Ashford Hangers
Children will enjoy collecting some wild garlic on this walk to take home and use in some tasty recipes!
The Basics
Time: 30 mins each way
Distance: 1.5 km each way
Terrain: This route is steep - very steep - but unlike other paths into the hanger, this one is short and quickly levels out, making it the best option for children
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: None, but you could enjoy a picnic with a view (no tables)
Toilets: None
Parking: Parking around the hanger is very limited. Most people park in Steep and then walk from there, but for families our recommendation is a small parking area on Cottage Lane, just past a bend and at the base of the footpath (Postcode: GU33 6LN - W3W: stems/paramedic/superbly)
Ashford Hangers comprises 323 acres of wooded hillside, much of it beech trees. The views from the top are well worth the climb and this is also one of the best places to find wild garlic in Hampshire.
The Route
This is a one path there and back again route. From our recommended parking area, go around the gate and follow the footpath as it ascends. It does level off a short whole and this is when the first garlic will come into view if walking in May time.
The next point of interest will be a notice board and a little path leading up to your right. It is well worth the quick diversion for a bench with a view.
Back on the main path, continue until you see a sign saying ‘Ashford Hangers Nature Reserve’. Turn left here to go down to the second viewpoint, Poet’s Stone, which takes in far reaching views to the south.
Retrace your steps to get back to your car.
We suggest viewing the interactive map below as a ‘Trails Map’ to ensure all the paths are visible:
Did you know?
The Poet’s Stone is a memorial to the poet Edward Thomas, who lived locally and often walked in the hangers until he died in the Battle of Arras in 1917.
The name 'Hanger' comes from the Old English 'hangra' meaning a wooded slope.