Hartland Country Park
Children will enjoy the play area, bike track and picnic area by a pond on this walk.
The enclosed play area found in the woods
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 2.3 km
Terrain: Flat, surfaced paths
Pushchair: Yes
Dogs: Yes (be aware the post and rail perimeter fence is not dog proof and there are roads on each side)
Refreshments: Lots of picnic benches scattered around the park or Stable and Ground coffee stand
Toilets: None
Public Transport: There is no suitable public transport to this location
Parking: Free car park on Bramshot Lane (Postcode: GU14 0FB - W3W: pipe/island/commoners)
Picnic area beside the pond
Hartland Country Park was opened in 2020 and comprises 70 acres of public access woodland, meadows and ponds. It is a beautiful space and highlights include the surfaced children’s bike track, the play area made from sustainably sourced timber and the picnic area beside the pond and butterfly meadow.
The Route
You will find maps on notice boards scattered around the park and a simple network of paths to follow. It is very easy to use the maps to piece together your own route, but here is the walk we did to give you a guide:
Enter through the main gate in the car park and immediately turn left to walk parallel to the car park fence. At a junction of paths, keep left and stick with the perimeter of the woodland. Keep the perimeter to your left as you cover two more sides of the park.
Look out for a right hand turn, just before some old military remnants with ‘keep off’ notices. This will lead you past some more structures from the area’s military past and then under an old replica bridge.
The path will bring you to a cross paths. Turn left here to find the bike track immediately on your right. This is a brilliant facility with lightly gravelled tracks creating a mini road system in an attractive woodland clearing. There are benches along the sides for grown-ups to watch from.
Walk with the bike track to your right until the next junction. Here, the walk continues to your right, but before that it is worth exploring the picnic area, pond, meadows and ‘butterfly bank’ in the area ahead of you.
Back on the path, continue until you see a signpost and take the path in the direction of the car park. Follow this and when you see a path to your right, go down it to find a little wooden play area inside a post and rail fence (no dogs). There are also picnic benches here.
Continue along the path and you will shortly reach the car park.
Did you know?
The area was originally used by the MOD as a military training area, which you will find evidence of all around the park. The land was given to the public as part of the nearby development at Hartland Village.
If you liked this walk…
…try this one at Southwood Country Park which is nearby and you can easily walk between the two.
