I am absolutely delighted to share the news that one of my photos has been used in the 2019 Basingstoke Canal Calendar. I took the photo on a walk one beautiful spring morning where the temperature was mild and the sky so blue. This stretch of the Canal was from Fleet towards Crookham. We have since walked a few stretches of the canal which you can read about below and see more photos from the area.
Local artist Tony Green saw my photos and asked if he could use the image to paint a watercolour from. Of course, I was delighted and he’s allowed me to show his finished piece here. He has been an artist since the 1980s and uses many mediums. Do visit his website to see more.
The Basingstoke Canal stretches for miles throughout Hampshire and Surrey. Its many beautiful routes are ever-changing throughout the seasons, with varied flora and fauna along the way. We do intend to walk every route possible.
FLEET TO CROOKHAM
We have walked from Fleet to Crookham as photographed above. We parked at the Fleet end of the canal which cost around £1 for a couple of hours and headed off towards Crookham. It was a beautiful day and we came across lots of gorgeous riverside houses, bridges and had the pleasure of seeing a canal boat pass by too. We met several joggers, cyclists and dog walkers along the way.
You pass the entrance to a nature reserve and pubs at either end. Both serve food, so you could certainly make a day of it. The pathway itself is a little stony in places so I would recommend wearing proper shoes and not flip flops like I did! There and back was a reasonable 4-mile walk.
FRIMLEY GREEN TOWARDS BROOKWOOD
We then tried Frimley Green towards Brookwood. As we were eating at the King’s Head Harvester afterwards, they said that we could park there. There is a little on-road parking just over the bridge or lots at nearby Frimley Lodge Park. This route was entirely different to Fleet. It was mostly hard dirt track and some areas were a little muddy as we’d had lots of rain.
This walk was more secluded and we only passed a couple of people but were rewarded with an abundance of river birds, including two herons, the entire length of the walk. We encountered a series of locks along this stretch too. We walked as far as the 6th lock then turned around to walk back giving us a distance of just under 4 miles again.
CANAL CENTRE MYTCHETT
We recently walked from the Canal Centre in the Brookwood direction that takes you past the Frimley Lodge Park, where the mini railway runs during the Summer. This is quite a busy stretch and is approx 3/4 mile until you reach the bridge where you have to leave the canal and walk over the bridge to the aforementioned route towards Brookwood.
I am told that having a cooked breakfast or afternoon tea and cake at the Canal Centre in Mytchett is a must. You can also take canal boat trips from this location, and there are usually activities for young and old alike throughout holiday times. Parking is free but it does get very busy.
If you walk from the Canal Centre in the opposite direction you pass Mytchett lake towards Ash Vale and Ash where you will find the old boathouse just past the train station.
We will definitely do more of these walks and I will report back. I have lots more photos from here and other destinations worldwide on my Facebook and Instagram pages, and lots of new content to come particularly of free and cheap things to do in my Days Out and Travel UK Section.
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These photos are also linked up to #SundaySnap @jibberjabberuk
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Tea & Cake For The Soul 
Absolutely gorgeous!
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It’s lovely. I will be updating this post soon as we’ve walk a couple more stretches. Each walk is very different.
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Well done on your calendar inclusion. It looks like a beautiful place to take a walk.
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Thank and yes we are very lucky to have walks like this.
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