Twixt Brook and River

There were just nine of us on the October walk on Thursday 23rd October. Starting at Blunden Hall
the route was going to explore
some of the area’s forgotten green spaces found between Cove Brook and the River Blackwater. We certainly did that.

Leaving Blunden Hall we headed northwards alongside Cove Brook
to discover a peaceful green ’lung’  that flows through what is now an urban area. The splendid willow trees along the brook looked magnificent and hinted at what
the area may once have been like.

Paul, our walk leader, knows the area well and leaving the brook behind took us through the built-up areas to Hawley Lane, crossing the road we soon went down a track between two factories that led to
a crossing over the railway and
into Frimley Business Park. Here
we joined the Blackwater Valley
Path and headed south.

We walked along the Path for a short way then took an unmarked track on the western side of
the A331, down to an area known
as Grants Moor, an unexpected  stretch of heathland. Continuing south we reached Farnborough North Station where some of the oldest houses in Farnborough can
be found, then followed some pathways until we were behind Farnborough Hill with some magnifcient views of the building itself. A short distance further on
we saw the Abbey itself, still partly hidden by trees but its splended architecture was still visible.

It was back to the main road for a short while before entering Queen Elizabeth Park, another haven of tranquility and quite spectacular with all the autumn colours. From the Park is was back through the urban areas before reaching Cove Brook and  Blunden Hall.

A thoroughly enjoyable walk revealing some unexpected scenes
Christine Reeves
BV Link Co-ordinator

Pictures:

Top: Walking alongside Cove Brook showing the willow trees.
Middle: A closer view of one of the manificent willows.
Middle: Group shot taken by the heathland areas of Grants Moor.
Bottom: Walking through Queen Elizabeth Park.