December 9th 2024 Bramdean Common

 Walk 9/12/2024                              Taken from Fancy Free Walks (Hampshire):

West Tisted, Bramdean Common and the Church in the Wood (4-5 miles)

Leader: PG;  Back Marker: EG

Plus Walkers: HR, JR, MC, FM, SE, JE, IP (9 total)

On the prewalk this route had several very muddy patches and, with a storm predicted for the weekend before the walk itself, there was some doubt whether cancellation might be on the cards. However, with fair warning about the mud, and advice about sticks and boots we went ahead, and whilst the muddy patches were still there, they were not significantly worse.  Weather was cool, occasionally breezy, overcast.

We had planned to park in front of the village hall in West Tisted, but discovered that there was an art class there on Mondays, so were offered the use of some parking space in the farm yard next door which worked well.

We started by visiting the 11th Century church nearby. The keyholder had been contacted and was there to let us in – a small beautifully plain little church. Almost more amazing was the ancient yew outside which was huge and looking very robust for its age.

We then set off down a steep farm track and around the edge of the first fields. Here there were wide ranging views of the surrounding countryside and we were lucky in December to have a reasonably clear dry day.

Shortly thereafter we entered the woods which make up Bramdean Common, mixed woods with much evidence of ancient coppicing for charcoal. After an easy walk through we spotted the Church in the Wood. It was built in 1883 by the Rev Alfred Caesar Bishop so that the charcoal burners and itinerant gypsies who used the woods at that time could attend church, and is still maintained by a trust and has occasional services. We were not able to enter, but could look in through the windows. We continued on through the woods coming to what should have been a wide grassy path but which had turned into a muddy mess. Our intrepid walkers got through with no problems! Towards the end of the woods we stopped for coffee by some cut tree trunks (we’d not noticed that they were up a short but steep bank, but with the help of sticks, fellow walkers and a small hazel tree we all managed without mishap).

Coming out of the wood, and along a couple more field edges we had a short climb up a small lane for another wonderful open view.

The final stage took us along a path beside the fields where we could see the farm in the distance and realise we were heading back. Luckily the storm had only brought down one tree of note across the path, but we were able to clamber over reasonably easily.

The two local hostelries were not open for Monday lunches, so we opted to head back in the direction of Farnham, stopping at the Rose and Crown in Upper Farringdon, which we had used previously for our summer walk. We had a lovely table in front of a roaring fire. Service was good on the whole and very friendly.