Brenda Parker Way
A 78-mile long distance footpath and tribute to local walking legend Brenda Parker. The route crosses the rich and diverse north Hampshire countryside between the towns of Aldershot and Andover, an area Brenda loved to walk within. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SU 870 500
Distance: 78 miles (126 km)
Time: 30–38 hours
Duration: 5–7 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
131 Romsey, Andover and Test Valley
144 Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch
145 Guildford and Farnham
158 Newbury and Hungerford
159 Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne
Summary
The Brenda Parker Way long distance footpath has been developed by the North Hampshire Downs Ramblers Group in memory of one of their most illustrious members, who established a number of local walking groups in her lifetime. The 78-mile route crosses the rich and diverse north Hampshire countryside between the towns of Aldershot and Andover. These towns lie respectively at the eastern and western edges of the north of the county and have strong links to Hampshire’s military heritage. In between, the walk takes in heathland, forest, tiny fields, and small farms, then climbs to the highest villages in Hampshire, offering spectacular views, rolling downland, and clear chalk streams. Places visited on the route, in order from start to finish, include Aldershot, the Basingstoke Canal, Fleet, Fleet Pond, Ancells Farm Nature Reserve, Hartley Wintney, the Forest of Eversley, Rotherwick, the River Loddon, Bramley, the remains of Calleva Atrebatum Roman Town, Silchester, Pamber Forest, Tadley, Baughurst, Inhurst, Ashford Hill Meadows National Nature Reserve, Goose Hill, Kingsclere Woodlands, Kingsclere, Ecchinswell, Burghclere, Highclere Park, Faccombe, St Mary Bourne, Wildhern, Hatherden, and Penton Mewsey before ending in Andover.