplar Farm pub, and crossed the busy A343 to my next destination - the iron age hill fort at Bury Hill.
After a quick wander around the fort, I retraced my steps back to Abbotts Ann & then followed a track (Dunkirt Lane) which took me South West into the countryside.
At Dunkirt Barn, I headed South around the side of fields, on a public footpath, and came very near to the site of a Roman Villa.
At Cossical Copse, I started the homeward section of the walk, Northwards, eventually picking up an ancient Drover's track back to the village.back to the village.
My final destination was the Eagle pub at Abbotts Ann where I took light refrershments.
Map courtesy of Google Maps.
For further videos in the series, please go to: / @daveford or my website at daveford5966.w...
My Facebook page is: / davescountrysidewalks
I use an INSTA360 ACE PRO Action Camera & a Rode microphone (either a “Shotgun” or a Rode Wireless Go II) together with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS.