Mytchett
Children will enjoy two play areas, waterfowl, house boats and a visitor centre on this walk.
The Basics
Time: 1 hour
Distance: 3.3 km
Terrain: Towpath, flat woodland paths, short pavement section by a busy road
Pushchair: Yes - the towpath is flat and pretty well surfaced. You will encounter the odd tree roots and mud patch in the woodland.
Dogs: Yes - they must be on leads around the canal centre and cannot go into the play area compounds
Refreshments: Café and picnic benches at The Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre or Café and picnic benches at Frimley Lodge Park
Toilets: At The Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre or in Frimley Lodge Park
Parking: Free car park beside the Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre (Postcode: GU16 6DD - W3W: cliff/teeth/chimp)
The Canal Centre at Mytchett is an excellent place to explore The Basingstoke Canal and its history. You will find plenty here to entertain the whole family including this easy walk around the tow path passing houseboats, bridges, woodland and some fantastic parks.
The Route
The walk starts at the canal centre where there is plenty to do with a campsite, café, play area, boat trips, boat hire, informative displays and picnic tables. Begin the walk along the towpath by crossing the little swing bridge over the canal and turning right.
Follow the towpath where children will enjoy looking out for ducks and swans as well as houseboats moored at the edges. Look out for paths cutting through the trees on your left if you fancy a diversion into Frimley Lodge Park. This has another play area, a café, a woodland trim trail, a pitch and putt and a miniature railway children can ride during operating hours. There are various points where you can enter, but the most obvious will be when you see the wooden sign for Frimley Lodge Park Café. The main play area is beside the café. Here is a map of the park.
Soon after returning to the towpath, you will come to a large brick bridge. Follow the path left here and up and out onto the road above.
Turn right to go over the bridge, switching sides after the second traffic lights to keep with the pavement. Around 50 metres after the bridge, you will see a bridle path on your right called Windmill Lane. Take this and head straight ahead and go through a gate and into the woods.
Follow the wide, flat path straight through the pine woodland. Go straight across at a cross paths cleared for power cables. When you come to a T-junction with a small blue bridleway disc on a post, turn right. Soon after this point, you will begin to see the camp site coming into view behind a rhododendron hedge on your right. Stick with the fence close to your right. Look out for an open gate in the fence on your right where there is a wooden sign about dogs. This gate will lead you back into the car park.
Did you know?
The restored Basingstoke Canal runs for 32 miles, from Greywell Village in Hampshire to Woodham in Surrey.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Zebon Copse, which includes a section of the canal and an excellent play area.
